United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88324725
Mark: CBD HEALTHY SKIN HEALING
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: GENUINE VIRGIN ALOE CORPORATION
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Reference/Docket No. 788-033.701
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: December 05, 2019
SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no conflicting marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
CBD-RELATED GOODS – BASED ON EVIDENCE - NO BONA FIDE
INTENT TO LAWFULLY USE IN COMMERCE AS OF FILING DATE
Registration is refused because applicant does not have a bona fide intent to lawfully use the applied-for mark in commerce. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; see TMEP §907.
To qualify for federal trademark/service mark registration, the use of a mark in commerce must be lawful. Gray v. Daffy Dan’s Bargaintown, 823 F.2d 522, 526, 3 USPQ2d 1306, 1308 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (stating that “[a] valid application cannot be filed at all for registration of a mark without ‘lawful use in commerce’”); TMEP §907; see In re Stellar Int’l, Inc., 159 USPQ 48, 50-51 (TTAB 1968); Coahoma Chemical Co., Inc. v. Smith, 113 USPQ 413 (Com’r Pat. & Trademarks 1957) (concluding that “use of a mark in connection with unlawful shipments in interstate commerce is not use of a mark in commerce which the [Office] may recognize.”). Thus, the goods to which the mark is applied must comply with all applicable federal laws. See In re Brown, 119 USPQ2d 1350, 1351 (TTAB 2016) (citing In re Midwest Tennis & Track Co., 29 USPQ2d 1386, 1386 n.2 (TTAB 1993) (noting that “[i]t is settled that the Trademark Act’s requirement of ‘use in commerce,’ means a ‘lawful use in commerce’”)); In re Pepcom Indus., Inc., 192 USPQ 400, 401 (TTAB 1976); TMEP §907.
Here, the items or activities to which the proposed mark are applied were unlawful under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), 21 U.S.C. §§801-971. The evidence of record indicates that at least some of the items or activities to which the proposed mark may be applied are unlawful under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), 21 U.S.C. §§801-971.
As evidenced by the wording in the mark which contains the commonly used and recognized abbreviation for cannabidiol (CBD), goods within the scope of the identification bearing the mark contain cannabidiol. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant. Applicant’s identified goods are broad enough to include products produced from “all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin” (subject to certain exceptions). 21 U.S.C. §802(16)(definition of “marihuana” – commonly referred to as “marijuana”).
In order for an application to have a valid basis that could properly result in a registration, the use of the mark has to be lawful. See In re Pepcom Indus., Inc., 192 USPQ 400, 401 (TTAB 1976) Because use of the applied-for mark in connection with such goods was not lawful as of the filing date, applicant did not have a bona fide intent to lawfully use the applied-for mark in commerce in connection with such goods. See In re JJ206, LLC, 120 USPQ2d 1568, 1569 (TTAB 2016) (“where the identified goods are illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the applicant cannot use its mark in lawful commerce, and ‘it is a legal impossibility’ for the applicant to have the requisite bona fide intent to use the mark.”); see also In re Brown, 119 USPQ2d, 1351-1352; TMEP §907.
On December 20, 2018, the CSA was amended to remove “hemp” from the definition of marijuana and specifically exclude “tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp (as defined under section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946)” from Schedule I, 21 U.S.C. §812(c)(17). Because the identified goods that feature cannabidiol consist of or include items or activities that are still prohibited under the Controlled Substances Act, namely those containing cannabidiol derived from marijuana, the applicant did not have a valid filing basis for any such items or activities. To the extent the applicant’s goods are derived solely from cannabis plants that meet the current statutory definition of hemp, such goods may be lawful.
Therefore, in order to overcome this refusal, applicant must amend the identification of goods and services to specify that all cannabidiol-containing items are “solely derived from hemp with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” Please see the complete requirement for an acceptable identification of goods below.
Applicant should note the following additional ground for refusal.
NO BONA FIDE INTENT TO USE IN COMMERCE – CBD TOPICAL PRODUCTS– FDCA – SECTION 1(B)
Registration is also refused under Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; see TMEP §907 because applicant does not have a bona fide intent to lawfully use the applied-for mark in commerce in connection with the identified goods because the goods are or will not be in compliance with the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of a food to which has been added a drug or a biological product for which substantial clinical investigations have been instituted and for which the existence of such investigations has been made public. 21 U.S.C. §331(ll); see also 21 U.S.C. §321(ff) (indicating that a dietary supplement is deemed to be a food within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act).
