Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. PTO Form 1957 (Rev 10/2011) |
OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp 09/20/2020) |
Input Field |
Entered |
---|---|
SERIAL NUMBER | 88162371 |
LAW OFFICE ASSIGNED | LAW OFFICE 110 |
MARK SECTION | |
MARK | http://uspto.report/TM/88162371/mark.png |
LITERAL ELEMENT | I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD |
STANDARD CHARACTERS | YES |
USPTO-GENERATED IMAGE | YES |
MARK STATEMENT | The mark consists of standard characters, without claim to any particular font style, size or color. |
ARGUMENT(S) | |
In an Office action dated March 12, 2019, the Examining Attorney has refused registration of Applicant’s mark Ser. No. 88/162371—I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD (“Applicant’s Mark”) on the basis that (i) Applicant’s Mark falsely suggests a connection with J.K. Rowling and (ii) Applicant’s Mark is an informational slogan and does not function as a source-identifying trademark. Applicant respectfully disagrees. Applicant is the studio behind the Harry Potter films which are based on the Harry Potter book series written by J.K. Rowling. Applicant has produced and distributed all eight Harry Potter movies since 2001, including the movie the Examining Attorney has cited,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; see evidence attached in Exhibit A. Applicant also owns all trademarks for the HARRY POTTER brand, the fact of which is noted on Ms. Rowling’s website, http://www.jkrowling.com/legal/; see attached Exhibit B. A selection of trademark Office records which indicate that Applicant owns trademark registrations for HARRY POTTER and related marks are attached in Exhibit C. As the owner of the HARRY POTTER and related trademarks with the right to use and exploit the same, Applicant’s use of the mark I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD does not create a false connection or association with J.K. Rowling. Applicant also respectfully disagrees with the Examining Attorney’s assessment that its mark is merely an informational slogan and incapable of functioning as a trademark. The Examining Attorney acknowledges that “evidence shows that [Applicant’s Mark] has been recognized as one of the most famous quotes to come out of the Harry Potter universe.” In addition, all of the evidence the Examining Attorney has provided purportedly to show that the mark does not function as a trademark, actually reinforces the argument that Applicant’s Mark functions as a source-identifying trademark, as all of the evidence can be traced back to a single source—the HARRY POTTER brand and series. For the reasons stated above, Applicant respectfully requests that the refusal be withdrawn and Applicant’s Mark proceed to publication. |
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EVIDENCE SECTION | |
EVIDENCE FILE NAME(S) | |
ORIGINAL PDF FILE | evi_16816119215-20190911151611224297_._Exhibit_A.pdf |
CONVERTED PDF FILE(S) (24 pages) |
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\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0003.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0004.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0005.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0006.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0007.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0008.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0009.JPG | |
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\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0011.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0012.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0013.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0014.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0015.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0016.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0017.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0018.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0019.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0020.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0021.JPG | |
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\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0024.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0025.JPG | |
ORIGINAL PDF FILE | evi_16816119215-20190911151611224297_._Exhibit_B.pdf |
CONVERTED PDF FILE(S) (4 pages) |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0026.JPG |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0027.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0028.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0029.JPG | |
ORIGINAL PDF FILE | evi_16816119215-20190911151611224297_._Exhibit_C.pdf |
CONVERTED PDF FILE(S) (11 pages) |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0030.JPG |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0031.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0032.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0033.JPG | |
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\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0035.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0036.JPG | |
