UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

 

 

OFFICE ACTION

 

STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER

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: 4/27/2016

 

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. 

 

The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.  Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below.  15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.

 

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).

 

SUMMARY OF ISSUES:

 

• Section 2(e)(4) Refusal – Primarily Merely a Surname
• Supplemental Register Advisory

 

Section 2(e)(4) Refusal – Primarily Merely a 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 Binion, 93 USPQ2d 1531, 1537 (TTAB 2009); see TMEP §§1211, 1211.01.

 

The following five factors are used to determine whether a mark is primarily merelya surname:

 

(1)  Whether the surname is rare;

 

(2)  Whether anyone connected with applicant uses the term as a surname;

 

(3)  Whether the term has any recognized meaning other than as a surname;

 

(4)  Whether the term has the structure and pronunciation of a surname; and

 

(5)  Whether the term is sufficiently stylized to remove its primary significance from that of a surname.

 

See In re Binion, 93 USPQ2d 1531, 1537 (TTAB 2009); In re Benthin Mgmt. GmbH, 37 USPQ2d 1332, 1333-34 (TTAB 1995); TMEP §1211.01.

 

The following evidence is most relevant in determining the surname significance of the applied-for mark.

 

With respect to the first factor, a LexisNexis public records search returned 418 listings for individuals with the surname of “CORLEONE”, the first 100 of which are attached to this office action.  Thus, the surname “CORLEONE” is not an uncommon surname.

 

Furthermore, although the mark contains the additional wording “FORGED,” combining a surname with the generic name for the goods does not overcome a mark’s surname significance.  See Mitchell Miller, P.C. v. Miller, 105 USPQ2d 1615, 1622 (TTAB 2013) (holding MILLER LAW GROUP primarily merely a surname for legal services, noting that LAW GROUP is a generic designation for a law firm); In re Hamilton Pharms. Ltd., 27 USPQ2d 1939, 1944 (TTAB 1993) (holding HAMILTON PHARMACEUTICALS primarily merely a surname for pharmaceutical products); In re Cazes, 21 USPQ2d 1796, 1797 (TTAB 1991) (holding BRASSERIE LIPP primarily merely a surname for restaurant services); TMEP §1211.01(b)(vi).

 

In the instant case, the attached evidence from

 

• http://www.rotiform.com/wheels.cfm

 

• http://nutekwheels.com/wheels/concaveconvex/series-712/

 

• http://tires.tirerack.com/tires/Forged%20Wheels

 

demonstrates that the word “FORGED” is a generic term to describe a type of wheel.  Thus, the mere addition of the term “FORGED” to the surname “CORLEONE” does not obviate its surname significance.

 

As to the second factor, the record indicates that no one connected with the applicant uses the word “CORLEONE” as a surname.  However, this factor is of slight significance because, as demonstrated by the evidence of record, “CORLEONE” is primarily merely a surname.

 

With respect to the third factor, the attached evidence from the American Heritage Dictionary returns no definitions for the word “CORLEONE.”  Moreover, although “CORLEONE” is also the name of a small town in in the Province of Palermo in Sicily, Italy, “CORLEONE” is not a well-known place and the geographic significance of “CORLEONE” does not dissipate is primary significance as a surname.   In re Hamilton Pharm. Ltd., 27 USPQ2d 1939 (TTAB 1993); see also In re Gregory, 70 USPQ2d 1792 (TTAB 2004).

 

Regarding the fourth factor, given the notoriety “CORLEONE”, as evidenced by the attached evidence from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corleone_family, which discusses the CORLEONE family made popular in the book The Godfather, as well as the film series by the same name, the word “CORLEONE” is recognized as having the structure and pronunciation of a surname.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_(film_series).  See also http://forebears.io/surnames/corleone; http://www.whitepages.com/name/CORLEONE and http://www.stmaryapplevalley.com/Our-Doctors/C/Dalia-Corleone-MD.aspx. 

 

Due to the substantial evidence demonstrating the primary significance of “CORLEONE” as a surname, the fifth factor is not relevant for the purposes of surname significance analysis in the instant application because the mark appears in standard characters and is not sufficiently stylized to obviate the surname significance.

 

Although applicant’s mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal(s) by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.

 

Supplemental Register Advisory

 

The applied-for mark has been refused registration on the Principal Register.  Applicant may respond to the refusal by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration and/or by amending the application to seek registration on the Supplemental Register.  See 15 U.S.C. §1091; 37 C.F.R. §§2.47, 2.75(a); TMEP §§801.02(b), 816.  Amending to the Supplemental Register does not preclude applicant from submitting evidence and arguments against the refusal(s).  TMEP §816.04.

 

Applicant is advised that, if the application is amended to seek registration on the Principal Register under Trademark Act Section 2(f) or on the Supplemental Register, applicant will be required to disclaim “FORGED” because such wording appears to be generic in the context of applicant’s goods.  See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); In re Wella Corp., 565 F.2d 143, 144, 196 USPQ 7, 8 (C.C.P.A. 1977); In re Creative Goldsmiths of Wash., Inc., 229 USPQ 766, 768 (TTAB 1986); TMEP §1213.03(b).

 

The following is the standardized format for a disclaimer:

 

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “FORGED” apart from the mark as shown.

 

TMEP §1213.08(a)(i).

 

Assistance

 

If applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney.

 

/Daniel Stringer/

Trademark Examining Attorney

Law Office 103

571.272.8975

daniel.stringer@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.

 

LexisNexis® Search Results

 

Search:	Public Records : Surname
Terms:	last-name(CORLEONE) maxresults(500)

 

 

Total number found: 418
No.	Name	Address	Phone
1.	CORLEONE, A	CARLSBAD, CA 92008	760-688-2435
2.	CORLEONE, A	CARLSBAD, CA 92008	760-688-5287
3.	CORLEONE, A	CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA 95610	916-969-5208
4.	CORLEONE, A	FRISCO, TX 75034	972-704-9353
5.	CORLEONE, A	HAWTHORNE, NY 10532	347-465-3151
6.	CORLEONE, A	LIVONIA, MI 48150	586-339-0766
7.	CORLEONE, A	MANHATTAN, NY 10013	347-286-3808
8.	CORLEONE, A	PHILADELPHIA, PA 19108	610-990-1793
9.	CORLEONE, A	SACRAMENTO, CA 95825	916-640-6431
10.	CORLEONE, A	WILLINGBORO, NJ 08046	609-880-4616
11.	CORLEONE, ALBERT	101 AUGUSTA CT PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463-2907	708-385-4444
12.	CORLEONE, ALEJANDRO	1805 PINE SAN MARCOS, TX 78666-1910	512-665-4806
13.	CORLEONE, ALLISON A	16265 NE 1ST BELLEVUE, WA 98008-4407	425-351-1350
14.	CORLEONE, ALONZO M	1134 CECIL LOUISVILLE, KY 40211-2564	502-776-5931
15.	CORLEONE, ALVIN	MEMPHIS, TN 38116	901-650-9331
16.	CORLEONE, AMANDA V	1318 W FRANKLIN BOISE, ID 83702-5021	208-658-5477
17.	CORLEONE, ANTHONY	146 56TH S BIRMINGHAM, AL 35212-2537	205-862-2809
18.	CORLEONE, ANTHONY	CHANDLER, AZ 85226	480-584-8548
19.	CORLEONE, ANTONIO	4357 HOEN SANTA ROSA, CA 95405-7770	707-544-2286
20.	CORLEONE, B	AVONDALE ESTATES, GA 30002	678-237-6402
21.	CORLEONE, B	CONYERS, GA 30207	678-768-3595
22.	CORLEONE, B	FAIRBURN, GA 30213	678-698-7147
23.	CORLEONE, B	HIALEAH, FL 33010	786-424-1420
24.	CORLEONE, B	NORCROSS, GA 30071	706-351-8595
25.	CORLEONE, BLAKE	WASHINGTON, DC 20001	202-749-4771
26.	CORLEONE, BOB	8671 NW 56TH DORAL, FL 33166-3330	306-716-9775
27.	CORLEONE, BOBBI	20646 CENTURYWAY MAPLE HEIGHTS, OH 44137-3117	216-332-0033
28.	CORLEONE, BOBBI	TOLEDO, OH 43606	419-944-5701
29.	CORLEONE, BOBBY	1685 MAIZEFIELD FUQUAY VARINA, NC 27526-7593	732-829-4459
30.	CORLEONE, C	CUDAHY, WI 53110	414-366-8981
31.	CORLEONE, C	DETROIT, MI 48219	313-704-1238
32.	CORLEONE, C	ENCINO, CA 91316	818-310-7928
33.	CORLEONE, C	GAINESVILLE, FL 32601	352-345-0919
34.	CORLEONE, C	HAWTHORNE, NY 10532	347-666-6891
35.	CORLEONE, C	HOLLYWOOD, FL 33023	754-281-7511
36.	CORLEONE, C	KISSIMMEE, FL 34741	407-508-1144
37.	CORLEONE, C	MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457	860-705-6848
38.	CORLEONE, C	NASHVILLE, TN 37211	615-609-7719
39.	CORLEONE, C	NEW ORLEANS, LA 70187	504-884-8124
40.	CORLEONE, C	PROVIDENCE, RI 02903	401-743-2214
41.	CORLEONE, CAMIE	101 AUGUSTA PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463-2907	708-790-6651
42.	CORLEONE, CASPER	TX DENVER CITY, TX 79323	806-215-1916
43.	CORLEONE, CHERRY	118 OAK UNIT B BREMERTON, WA 98310-2519	360-440-0090
44.	CORLEONE, CHRIS	CLEARWATER, FL 33755	727-678-9603
45.	CORLEONE, CHRISTOPHER	27546 STRATFORD GLEN DAPHNE, AL 36526-8337	251-635-8958
46.	CORLEONE, CICZERO	MODESTO, CA 95357	209-996-9104
47.	CORLEONE, CONNIE	HIALEAH, FL 33014	786-262-2477
48.	CORLEONE, CONNIE	HIALEAH, FL 33014	786-262-7010
49.	CORLEONE, CONSTANCE	PO BOX 901659 PALMDALE, CA 93590-1659	661-400-6657
50.	CORLEONE, CRAIG	HOUSTON, TX 77032	713-922-4348
51.	CORLEONE, D	EL CERRITO, CA 94530	510-776-8968
52.	CORLEONE, D	FAIR OAKS, CA 95628	916-308-6472
53.	CORLEONE, D	HAYWARD, CA 94541	510-200-1155
54.	CORLEONE, D	HAYWARD, CA 94541	510-677-5461
55.	CORLEONE, D	LONG KEY, FL 33001	305-360-9767
56.	CORLEONE, D	LOS ANGELES, CA 90017	213-835-8649
57.	CORLEONE, D	MIAMI, FL 33128	786-312-0278
58.	CORLEONE, D	NORCROSS, GA 30071	678-886-9938
59.	CORLEONE, D	PLANTATION, FL 33317	954-513-5939
60.	CORLEONE, D	SACRAMENTO, CA 95821	916-256-8660
61.	CORLEONE, D	SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401	805-806-0958
62.	CORLEONE, D	SHREVEPORT, LA 71118	318-946-0023
63.	CORLEONE, DALIA	6958 MENDOCINO RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91701-7554	909-941-6406
64.	CORLEONE, DAN	CARLETON, MI 48117	734-271-3502
65.	CORLEONE, DAN	KETTERING, OH 45429	937-270-0105
66.	CORLEONE, DANIEL	1440 S INDIANA APT 806 CHICAGO, IL 60605-2840	312-399-0506
67.	CORLEONE, DANIEL	3717 N RAVENSWOOD STE 238 CHICAGO, IL 60613-4260	312-765-8758
68.	CORLEONE, DANILO	CARLSBAD, CA 92008	760-688-5835
69.	CORLEONE, DANNY	13 LLOYD APT NUTLEY, NJ 07110-2369	973-769-3478
70.	CORLEONE, DANNY	63 SHIELDS PL NORTH ARLINGTON, NJ 07031-5725	201-997-3274
71.	CORLEONE, DAVE	4301 E 126TH CLEVELAND, OH 44105-6307	216-704-9896
72.	CORLEONE, DAVID	ROSEVILLE, MI 48066	586-447-6997
73.	CORLEONE, DEREK	JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202	904-437-0939
74.	CORLEONE, DEREK	WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33410	561-767-2655
75.	CORLEONE, DESERIE	3906 VELMA EL MONTE, CA 91731-1800	626-512-5016
76.	CORLEONE, DIANA	BROOKLYN, NY 11201	718-781-0136
77.	CORLEONE, DIANA	IRVINE, CA 92602	949-861-8243
78.	CORLEONE, DIANA	STATEN ISLAND, NY 10307	347-830-5436
79.	CORLEONE, DON	2202 25TH OCEANSIDE, CA 92054	760-500-1344
80.	CORLEONE, DON	6571 SW 90TH OVERLAND PARK, KS 66214	913-231-7842
81.	CORLEONE, DON	45 DEES NUTZ DETROIT, MI 48228	313-453-5667
82.	CORLEONE, DON	3039 FLAT SHOALS ATLANTA, GA 30349-4000	404-848-9636
83.	CORLEONE, DON	3039 FLAT SHOALS ATLANTA, GA 30349-4000	678-552-8956
84.	CORLEONE, DON	125 GIENEVE ST MIDDLESEX CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138	617-230-5757
85.	CORLEONE, DON	86 IDIEH CONCORD, NH 03305-0001	603-684-5957
86.	CORLEONE, DON	4657 INDIAN MOUND DRIVEB MIAMI, FL 33146	305-772-6347
87.	CORLEONE, DON	PO BOX 172 CARLSBAD, NM 88221-0172	575-887-7385
88.	CORLEONE, DON	936 SHEA APT B CARMEL, IN 46032-1576	317-294-3674
89.	CORLEONE, DON	AKRON, OH 44308	330-603-6467
90.	CORLEONE, DON	AMHERST, NY 14068	716-220-0504
91.	CORLEONE, DON	ANN ARBOR, MI 48104	734-686-7739
92.	CORLEONE, DON	ATLANTA, GA 30309	404-668-9050
93.	CORLEONE, DON	BOYNTON BEACH, FL 33436	754-242-2973
94.	CORLEONE, DON	BOYNTON BEACH, FL 33436	954-822-5466
95.	CORLEONE, DON	COYOTE, CA 95013	408-903-9712
96.	CORLEONE, DON	DETROIT, MI 48204	313-651-6176
97.	CORLEONE, DON	FARMINGTON, NM 87402	505-215-2588
98.	CORLEONE, DON	FLORAL PARK, NY 11001	516-514-4488
99.	CORLEONE, DON	HACKENSACK, NJ 07601	201-982-4050
100.	CORLEONE, DON	HIALEAH, FL 33010	786-523-1365

 

 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

USPTO OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) HAS ISSUED

ON 4/27/2016 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86865356

 

Please follow the instructions below:

 

(1)  TO READ THE LETTER:  Click on this link or go to http://tsdr.uspto.gov,enter the U.S. application serial number, and click on “Documents.”

 

The Office action may not be immediately viewable, to allow for necessary system updates of the application, but will be available within 24 hours of this e-mail notification.

 

(2)  TIMELY RESPONSE IS REQUIRED:  Please carefully review the Office action to determine (1) how to respond, and (2) the applicable response time period.  Your response deadline will be calculated from 4/27/2016 (or sooner if specified in the Office action).  For information regarding response time periods, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/process/status/responsetime.jsp.

 

Do NOT hit “Reply” to this e-mail notification, or otherwise e-mail your response because the USPTO does NOT accept e-mails as responses to Office actions.  Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) response form located at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.

 

(3)  QUESTIONS:  For questions about the contents of the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.  For technical assistance in accessing or viewing the Office action in the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system, please e-mail TSDR@uspto.gov.

 

WARNING

 

Failure to file the required response by the applicable response deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.  For more information regarding abandonment, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/basics/abandon.jsp.

 

PRIVATE COMPANY SOLICITATIONS REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION:  Private companies not associated with the USPTO are using information provided in trademark applications to mail or e-mail trademark-related solicitations.  These companies often use names that closely resemble the USPTO and their solicitations may look like an official government document.  Many solicitations require that you pay “fees.” 

 

Please carefully review all correspondence you receive regarding this application to make sure that you are responding to an official document from the USPTO rather than a private company solicitation.  All official USPTO correspondence will be mailed only from the “United States Patent and Trademark Office” in Alexandria, VA; or sent by e-mail from the domain “@uspto.gov.”  For more information on how to handle private company solicitations, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/solicitation_warnings.jsp.