To: | SITE 10.01, INC. (tmdocketing@onellp.com) |
Subject: | U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 88239644 - SKYLIGHT BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND - SITE1001US01 |
Sent: | 3/19/2019 11:01:24 AM |
Sent As: | ECOM101@USPTO.GOV |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 Attachment - 7 Attachment - 8 Attachment - 9 Attachment - 10 |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 88239644
MARK: SKYLIGHT BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND
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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: SITE 10.01, INC.
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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: 3/19/2019
SECTION 2(d) REFUSAL – LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION
The examining attorney refuses registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(d), because the applicant's mark, when used on or in connection with the identified services, so resembles the mark in U.S. Registration No. 5197566 as to be likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive. TMEP section 1207. See the enclosed abstract.
The examining attorney must analyze each case in two steps to determine whether there is a likelihood of confusion. First, the examining attorney must look at the marks themselves for similarities in appearance, sound, connotation and commercial impression. In re E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563 (CCPA 1973). Similarity in any one of these elements is sufficient to find a likelihood of confusion. In re Mack, 197 USPQ 755 (TTAB 1977).
The applicant's mark is SKYLIGHT BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONS PLATFORM. The registrant's mark is SKYLIGHT. The marks are nearly identical in appearance and commercial impression.
Although marks are compared in their entireties, one feature of a mark may be more significant or dominant in creating a commercial impression. See In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 1362, 101 USPQ2d 1905, 1908 (Fed. Cir. 2012); In re Nat’l Data Corp., 753 F.2d 1056, 1058, 224 USPQ 749, 751 (Fed. Cir. 1985); TMEP §1207.01(b)(viii), (c)(ii). Disclaimed matter that is descriptive of or generic for a party’s goods and/or services is typically less significant or less dominant when comparing marks. In re Detroit Athletic Co., 903 F.3d 1297, 1305, 128 USPQ2d 1047, 1050 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (citing In re Dixie Rests., Inc., 105 F.3d 1405, 1407, 41 USPQ2d 1531, 1533-34 (Fed. Cir. 1997)); TMEP §1207.01(b)(viii), (c)(ii).
Second, the examining attorney must compare the goods or services to determine if they are related or if the activities surrounding their marketing are such that confusion as to origin is likely. In re August Storck KG, 218 USPQ 823 (TTAB 1983); In re International Telephone and Telegraph Corp., 197 USPQ 910 (TTAB 1978); Guardian Products Co., v. Scott Paper Co., 200 USPQ 738 (TTAB 1978).
The applicant's services are "Cloud-based, non-downloadable computer software that collects and analyzes building-related data created by building occupants, in-building systems and external sources for the purpose of rating and optimizing building performance, efficiency, comfort, safety and financial valuation," in International Class 42. The registrant's services are "Providing non-downloadable internet-based software for use in contractor evaluation, bidding, contracting, project management and payments for use by homeowners to help manage their renovation and construction projects," in International Class 42. The services are closely related, namely both involve xx.
Because the marks are nearly identical and the services provided are closely related, the similarities among the marks and the services are so great as to create a likelihood of confusion among consumers as to the source of the services. The examining attorney must resolve any doubt regarding a likelihood of confusion in favor of the prior registrant. In re Hyper Shoppes (Ohio), Inc., 837 F.2d 463, 6 USPQ2d 1025 (Fed. Cir., 1988).
Although the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.
The applicant must insert a disclaimer of BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONS PLATFORM in the application because the terms are merely descriptive of the goods and/or services. Trademark Act Section 6, 15 U.S.C. Section 1056; TMEP sections 1213 and 1213.09(a)(i).
The term “BUILDING” is defined as “Something that is built, as for human habitation; a structure.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition ©2019 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (copy attached).
The term “PERFORMANCE” is defined as “The way in which someone or something functions.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition ©2019 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (copy attached).
The term “OPERATION” is defined as “The state of being operative or functional.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition ©2019 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (copy attached).
The term “PLATFORM” is defined as “The basic technology of a computer system's hardware and software that defines how a computer is operated and determines what other kinds of software can be used.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition ©2019 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (copy attached).
The terms “BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONS PLATFORM” merely describe characteristics of the applicant’s goods and services, namely, cloud-based, non-downloadable computer software and computer software platforms that collects and analyzes building performance and operations.
Trademark Act Section 6(a), 15 U.S.C. Section 1056(a), states that the Commissioner may require the applicant to disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark. Trademark Act Section 2(e), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(e), bars the registration of a mark which is merely descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive of the goods. Therefore, the Commissioner may require the disclaimer of a portion of a mark which, when used in connection with the goods or services, is merely descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive. If an applicant does not comply with a disclaimer requirement, the examining attorney may refuse registration of the entire mark. TMEP section 1213.01(b).
A disclaimer does not remove the disclaimed matter from the mark. It is simply a statement that the applicant does not claim exclusive rights in the disclaimed wording or design apart from the mark as shown in the drawing.
The following cases explain the disclaimer requirement more fully: In re Kraft, Inc., 218 USPQ 571 (TTAB 1983); In re EBS Data Processing, Inc., 212 USPQ 964 (TTAB 1981); In re National Presto Industries, Inc., 197 USPQ 188 (TTAB 1977); In re Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc., 157 USPQ 114 (TTAB 1968).
The computerized printing format for the Trademark Official Gazette requires a standard form for a disclaimer. TMEP section 1213.09(a)(i). A properly worded disclaimer should read as follows:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “BUILDING PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONS PLATFORM” apart from the mark as shown.
See In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm'r Pats. 1983).
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.
/Alec Powers/
Trademark Examining Attorney
US Trademark Law Office 101
Ph: 571-272-9309
Fax: 571-273-9309
alexander.powers@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.