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.  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: 7/19/2018

 

 

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 $125 per 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 or e-mail 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.

 

 

NO CONFLICTING MARKS NOTED

 

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).

 

 

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. 

 

An applicant’s mark is primarily merely a surname if the surname “‘is the primary significance of the mark as a whole to the purchasing public.’”  Earnhardt v. Kerry Earnhardt, Inc., 864 F.3d 1374, 1377, 123 USPQ2d 1411, 1413 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting In re Hutchinson Tech. Inc., 852 F.2d 552, 554, 7 USPQ2d 1490, 1492 (Fed. Cir. 1988)); TMEP §1211.01.

 

The following five inquiries are often used to determine the public’s perception of a term’s primary significance:

 

(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.

 

In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d 1276, 1278 & n.2, 1282-83 (TTAB 2016) (citing In re Benthin Mgmt. GmbH, 37 USPQ2d 1332, 1333-34 (TTAB 1995) for the Benthin inquiries/factors); TMEP §1211.01; see also In re Etablissements Darty et Fils, 759 F.2d 15, 16-18, 225 USPQ 652, 653 (Fed. Cir. 1985). 

 

These inquiries are not exclusive, and any of these circumstances – singly or in combination – and any other relevant circumstances may be considered when making this determination.  In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d at 1277-78; TMEP §1211.01.  For example, when the applied-for mark is not stylized, it is unnecessary to consider the fifth inquiry.  In re Yeley, 85 USPQ2d 1150, 1151 (TTAB 2007); TMEP §1211.01.

 

Please see the evidence included at the end of this Office from LEXISNEXIS®, establishing the surname significance of HUGES.  This evidence shows the applied-for mark appearing 345,087 times as a surname in the LEXISNEXIS® surname database, which is a weekly updated directory of cell phone and other phone numbers (such as voice over IP) from various data providers. 

 

A mark deemed primarily merely a surname may be registered on the Principal Register under Trademark Act Section 2(f) based on a claim of acquired distinctiveness.  See 15 U.S.C. §1052(f); 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a); TMEP §§1211, 1212.  Applicant may respond by asserting a claim of acquired distinctiveness based on one or more of the following:

 

(1)       Five Years’ Use:  Applicant may 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).

 

(3)       Other Evidence:  Applicant may submit other evidence of acquired distinctiveness, with the following statement, if accurate:  “The evidence shows that the mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services.”  37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(3); TMEP §1212.06.  Such additional evidence may include “advertising expenditures, sales success, length and exclusivity of use, unsolicited media coverage, and consumer studies (linking the name to a source).”  In re Change Wind Corp., 123 USPQ2d 1453, 1467 (TTAB 2017) (quoting In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1300, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1424 (Fed. Cir. 2005)). 

 

If applicant cannot satisfy one of the above, applicant may respond 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).

 

 

Clarification Required Regarding Association Entity

 

The applicant is specified as a cooperative association organized under laws of Illinois.  The applicant must also specify whether the association is incorporated or unincorporated.  TMEP § 803.03(c).

 

According to TMEP § 803.03(c):

 

"Association" and "nonprofit association" are acceptable terms to identify juristic entities organized under state laws or federal statutes that govern this form of organization.  A domestic association must specify the state under whose laws the applicant is organized or exists, and indicate whether the association is incorporated or unincorporated.  A foreign association must specify the country under whose laws the applicant is organized or exists and indicate whether the association is incorporated or unincorporated, unless the designation or description "association/associazione" for the country specified by the applicant appears in Appendix D.  This also applies to a domestic or foreign nonprofit or tax-exempt association.  If an association exists by virtue of a specific state or federal statute, this should be stated.  Verification of these statements is not required.

 

 

WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE:  Since the applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response. 

 

 

/Rudy R. Singleton/

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Trademark Examining Attorney, Law Office 102

571-272-9262

RUDY.SINGLETON@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 SURNAME EVIDENCE

 

 

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

 

