To: | Homer TLC, Inc. (aotrademark@kslaw.com) |
Subject: | U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86781551 - HETCHERSON - N/A |
Sent: | 12/16/2015 8:15:23 AM |
Sent As: | ECOM108@USPTO.GOV |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86781551
MARK: HETCHERSON
|
|
CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: |
CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
|
APPLICANT: Homer TLC, Inc.
|
|
CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: |
|
OFFICE ACTION
TO AVOID ABANDONMENT OF APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION, THE USPTO MUST RECEIVE APPLICANT’S COMPLETE RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE BELOW.
ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 12/16/2015
Search Results
The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no conflicting marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
However, the applicant must address the following surname refusal.
Refusal – Surname
Registration is refused because the applied-for mark is primarily merely a surname. Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(4); see TMEP §1211. The primary significance of the mark to the purchasing public determines whether a term is primarily merely a surname. In re Kahan & Weisz Jewelry Mfg. Corp., 508 F.2d 831, 832, 184 USPQ 421, 422 (C.C.P.A. 1975); In re Bini on, 93 USPQ2d 1531, 1537 (TTAB 2009); see TMEP §§1211, 1211.01.
Attached evidence shows that the name “HETCHERSON” is used as a surname and does not appear in the dictionary other than as a surname.
Although “HETCHERSON” appears to be a relatively rare surname, a rare surname may be unregistrable under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4) if its primary significance to purchasers is that of a surname. E.g., In re Etablissements Darty et Fils, 759 F.2d 15, 16-18, 225 USPQ 652, 653 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Giger, 78 USPQ2d 1405, 1407-09 (TTAB 2006); see TMEP §1211.01(a)(v). There is no minimum number of telephone directory listings needed to prove that a mark is primarily merely a surname. See In re Petrin Corp., 231 USPQ 902, 903 (TTAB 1986); TMEP §1211.02(b)(i).
Additional attached evidence shows that the word “HUTCHERSON” is a more common surname than “HETCHERSON”. However, “HETCHERSON” has the same look and feel as the more common “HUTCHERSON” as the two terms differ only by the first vowel. The fact that a term looks and sounds like a surname may contribute to a finding that the primary significance of the term is that of a surname. In re Giger, 78 USPQ2d 1405, 1409 (TTAB 2006); In re Gregory, 70 USPQ2d 1792, 1796 (TTAB 2004); In re Industrie Pirelli Societa per Azioni, 9 USPQ2d 1564, 1566 (TTAB 1988); In re Petrin Corp., 231 USPQ 902, 904 (TTAB 1986); see TMEP §1211.01(a)(vi).
As the primary significance of the mark is that of a surname, the mark is refused registration on the Principal Register. Although applicant’s mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.
Amendment to Supplemental Register or under Section 2(f) Suggested
(1) Submit a claim of ownership of one or more active prior registrations on the Principal Register for a mark that is the same as the mark in the application and for the same or related goods and/or services. 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(1); TMEP §§1212, 1212.04. The following wording is suggested: “The mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services as evidenced by the ownership of active U.S. Registration No(s). _______ on the Principal Register for the same mark for sufficiently similar goods and/or services.” TMEP §1212.04(e).;
(2) Submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services through the applicant’s substantially exclusive and continuous use of the mark in commerce that the U.S. Congress may lawfully regulate for at least the five years immediately before the date of this statement.” 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(2); TMEP §1212.05(d); see 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(1).; or
(3) Submit actual evidence of acquired distinctiveness. 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(3); TMEP §1212.06. Such evidence may include the following: examples of advertising and promotional materials that specifically promote the applied-for mark as a trademark and/or service mark in the United States; dollar figures for advertising devoted to such promotion; dealer and consumer statements of recognition of the applied-for mark as a trademark; and any other evidence that establishes recognition of the applied-for mark as a source-identifier for the goods. See In re Ideal Indus., Inc., 508 F.2d 1336, 184 USPQ 487 (C.C.P.A. 1975); In re Instant Transactions Corp. of Am., 201 USPQ 957 (TTAB 1979); TMEP §§1212.06 et seq.
Trademark Act Section 2(f), 15 U.S.C. §1052(f); see 37 C.F.R. §2.41; TMEP §§1211, 1212.
