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: 3/19/2019 March 19, 2019

 

SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS

 

A review of the merits of the application and a search of the Office’s database of registered and pending marks for potentially conflicting marksare both deferred until applicant responds to the issues raised in this Office action.  TMEP §704.02.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES REQUIREMENT

 

Applicant has identified the following goods and services:

 

“Butter; margarine; creams; oils; spreads; food; food ingredients; food products; edible products; business services; consulting services; food related services; services for providing food and drink; food and drink preparation services; information services relating to all the aforesaid” in International Class 29.

 

 

Applicant must clarify the wording “creams; oils; spreads; food; food ingredients; food products; edible products; business services; consulting services; food related services” in the identification of goods and/or services in International Class 29 because it is indefinite and too broad.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03.  This wording is indefinite because it does not make clear what the goods and/or services are.  Further, this wording could identify goods and/or services in almost every International Class. See attached evidence defining food, product, and edible; see also attached evidence demonstrating the broad spectrum of food ingredients, creams, spreads, and consulting and information services.

 

Additionally, the wording, “services for providing food and drink; food and drink preparation services” is misclassified. These services fall under International Class 43.

 

Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate:

 

Class 1 – food ingredients namely, {specify type in Class 1, e.g., Food preservatives}; oils namely, {specify type in Class 1, e.g., fusel oil for industrial purposes};

 

Class 2 – oils namely, {specify type in Class 2, e.g., anti-rust oils}

 

Class 3 – creams namely, {specify type in Class 3, e.g., facial creams}; oils namely, {specify type in Class 3, e.g., massage oils}; food ingredients namely, {specify type in Class 3, e.g., essential oils for food flavorings}

 

Class 4 – oils namely, {specify type in Class 4, e.g., industrial oils}

 

Class 5 – edible products namely, {specify type in Class 5, e.g., Bee pollen for use as a dietary food supplement}; oils namely, {specify type in Class 5, e.g., castor oil for medical purposes}; creams namely, {specify type in Class 5, e.g., Medicated creams for treating dermatological conditions}; food ingredients namely, {specify type in Class 5, e.g., food supplements}

 

Class 6 – cream namely, {specify type in Class 6, e.g., solder cream}

 

Class 17 – oils namely, {specify type in Class 17, e.g., insulating oil for transformers}

 

Class 29 – Butter; Margarine; oils namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., sunflower oil for food}; creams namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., whipping cream}; spreads namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., specify type in Class 29, e.g., low fat dairy spread }; food namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., cheese}; food ingredients namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., all-purpose carrying bags}; food products namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., cream powder}; edible products namely, {specify type in Class 29, e.g., Dairy-based powders for making dairy-based food beverages and shakes}

 

Class 30 - oils namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., Food flavorings being non-essential oils }; creams namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., pastry cream}; spreads namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., cocoa spreads}; food namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., Quinoa-based snack foods}; food ingredients namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., potato flour}; food products namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., Cereal-based snack foods}; edible products namely, {specify type in Class 30, e.g., honey}

 

Class 31 - food namely, {specify type in Class 31, e.g., Pet food}; food products namely, {specify type in Class 31, e.g., cat food}; edible products namely, {specify type in Class 31, e.g., live fish for food purposes}

 

Class 32 – edible products namely, {specify type in Class 32, e.g., Soda pops}

 

Class 33 – edible products namely, {specify type in Class 33, e.g., white wines}

 

Class 35– Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 35, e.g., business management, business accounting, retail store services featuring food}; Consulting services, namely, {specify in Class 35, e.g., business consulting services, advertising consulting services}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 35, e.g., retail bakery shops,  food services management for others}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 36 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 36, e.g., Charitable fundraising services, by means of organizing and conducting fundraising food tasting events}; Consulting services, namely, {specify in Class 36, e.g., financial consulting}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 36, e.g., Real estate brokerage services specializing in restaurants and other food service related businesses}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 37 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 37, e.g., Installation and repair of business and office machinery and equipment}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 37, e.g., business construction}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 37, e.g., Maintenance of machines and apparatus for processing foods}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 38 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 38, e.g., telecommunications reseller services for businesses}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 38, e.g., transmission of audio, text, and visual data related to food production}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 38, e.g., Podcasting services in the field of food production}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 39 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 39, e.g., transport services for business travelers}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 39, e.g., transport of food}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 39, e.g., Vineyard services in the nature of bottling of wine for others}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 40 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 40, e.g., printing services for businesses}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 40, e.g., food processing}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 40, e.g., winery services, brewery services}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 41 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 41, e.g., business training, providing continuing business education courses}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 41, e.g., health education}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 41, e.g., food and wine tastings}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

 

Class 42 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 42, e.g., business card design, Providing an online website for creating and hosting micro websites for businesses}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 42, e.g., research on food}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 42, e.g., Food safety testing and consultation related thereto}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 43 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 43, e.g., Providing general purpose facilities for business travelers}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 43, e.g., restaurant services}; food and drink preparation services; services for providing food and drink; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 43, e.g., contract food services, catering of food and drink}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 44 - Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 44, e.g., Providing medical testing of fitness and medical consultations to corporate clients to help their employees make health, wellness and nutritional changes in their daily living to improve health }; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 44, e.g., food nutrition}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 44, e.g., Advisory services relating to nutrition }; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Class 45: Business services, namely, {specify type or nature in Class 45, e.g., Legal advisory services in the field of business mergers}; consulting services in the field of, {specify field in Class 45, e.g., food safety}; Food related services, namely, {specify in Class 45, e.g., Online social networking in the field of food}; information services relating to all the aforesaid

 

Applicant may amend the identification to clarify or limit the goods and/or services, but not to broaden or expand the goods and/or services beyond those in the original application or as acceptably amended.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06.  Generally, any deleted goods and/or services may not later be reinserted.  See TMEP §1402.07(e).

 

For assistance with identifying and classifying goods and services in trademark applications, please see the USPTO’s online searchable U.S. Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual.  See TMEP §1402.04.

 

Applicant should note the following additional requirement.

 

MULTIPLE-CLASS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

 

The application identifies goods and/or services in more than one international class; therefore, applicant must satisfy all the requirements below for each international class based on Trademark Act Section 1(b):

 

(1)       List the goods and/or services by their international class number in consecutive numerical order, starting with the lowest numbered class.

 

(2)       Submit a filing fee for each international class not covered by the fee(s) already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule).  The application identifies goods and/or services that are classified in at least 23 classes; however, applicant submitted a fee(s) sufficient for only 1 class.  Applicant must either submit the filing fees for the classes not covered by the submitted fees or restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fees already paid.

 

See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(b), 1112, 1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(6)-(7), 2.34(a)(2)-(3), 2.86(a); TMEP §§1403.01, 1403.02(c).

 

See an overview of the requirements for a Section 1(b) multiple-class application and how to satisfy the requirements online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form.

 

RESPONSE GUIDELINES

 

Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney with questions about this Office action.  Although the trademark examining attorney cannot provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights, the trademark examining attorney can provide applicant with additional explanation about the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) in this Office action.  See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.  Although the USPTO does not accept emails as responses to Office actions, emails can be used for informal communications and will be included in the application record.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05. 

 

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.  

 

 

 

Riley, Vanessa

/Vanessa Riley/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 127

(571) 272-7259

vanessa.riley@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.

 

 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

USPTO OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) HAS ISSUED

ON 3/19/2019 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 88230800

 

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 3/19/2019 (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.