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug, Epidiolex®, (see http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm611046.htm copy attached) and is the subject of substantial clinical investigations before it was marketed in foods or as dietary supplements. See FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-derived Products: Questions and Answers http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm421168.htm copy attached.
Applicant’s goods are identified as Medicated and non-medicated skin creams, washes, shampoos and ointments for treating dry scaly skin, minor cuts, scrapes, burns, itching, rashes, redness, chafed, chapped, cracked and acne prone skin which is broad enough to encompass CBD products that consist of, or include, items or activities that are or were prohibited by the FDCA, namely, topical body care products such as balms, lotions, creams, gels, ointments, oils or salves which are intended to provide therapeutic relief or affect the structure and function of the body.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical constituent of the cannabis plant that is encompassed within the CSA’s definition of marijuana. See Clarification of the New Drug Code (7350) for Marijuana Extract, http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/marijuana/m_extract_7350.html, copy attached; see also, 21 C.F.R. §1308.11(d)(58). Applicant’s identified goods and/or services are broad enough to include products produced from “all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin” (subject to certain exceptions). 21 U.S.C. §802(16).
On June 25, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first prescription pharmaceutical formulation of plant-derived CBD, Epidiolex®, for the treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) placed Epidiolex® on schedule V of the CSA on September 27, 2018. Nevertheless, marijuana and CBD derived from marijuana remain unlawful. No other cannabis-derived drug products have been approved by the FDA. Under the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FDCA), any product intended to have a therapeutic or medical use, and any product (other than a food) that is intended to affect the structure or function of the body of humans or animals, is a drug. 21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1) An unapproved new drug cannot be distributed or sold in interstate commerce unless it is the subject of an FDA-approved new drug application (NDA) or abbreviated new drug application (ANDA). 21 U.S.C. §§ 331(d) and 355(a), (b), & (j); see also FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products: Questions and Answers http://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-questions-and-answers copy attached.
In the event applicant is currently seeking FDA approval of the marketing of its goods, applicant may submit a copy of its marketing application and amend the application to intent to use under Trademark Act Section 1(b), 15, USC Section 1051(b), an delay filing an allegation of use until such time as applicant’s FDA application is approved, and lawful use may be alleged. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.34 et seq., TMEP §§806 et seq. Alternatively, applicant may respond to the stated refusal by submitting evidence and arguments against the refusal.
Applicant should note the following additional ground for refusal.
SECTION 2(e)(1) REFUSAL - MERELY DESCRIPTIVE
Applicant’s mark in this case is CBD HEALTHY SKIN HEALING in standard characters for goods identified as Medicated and non-medicated skin creams, washes, shampoos and ointments for treating dry scaly skin, minor cuts, scrapes, burns, itching, rashes, redness, chafed, chapped, cracked and acne prone skin. The term “CBD” is a commonly used and recognized term for “cannabidiol,” a cannabinoid found mainly in cannabis plants such as marijuana or hemp. See the attachments from FDA.GOV and DEA.GOV. The term “Healthy” means something beneficial to one’s physical health and well-being. The term “Skin” is the outer layer organ covering humans and animals. “Healing” means to make one free from disease or well again. See the attachments from MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM.
Applicant’s specimen shows that the goods contain hemp derived “CBD” and are intended to restore the skin to a healthy condition.
Only where the combination of descriptive terms creates a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods and/or services is the combined mark registrable. See In re Colonial Stores, Inc., 394 F.2d 549, 551, 157 USPQ 382, 384 (C.C.P.A. 1968); In re Positec Grp. Ltd., 108 USPQ2d 1161, 1162-63 (TTAB 2013).
In this case, both the individual components and the composite result are descriptive of applicant’s goods and/or services and do not create a unique, incongruous, or nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods and/or services. Specifically, the mark immediately and forthwith tells the consumer descriptive information about a key ingredient in the goods (CBD) and that the product is for healing conditions of the skin to return it to a healthy state.