\\TICRS\EXPORT17\IMAGEOUT17\881\623\88162371\xml8\ROA0037.JPG | |
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DESCRIPTION OF EVIDENCE FILE | Exhibits showing Applicant's legitimate association to J.K. Rowling. |
ATTORNEY SECTION (current) | |
NAME | Megan L. Martin |
ATTORNEY BAR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER | NOT SPECIFIED |
YEAR OF ADMISSION | NOT SPECIFIED |
U.S. STATE/ COMMONWEALTH/ TERRITORY | NOT SPECIFIED |
FIRM NAME | WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. |
INTERNAL ADDRESS | BRIDGE BUILDING NORTH, 5TH FLOOR |
STREET | 4000 WARNER BLVD. |
CITY | BURBANK |
STATE | California |
POSTAL CODE | 91522 |
COUNTRY | US |
ustrademarks@warnerbros.com | |
AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL | Yes |
DOCKET/REFERENCE NUMBER | 18/02709/LA |
ATTORNEY SECTION (proposed) | |
NAME | Megan L. Martin |
ATTORNEY BAR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER | XXX |
YEAR OF ADMISSION | XXXX |
U.S. STATE/ COMMONWEALTH/ TERRITORY | XX |
FIRM NAME | WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. |
INTERNAL ADDRESS | BRIDGE BUILDING NORTH, 5TH FLOOR |
STREET | 4000 WARNER BLVD. |
CITY | BURBANK |
STATE | California |
POSTAL CODE | 91522 |
COUNTRY | United States |
ustrademarks@warnerbros.com | |
AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL | Yes |
DOCKET/REFERENCE NUMBER | 18/02709/LA |
OTHER APPOINTED ATTORNEY | Patrick T. Perkins, Brian A. Rupp, Christopher I. Jackson |
CORRESPONDENCE SECTION (current) | |
NAME | MEGAN L. MARTIN |
FIRM NAME | WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. |
INTERNAL ADDRESS | BRIDGE BUILDING NORTH, 5TH FLOOR |
STREET | 4000 WARNER BLVD. |
CITY | BURBANK |
STATE | California |
POSTAL CODE | 91522 |
COUNTRY | US |
ustrademarks@warnerbros.com | |
AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL | Yes |
DOCKET/REFERENCE NUMBER | 18/02709/LA |
CORRESPONDENCE SECTION (proposed) | |
NAME | Megan L. Martin |
FIRM NAME | WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. |
INTERNAL ADDRESS | BRIDGE BUILDING NORTH, 5TH FLOOR |
STREET | 4000 WARNER BLVD. |
CITY | BURBANK |
STATE | California |
POSTAL CODE | 91522 |
COUNTRY | United States |
ustrademarks@warnerbros.com | |
AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL | Yes |
DOCKET/REFERENCE NUMBER | 18/02709/LA |
SIGNATURE SECTION | |
RESPONSE SIGNATURE | /mlm/ |
SIGNATORY'S NAME | Megan L. Martin |
SIGNATORY'S POSITION | Attorney of record, California bar member |
SIGNATORY'S PHONE NUMBER | 818-954-1103 |
DATE SIGNED | 09/11/2019 |
AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY | YES |
FILING INFORMATION SECTION | |
SUBMIT DATE | Wed Sep 11 16:32:53 EDT 2019 |
TEAS STAMP | USPTO/ROA-XXX.XXX.XXX.XX- 20190911163253984720-8816 2371-610aaa73f115cfe26188 fc4c12aebce911ab3b6a12145 eab4cddebd7a3bf99a-N/A-N/ A-20190911151611224297 |
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. PTO Form 1957 (Rev 10/2011) |
OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp 09/20/2020) |
In an Office action dated March 12, 2019, the Examining Attorney has refused registration of Applicant’s mark Ser. No. 88/162371—I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD (“Applicant’s Mark”) on the basis that (i) Applicant’s Mark falsely suggests a connection with J.K. Rowling and (ii) Applicant’s Mark is an informational slogan and does not function as a source-identifying trademark. Applicant respectfully disagrees.
Applicant is the studio behind the Harry Potter films which are based on the Harry Potter book series written by J.K. Rowling. Applicant has produced and distributed all eight Harry Potter movies since 2001, including the movie the Examining Attorney has cited,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; see evidence attached in Exhibit A. Applicant also owns all trademarks for the HARRY POTTER brand, the fact of which is noted on Ms. Rowling’s website, http://www.jkrowling.com/legal/; see attached Exhibit B. A selection of trademark Office records which indicate that Applicant owns trademark registrations for HARRY POTTER and related marks are attached in Exhibit C. As the owner of the HARRY POTTER and related trademarks with the right to use and exploit the same, Applicant’s use of the mark I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD does not create a false connection or association with J.K. Rowling.
Applicant also respectfully disagrees with the Examining Attorney’s assessment that its mark is merely an informational slogan and incapable of functioning as a trademark. The Examining Attorney acknowledges that “evidence shows that [Applicant’s Mark] has been recognized as one of the most famous quotes to come out of the Harry Potter universe.” In addition, all of the evidence the Examining Attorney has provided purportedly to show that the mark does not function as a trademark, actually reinforces the argument that Applicant’s Mark functions as a source-identifying trademark, as all of the evidence can be traced back to a single source—the HARRY POTTER brand and series.
For the reasons stated above, Applicant respectfully requests that the refusal be withdrawn and Applicant’s Mark proceed to publication.