To: | BLUE, JOHN D. (johndblue@yahoo.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88269944 - HEMP - N/A |
Sent: | April 14, 2020 09:18:38 AM |
Sent As: | ecom102@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88269944
Mark: HEMP
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: BLUE, JOHN D.
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Reference/Docket No. N/A
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: April 14, 2020
Applicant’s response has been received and reviewed but the following non-final Office Action is now issued to address the new issue:
DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT U.S. DOMICILE ADDRESS/U.S. ATTORNEY
Applicant must either provide documentation to support applicant’s domicile address or appoint a U.S. licensed attorney. All applications must include the applicant’s domicile address, and domicile dictates whether an applicant is required to have an attorney who is an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a U.S. state or territory represent the applicant at the USPTO. 37 C.F.R. §§2.2(o)-(p), 2.11(a), 2.189, 11.14; Requirement of U.S.-Licensed Attorney for Foreign-Domiciled Trademark Applicants & Registrants, Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A. (Rev. Sept. 2019).
An individual applicant’s domicile is the place a person resides and intends to be the person’s principal home. 37 C.F.R. §2.2(o); Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A. A juristic entity’s domicile is the principal place of business; i.e., headquarters, where a juristic entity applicant’s senior executives or officers ordinarily direct and control the entity’s activities. 37 C.F.R. §2.2(p); Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A. An applicant whose domicile is located outside of the United States or its territories is foreign-domiciled and must be represented at the USPTO by a U.S.-licensed attorney qualified to practice before the USPTO under 37 C.F.R. §11.14. 37 C.F.R. §2.11(a).
The application record lists applicant as an individual of CANADA and specifies a U.S. street address as applicant’s domicile. It is unclear from the record whether the U.S. street address provided is the place applicant resides and intends to be applicant’s principal home. If the U.S. street address of record is not applicant’s correct domicile address, applicant must provide the applicant’s correct domicile street address. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.11(b), 2.61(b), 2.189.
If applicant amends the application to list a domicile address outside of the United States or its territories, or if applicant elects not to provide documentation to support its U.S. street address as explained below, applicant must appoint a U.S.-licensed attorney qualified to practice under 37 C.F.R. §11.14 as its representative before the application may proceed to registration. See Hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney for more information. If applicant provides documentation to support its U.S. street address, the requirement to appoint a U.S.-licensed attorney will be withdrawn. Alternatively, if applicant appoints a U.S.-licensed attorney, the requirement for documentation will be withdrawn.
If the street address of record is applicant’s correct domicile address or if applicant provides a different U.S. street address as the applicant’s domicile address, and applicant elects not to appoint a U.S.-licensed attorney as its representative, then applicant must provide the following documentation to support its U.S. street address. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.11(b), 2.61(b), 2.189; Examination Guide 4-19 (Rev.) at I.A.2. Specifically, applicant must provide documentation showing the name and listed domicile address of the individual, for example one of the following:
(1) a current, valid signed rental, lease, or mortgage agreement; or (2) a current valid homeowner’s, renter’s, or motor vehicle insurance policy; or (3) a computer-generated bill issued by a utility company dated within 60 days of the application filing date.
Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A.2; see 37 C.F.R. §§2.11(b), 2.61(b), 2.189.
Submitted documentation must show the name, listed address, and the date of the document but should redact other personal and financial information.
To appoint a U.S.-licensed attorney. To appoint an attorney, applicant should submit a completed Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Revocation, Appointment, and/or Change of Address of Attorney/Domestic Representative form. The newly-appointed attorney must submit a TEAS Response to Examining Attorney Office Action form indicating that an appointment of attorney has been made and address all other refusals or requirements in this action, if any. Alternatively, if applicant retains an attorney before filing the response, the attorney can respond to this Office action by using the appropriate TEAS response form and provide his or her attorney information in the form and sign it as applicant’s attorney. See 37 C.F.R. §2.17(b)(1)(ii).
To provide documentation supporting applicant’s domicile. Open the correct TEAS response form and enter the serial number, answer “yes” to wizard question #3, and on the “Additional Statement(s)” page, below the “Miscellaneous Statement” field, click the button below the text box to attach documentation to support the U.S. street address.
REFUSALS WITHDRAWN/MAINTAINED AND CONTINUED
In light of the amendments and responses, the CSA Refusal is WITHDRAWN. Additionally, the Identification of Goods Requirement as well as the Requirement for Information are accepted and are entered as amended.
The Refusal under Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45 - FDCA Refusal is maintained and continued. Applicant’s arguments have been considered but found unpersuasive and unsupported by evidence or existing case law. Inasmuch as the identification of goods which include goods that are consumable and contain CBD, the FDCA Refusal is not overcome. CBD from any source is not allowed under the FDCA when the goods are consumable or used for medical purposes.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
/Howard Smiga/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 102
571-272-9220
Howard.Smiga@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE