To: | DAS BRANDS, LLC (dastm@designip.com) |
Subject: | U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 88228364 - POWERDRIVE - DAS-T0042.2 |
Sent: | 3/12/2019 1:15:39 PM |
Sent As: | ECOM106@USPTO.GOV |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 Attachment - 7 Attachment - 8 |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 88228364
MARK: POWERDRIVE
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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: DAS BRANDS, LLC
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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: 3/12/2019
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.
Summary of Refusals and/or Requirements
The following is a summary of the requirements and/or refusals outlined below to which the applicant must respond.
n Likelihood of confusion refusal
LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION
Although not all du Pont factors may be relevant, there are generally two key considerations in any likelihood of confusion analysis: (1) the similarities between the compared marks and (2) the relatedness of the compared goods and/or services. See In re i.am.symbolic, llc, 866 F.3d at 1322, 123 USPQ2d at 1747 (quoting Herbko Int’l, Inc. v. Kappa Books, Inc., 308 F.3d 1156, 1164-65, 64 USPQ2d 1375, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2002)); Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co.,544 F.2d 1098, 1103, 192 USPQ 24, 29 (C.C.P.A. 1976) (“The fundamental inquiry mandated by [Section] 2(d) goes to the cumulative effect of differences in the essential characteristics of the goods [or services] and differences in the marks.”); TMEP §1207.01.
The Marks at Issue
The applicant seeks to register POWERDRIVE with a stylized letter “I” for the following goods, with no limitations as to industry of use or trade channels: power supplies; power supplies for supplying direct current power; power supplies for supplying alternating current power; power inverters; DC/AC power converters; battery chargers; battery chargers for portable electronic devices; battery chargers for use in vehicles; battery chargers for use with 12 volt direct current power supplies; solar-powered battery chargers; wireless battery chargers; power supply connectors and adaptors for use with portable electronic devices; power supply connectors and adaptors for use in vehicles; electrical cables; electric adapter cables; electric charging cables; wireless transmitters and receivers; wireless controllers to monitor and control the functioning of other electronic devices; computer software applications for remotely controlling and monitoring electronic devices, in Class 9
The registered marks are:
U.S. Registration No. 5306965 POWERDRIVE for: USB charging devices for use with electronic devices, namely, mobile phones, digital audio and video players, handheld computers, tablet computers, ebook readers, personal digital assistants, electronic organizers, electronic notepads, and cameras, in Class 9
U.S. Registration No. 4634615 POWERDRIVE and design for: Power inverters, power supplies and cables; all for sale at truck stops for sale to and use by professional truck drivers only and none for use in connection with lighting applications, in Class 9
U.S. Registration No. 4188368 POWERDRIVE for: Control regulating equipment and instruments for lighting, apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; none of the aforementioned goods in this Class include access control goods and all of the aforesaid goods to be used for lighting applications only, in Class 9, and for lighting apparatus in Class 11
The Marks are Identical or Highly Similar
All of these marks share the common wording POWERDRIVE. Where the marks of the respective parties are identical or virtually identical, as in this case, the degree of similarity or relatedness between the goods and/or services needed to support a finding of likelihood of confusion declines. See In re i.am.symbolic, llc, 116 USPQ2d 1406, 1411 (TTAB 2015) (citing In re Shell Oil Co., 992 F.2d 1204, 1207, 26 USPQ2d 1687, 1689 (Fed. Cir. 1993)), aff’d, 866 F.3d 1315, 123 USPQ2d 1744 (Fed. Cir. 2017); TMEP §1207.01(a).
The minor stylization in this mark does not change the commercial impression of the word element. When evaluating a composite mark consisting of words and a design, the word portion is normally accorded greater weight because it is likely to make a greater impression upon purchasers, be remembered by them, and be used by them to refer to or request the goods and/or services. In re Aquitaine Wine USA, LLC, 126 USPQ2d 1181, 1184 (TTAB 2018) (citing In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 1362, 101 USPQ2d 1905, 1908 (Fed. Cir. 2012)); TMEP §1207.01(c)(ii). Thus, although marks must be compared in their entireties, the word portion is often considered the dominant feature and is accorded greater weight in determining whether marks are confusingly similar, even where the word portion has been disclaimed. In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d at 1366-67, 101 USPQ2d at 1911 (citing Giant Food, Inc. v. Nation’s Foodservice, Inc., 710 F.2d 1565, 1570-71, 218 USPQ2d 390, 395 (Fed. Cir. 1983)).