Total number found: 345087
No.	Name	Address	Phone
1.	HUGHES, A	18059 E BERRY CENTENNIAL, CO 80015-2615	303-503-5739
2.	HUGHES, A	13110 BOREAS HOUSTON, TX 77039-3626	281-442-2075
3.	HUGHES, A	5445 S ELM CT GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80121-2107	720-489-5044
4.	HUGHES, A	13112 S MANHATTAN GARDENA, CA 90249-1909	310-704-9112
5.	HUGHES, A	2234 MARSTON FLOSSMOOR, IL 60422-1336	708-280-9019
6.	HUGHES, A	ATLANTA, GA 30339	404-372-5484
7.	HUGHES, A	BALTIMORE, MD 21223	443-575-4002
8.	HUGHES, A	CALIFON, NJ 07830	908-832-7519
9.	HUGHES, A	CICERO, IL 60804	708-735-3773
10.	HUGHES, A	CLEMMONS, NC 27012	336-775-6037
11.	HUGHES, A	COLLIERVILLE, TN 38017	901-299-4791
12.	HUGHES, A	DETROIT, MI 48235	313-443-0520
13.	HUGHES, A	DRAPER, UT 84020	801-572-9986
14.	HUGHES, A	LAS VEGAS, NV 89146	702-222-3706
15.	HUGHES, A	LYNN, MA 01901	781-248-6898
16.	HUGHES, A	MOBILE, AL 36602	251-623-4517
17.	HUGHES, A	NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89081	702-586-8681
18.	HUGHES, A	OAKLAND, CA 94602	510-282-3605
19.	HUGHES, A	PANAMA CITY, FL 32401	850-381-0060
20.	HUGHES, A	PANAMA CITY, FL 32444	850-381-0060
21.	HUGHES, A	PEARISBURG, VA 24134	540-604-9445
22.	HUGHES, A	SOUTHFIELD, MI 48033	313-828-7196
23.	HUGHES, A	SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034	313-828-7196
24.	HUGHES, AARON MAURICE III	4055 76TH N APT 3 PINELLAS PARK, FL 33781-3615	727-851-2143
25.	HUGHES, AARON L	2758 BURNS MEMPHIS, TN 38114-4914	901-744-3412
26.	HUGHES, AARON S	116 EDITH EAGLE POINT, OR 97524-9515	541-601-0430
27.	HUGHES, AARON	GENERAL DELIVERY KNOB NOSTER, MO 65336-9999	940-337-6522
28.	HUGHES, AARON	3249 IVANHOE APT A SAINT LOUIS, MO 63139-2245	314-724-7417
29.	HUGHES, AARON	3872 MATTINGLY HICKORY, NC 28602-9708	704-622-0436
30.	HUGHES, AARON PAUL	1255 MUSTANG MESA RIFLE, CO 81650-8453	970-379-5131
31.	HUGHES, AARON	COLUMBUS, OH 43213	614-751-1054
32.	HUGHES, AARON	PORTLAND, OR 97223	503-309-7875
33.	HUGHES, ABBY	407 RIDDLE FORT COLLINS, CO 80521-1745	970-689-2298
34.	HUGHES, ABIGAIL	CORDOVA, TN 38016	901-834-1856
35.	HUGHES, ADA W	4061 LAKERIDGE LN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302-1623	248-855-2406
36.	HUGHES, ADAM	308 CARTWAY CT CHAMPLIN, MN 55316-1331	763-270-0043
37.	HUGHES, ADAM	1181 MIDLAND BAY CITY, MI 48706-9422	989-992-3473
38.	HUGHES, ADAM	2501 PORTER NW WASHINGTON, DC 20008-1248	202-409-6442
39.	HUGHES, ADAM C	RR BOX 14 CAIRO, MO 65239-9645	660-263-1689
40.	HUGHES, ADAM	210 E SPRINGFIELD HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648	512-655-9940
41.	HUGHES, ADAM	IRVING, TX 75062	214-500-9231
42.	HUGHES, ADAM T	MADERA, CA 93636	559-439-6610
43.	HUGHES, ADAM	MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55311	612-865-6601
44.	HUGHES, ADAM	WASHINGTON, DC	202-812-0317
45.	HUGHES, ADAM	WASHINGTON, DC 20388	202-812-0317
46.	HUGHES, ADAWORK T	4061 LAKERIDGE LN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302-1623	248-855-2406
47.	HUGHES, ADRIAN	1806 GOOSE HOLLOW CADIZ, KY 42211-8086	270-559-0717
48.	HUGHES, ADRIAN K	806 HILLTOP WEATHERFORD, TX 76086-5784	817-361-7874
49.	HUGHES, ADRIENE	CLIMAX, NC 27233	336-987-8950
50.	HUGHES, ADRIENNE	179 S HARRISON APT 206 EAST ORANGE, NJ 07018-1521	973-677-9866

 

Search:	Public Records: Surname
Terms:	last-name(hughes) maxresults(500)
Date/Time:	Wednesday, July 18, 2018 8:47 PM
Permissible Use:	DPPA - I have no permissible use GLBA - I have no permissible use

 

Copyright © 2018 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

USPTO OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) HAS ISSUED

ON 7/19/2018 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 87841053

 

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 7/19/2018 (or sooner if specified in the Office action).  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.  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 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.