To: | Launchlab (dwilson@patent-prep.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88029056 - 1K - TM 1K |
Sent: | October 06, 2020 02:27:28 PM |
Sent As: | ecom123@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88029056
Mark: 1K
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: Launchlab
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Reference/Docket No. TM 1K
Correspondence Email Address: |
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NONFINAL OFFICE ACTION
The USPTO must receive applicant’s response to this letter within six months of the issue date below or the application will be abandoned. Respond using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). A link to the appropriate TEAS response form appears at the end of this Office action.
Issue date: October 06, 2020
SECTIONS 1, 2, AND 45 REFUSAL – FAILURE TO FUNCTION AS A MARK
Not every designation that appears on a product or its packaging functions as a trademark, even though it may have been adopted with the intent to do so. See In re Peace Love World Live, LLC, 127 USPQ2d 1400, 1404 (TTAB 2018) (citing In re Pro-Line Corp., 28 USPQ2d 1141, 1142 (TTAB 1993)). A designation can only be registered when purchasers would be likely to regard it as a source-indicator for the goods. See In re Manco, Inc., 24 USPQ2d 1938, 1941 (TTAB 1992) (citing In re Remington Prods. Inc., 3 USPQ2d 1714, 1715 (TTAB 1987)); TMEP §1202.
Matter is merely informational and does not function as a mark when, based on its nature and the context of its use by the applicant, consumers would perceive it as merely conveying general information about the goods or services or an informational message, and not as a means to identify and distinguish the applicant’s goods/services from those of others
The applied-for mark, as shown on the specimen, does not function as a trademark because it merely informs the purchaser of the tensile strength of the goods. This is demonstrated by the tag, which depicts the mark in a weight design with “1000 lbs” directly beneath it and by applicant’s website, which explains the goods incorporate “high tensile strength nylon webbing and high strength, aircraft grade snap hook that will withstand more than 1000 pounds of force.” Additionally, the website shows the mark in the weight design with “1000 lbs” beneath the wording “tensile Tested in Aeronautical Lab.”
Therefore, consumers would view 1K as providing information about the goods, and not denoting their source.
Response option. Applicant may respond to this refusal by submitting a different specimen (a verified “substitute” specimen) that (a) was in actual use in commerce prior to the expiration of the deadline for filing the statement of use and (b) shows proper trademark/service mark use for the goods in the statement of use. A “verified substitute specimen” is a specimen that is accompanied by the following statement made in a signed affidavit or supported by a declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The substitute (or new, or originally submitted, if appropriate) specimen(s) was/were in use in commerce prior to expiration of the filing deadline for filing a statement of use.” The substitute specimen cannot be accepted without this statement.
Examples of specimens. Specimens for goods include a photograph of (1) the actual goods bearing the mark; (2) an actual container, packaging, tag or label for the goods bearing the mark; or (3) a point-of-sale display showing the mark directly associated with the goods. See 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(1), (c); TMEP §904.03(a)-(m). A webpage specimen submitted as a display associated with the goods must show the mark in association with a picture or textual description of the goods and include information necessary for ordering the goods. TMEP §904.03(i); see 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(1), (c). Any webpage printout or screenshot submitted as a specimen must include the webpage’s URL and the date it was accessed or printed. 37 C.F.R. §2.56(c).
Applicant may not withdraw the statement of use. 37 C.F.R. §2.88(f); TMEP §1109.17.
For more information about this response option and instructions on how to submit a different specimen using the online Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, see the Specimen webpage.
Missing the response deadline to this letter will cause the application to abandon. A response or notice of appeal must be received by the USPTO before midnight Eastern Time of the last day of the response period. TEAS and ESTTA maintenance or unforeseen circumstances could affect an applicant’s ability to timely respond.
Responses signed by an unauthorized party are not accepted and can cause the application to abandon. If applicant does not have an attorney, the response must be signed by the individual applicant, all joint applicants, or someone with legal authority to bind a juristic applicant. If applicant has an attorney, the response must be signed by the attorney.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
If needed, find contact information for the supervisor of the office or unit listed in the signature block.
· /John LaMont/
· Examining Attorney
· Law Office 123
· (571) 270-0404
· john.lamont@uspto.gov