The Goods are Identical or Closely Related
The applicant’s goods are listed as:
power supplies; power supplies for supplying direct current power; power supplies for supplying alternating current power; power inverters; DC/AC power converters; battery chargers; battery chargers for portable electronic devices; battery chargers for use in vehicles; battery chargers for use with 12 volt direct current power supplies; solar-powered battery chargers; wireless battery chargers; power supply connectors and adaptors for use with portable electronic devices; power supply connectors and adaptors for use in vehicles; electrical cables; electric adapter cables; electric charging cables; wireless transmitters and receivers; wireless controllers to monitor and control the functioning of other electronic devices; computer software applications for remotely controlling and monitoring electronic devices
As to U.S. Registration No. 5306965, the applicant’s power supplies, battery chargers, battery chargers for portable electronic devices and for use in vehicles, and other charging devices are broad enough to encompass the goods of the registrant. Therefore, as outlined below, the goods of the parties are identical.
As to U.S. Registration Nos. 4634615 and 4188368, the applicant’s broadly worded wireless controllers to monitor and control the functioning of other electronic devices and computer software applications for remotely controlling and monitoring electronic devices are broad enough to encompass the registrant’s more specifically worded control instruments used in connection with lighting. Therefore, as outlined below, the goods of the parties are identical, and as to the software, serve the same function.
In this case, the application uses broad wording to describe its battery chargers, power supplies and and wireless controllers and remote control and monitoring software, which presumably encompasses all goods of the type described, including registrants’ more narrow descriptions listed above. See, e.g., In re Solid State Design Inc., 125 USPQ2d 1409, 1412-15 (TTAB 2018); Sw. Mgmt., Inc. v. Ocinomled, Ltd., 115 USPQ2d 1007, 1025 (TTAB 2015). Thus, applicant’s and registrant’s goods are legally identical. See, e.g., In re i.am.symbolic, llc, 127 USPQ2d 1627, 1629 (TTAB 2018) (citing Tuxedo Monopoly, Inc. v.Gen. Mills Fun Grp., Inc., 648 F.2d 1335, 1336, 209 USPQ 986, 988 (C.C.P.A. 1981); Inter IKEA Sys. B.V. v. Akea, LLC, 110 USPQ2d 1734, 1745 (TTAB 2014); Baseball Am. Inc. v. Powerplay Sports Ltd., 71 USPQ2d 1844, 1847 n.9 (TTAB 2004)).
Additionally, the goods and/or services of the parties have no restrictions as to nature, type, channels of trade, or classes of purchasers and are “presumed to travel in the same channels of trade to the same class of purchasers.” In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 1362, 101 USPQ2d 1905, 1908 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (quoting Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Packard Press, Inc., 281 F.3d 1261, 1268, 62 USPQ2d 1001, 1005 (Fed. Cir. 2002)). Thus, applicant’s and registrant’s goods and/or services are related.
Therefore, registration is refused under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act.
Advisory Concerning Common Ownership
(1) Record the assignment with the USPTO’s Assignment Recordation Branch (ownership transfer documents such as assignments can be filed online at http://etas.uspto.gov) and promptly notify the trademark examining attorney that the assignment has been duly recorded.
(2) Submit copies of documents evidencing the chain of title.
(3) Submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. (fill in number[s]).” To provide this statement using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), use the “Response to Office Action” form; answer “yes” to wizard questions #3 and #10; then, continuing on to the next portion of the form, in the “Additional Statement(s)” section, find “Active Prior Registration(s)” and insert the U.S. registration numbers in the data fields; and follow the instructions within the form for signing. The form must be signed twice; a signature is required both in the “Declaration Signature” section and in the “Response Signature” section.
TMEP §812.01; see 15 U.S.C. §1060; 37 C.F.R. §§2.193(e)(1), 3.25, 3.73(a)-(b); TMEP §502.02(a).
Recording a document with the Assignment Recordation Branch does not constitute a response to an Office action. TMEP §503.01(d).
/Elissa Garber Kon/
Examining Attorney, Law Office 106
phone: 571-272-9181
email: elissagarber.kon@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.