If applicant cannot satisfy one of the above, applicant can amend the application to seek registration on the Supplemental Register. Trademark Act Section 23, 15 U.S.C. §1091; see 37 C.F.R. §§2.47, 2.75(a). Note that applicant’s proposed mark is not eligible for registration on the Supplemental Register until an acceptable amendment to allege use under 37 C.F.R. §2.76 has been timely filed. 37 C.F.R. §2.47(d); TMEP §§815.02, 816.02 and 1102.03. Please also note that amending to the Supplemental Register does not preclude applicant from submitting evidence and arguments against the refusal.
If applicant files an amendment to allege use and also amends to the Supplemental Register, please note that the effective filing date of the application will then be the date of filing of the amendment to allege use. 37 C.F.R. §2.75(b); TMEP §§206.01 and 816.02.
To amend to the Supplemental Register, applicant need only provide a request to do so.
Although Supplemental Register registration does not afford all the benefits of registration on the Principal Register, it does provide the following advantages:
Response Guidelines
For this application to proceed toward registration, applicant must explicitly address each refusal and/or requirement raised in this Office action. If the action includes a refusal, applicant may provide arguments and/or evidence as to why the refusal should be withdrawn and the mark should register. Applicant may also have other options for responding to a refusal and should consider such options carefully. To respond to requirements and certain refusal response options, applicant should set forth in writing the required changes or statements.
If applicant has questions about the application or this Office action, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney at the telephone number or email address below. Applicant is encouraged to contact the examining attorney via email or telephone to make required changes to the application through an examiner’s amendment.
To expedite prosecution of the application, applicant is encouraged to file its response to this Office action online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), which is available at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/index.jsp. If applicant has technical questions about the TEAS response to Office action form, applicant can review the electronic filing tips available online at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/e_filing_tips.jsp and e-mail technical questions to TEAS@uspto.gov.
TEAS PLUS OR TEAS REDUCED FEE (TEAS RF) APPLICANTS – TO MAINTAIN LOWER FEE, ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET, INCLUDING SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS ONLINE: Applicants who filed their application online using the lower-fee TEAS Plus or TEAS RF application form must (1) file certain documents online using TEAS, including responses to Office actions (see TMEP §§819.02(b), 820.02(b) for a complete list of these documents); (2) maintain a valid e-mail correspondence address; and (3) agree to receive correspondence from the USPTO by e-mail throughout the prosecution of the application. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.22(b), 2.23(b); TMEP §§819, 820. TEAS Plus or TEAS RF applicants who do not meet these requirements must submit an additional processing fee of $50 per international class of goods and/or services. 37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(1)(v), 2.22(c), 2.23(c); TMEP §§819.04, 820.04. However, in certain situations, TEAS Plus or TEAS RF applicants may respond to an Office action by authorizing an examiner’s amendment by telephone without incurring this additional fee.
/Andrea Hack/
Trademark Examining Attorney
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Law Office 108
571-272-5413 (ph.)
andrea.hack@uspto.gov
TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: Go to http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. Please wait 48-72 hours from the issue/mailing date before using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), to allow for necessary system updates of the application. For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov. For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney. E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to this Office action by e-mail.
All informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE: It must be personally signed by an individual applicant or someone with legal authority to bind an applicant (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint applicants). If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response.
PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION: To ensure that applicant does not miss crucial deadlines or official notices, check the status of the application every three to four months using the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system at http://tsdr.gov.uspto.report/. Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen. If the status shows no change for more than six months, contact the Trademark Assistance Center by e-mail at TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov or call 1-800-786-9199. For more information on checking status, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/process/status/.
TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS: Use the TEAS form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
108B8C
Print Request: All
Time of Request: Thursday, December 10, 2015 16:15:23 EST
Number of Lines: 25
Print Number: 2825:541039872
Client ID/Project Name:
Note:
Research Information:
Surname
last-name(HETCHERSON) maxresults(500)
Search: |
Public Records : Surname |
Terms: |
last-name(HETCHERSON) maxresults(500) |
Total number found: 1 |
|
||||
No. |
Name |
Address |
Phone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
1. |
HETCHERSON, MAURICE |
4725 N GOLDENROD WINTER PARK, FL 32792-9078 |
407-489-8603 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Search: |
Public Records : Surname |
||||
Terms: |
last-name(HETCHERSON) maxresults(500) |
||||
Date/Time: |
Thursday, December 10, 2015 4:14 PM |
||||
Permissible Use: |
DPPA - I have no permissible use GLBA - I have no permissible use |
||||
Copyright © 2015 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
108B8C
********** Print Completed **********
Time of Request: Thursday, December 10, 2015 16:15:23 EST
Print Number: 2825:541039872
Number of Lines: 25
Number of Pages: