To: | BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP (legal@hbiin.com) |
Subject: | U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87532643 - RAW LEAN - N/A |
Sent: | 8/10/2017 10:07:57 AM |
Sent As: | ECOM110@USPTO.GOV |
Attachments: |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 87532643
MARK: RAW LEAN
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: |
CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
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APPLICANT: BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: |
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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. A RESPONSE TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE TRADEMARK ELECTRONIC APPLICATION SYSTEM (TEAS) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME OF THE LAST DAY OF THE RESPONSE PERIOD.
ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 8/10/2017
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.
REFUSAL Registration is refused because applicant seeks registration of more than one mark. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §2.52; TMEP §807.01. An applicant may apply for only one mark in a single application. 37 C.F.R. §2.52; TMEP §807.01; see, e.g., In re Int’l Flavors & Fragrances Inc., 183 F.3d 1361, 1366, 51 USPQ2d 1513, 1516 (Fed. Cir. 1999); In re Hayes, 62 USPQ2d 1443, 1445-46 (TTAB 2002). A mark combining separate elements is registrable only if it is a single unitary mark engendering a unique and distinct commercial impression. In re Supreme Steel Framing Sys. Ass’n, Inc., 105 USPQ2d 1385, 1387 (TTAB 2012) (citing In re Walker-Home Petroleum, Inc., 229 USPQ 773, 775 (TTAB 1985)).
In the present case, the application drawing shows the following two terms: “RAW” and “LEAN”.
However, the specimen shows these elements spatially separated to such a degree that they each appear as separate and distinct.
Applicant may not delete one or more of these separate elements because doing so would materially alter the commercial impression of the mark as originally filed. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72(a)(2); TMEP §§807.12(a), 807.14 et seq. Specifically, the term “RAW” is shown in large bolded font on the packaging, in two instants is shown in close proximity to the term “CONE” which is inside of a rectangle design element. Below “RAW” in two instants is the wording “NATURAL UNREFINED ROLLING PAPERS”. The term “LEAN” is shown spatially separated from “RAW”, in different font and in a different color.
Applicant may respond to this refusal by submitting (1) a substitute specimen showing the entire mark on the drawing in use in commerce for each class of goods and/or services, and (2) the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The substitute specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application.” See 37 C.F.R. §§2.59(a), 2.193(e)(1); TMEP §904.05. If submitting a specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(c); TMEP §904.05.
Alternatively, applicant may amend the application from a use in commerce basis under Trademark Act Section 1(a) to an intent to use basis under Section 1(b), and the refusal will be withdrawn. See TMEP §806.03(c). However, if applicant amends the basis to Section 1(b), registration will not be granted until applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen showing one mark. See 15 U.S.C. §1051(c)-(d); 37 C.F.R. §§2.76, 2.88; TMEP §1103. If the same specimen is submitted with an allegation of use, the same refusal will issue.
To amend to Section 1(b), applicant must submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “Applicant has had a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed in the application as of the filing date of the application.” 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(2); TMEP §806.01(b); see 15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.35(b)(1), 2.193(e)(1).
To submit a verified specimen or verified substitute specimen online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) response form, answer “YES” to form wizard question #2; and then, continuing on to the next portion of the form, under the heading “Classification and Listing of Goods/Services/Collective Membership Organization,” do the following for each relevant class for which a specimen is being submitted:
Although the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.
SEARCH 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).
/Linda E. Blohm/
Trademark Examining Attorney
linda.blohm@uspto.gov
phone: 571.272.9129
fax: 571.273.9110
Law Office 110
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.