SUPPLEMENTAL REGISTER ADVISORY
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – HEMP RELATED GOODS
To permit proper examination of the application, applicant must submit additional information about the goods. 37 C.F.R. §§2.61(b), 2.69; Cf. Star Fruits S.N.C. v. United States, 393 F.3d 1277, 1284, 73 USPQ2d 1409, 1414 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (discussing Patent Rule 1.105(a)(1), which is the equivalent of Trademark Rule 2.61(b)); TMEP §§814, 907. The requested information should include fact sheets, brochures, advertisements, and/or similar materials relating to the goods. If such materials are not available, applicant must provide a detailed factual description of the goods. Any information submitted in response to this requirement must clearly and accurately indicate the nature of the goods identified in the application.
In addition, applicant must submit a written statement indicating whether the goods/services identified in the application comply with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). 21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1). See 37 C.F.R. §2.69; TMEP §907. Finally, applicant must provide written responses to the following questions:
Failure to satisfactorily respond to a requirement for information is a ground for refusing registration. See In re Harley, 119 USPQ2d 1755, 1758 (TTAB 2016) (affirming refusal of registration because applicant’s appeal brief failed to address the relevant refusals, including a refusal based on noncompliance with a requirement for information); In re AOP LLC, 107 USPQ2d 1644, 1651 (TTAB 2013) (“Failure to comply with a request for information is grounds for refusal,” where applicant provided equivocal responses to examining attorney’s questions and did not address this issue in its brief). Applicant’s failure to respond to an information requirement may result in an adverse evidentiary inference being drawn regarding applicant’s goods. Id. at 1651; In re Cheezwhse.com, Inc., 85 USPQ2d 1917, 1919 (TTAB 2008); TMEP §814.
Please note that merely stating that information about the goods and services is available on applicant’s website is an inappropriate response to the above requirement and is insufficient to make the relevant information properly of record. See In re Planalytics, Inc., 70 USPQ2d 1453, 1457-58 (TTAB 2004).
IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS
Applicant’s mark includes the wording “CBD”, which indicates that applicant’s goods have and/or exhibit, (or will have and/or will exhibit) the following feature or characteristic: that all of the identified goods will, in fact, be comprised of CBD. This feature or characteristic is considered desirable for applicant’s goods because CBD is reported to have beneficial health qualities that can reduce cholesterol and relieve pain among other things. See the attachment from CHILLBUD.COM. CBD has also become very popular among the consuming public with more than 6 million searches on the Internet per month having been made in the first six months of 2019 alone. This shows that a significant number of consumers are seeking such products for their reputed health benefits and likely to purchase such products on the belief that goods actually contain CBD. See the attachments from STUDYFINDS.ORG and FORBES.COM. However, since it is not clear if some or all of the goods identified in the application in fact have or exhibit this feature or characteristic, then registration may be refused because the mark consists of or includes deceptive matter in relation to the identified goods. See 15 U.S.C. §1052(a); In re Budge Mfg. Co., 857 F.2d 773, 8 USPQ2d 1259 (Fed. Cir. 1988); TMEP §1203.02-.02(b). Applicant may avoid a deceptiveness refusal under Section 2(a) of the Trademark Act, 15 USC Section 1052(a), by amending the identification of goods to clearly specify that the goods are comprised of CBD. Applicant is advised, however, that making such an amendment will not overcome the refusal made based on the goods not being in compliance with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and, thus, not lawful under Sections 1 and 45 of the Trademark Act, 15 USC Section 1051, 1127.
The wording “medicated and non-medicated” in the preface of the in the identification of goods is unacceptable because it includes goods in more than one class. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.01. More specifically, non-medicated skin care products are classified in Class 3 while medicated skin or body care products are classified in Class 5.
Furthermore, as discussed above in connection with the unlawful use refusal as it relates to the Controlled Substances Act, applicant must also clearly indicate that the goods are not derived from Cannabis sativa L with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. Applicant may adopt the following form of identification, if accurate: (Note that proposed changes have been placed in bold type):
CLASS 3 – Non-medicated skin creams, washes and shampoos with all of the foregoing containing CBD which is not derived from Cannabis sativa L with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
CLASS 5 - Medicated skin creams, washes, shampoos and ointments for treating dry scaly skin, minor cuts, scrapes, burns, itching, rashes, redness, chafed, chapped, cracked and acne prone skin with all of the foregoing containing CBD which is not derived from Cannabis sativa L with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
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.
MULTI-CLASS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
(1) List the goods and/or services by their international class number in consecutive numerical order, starting with the lowest numbered class (for example, International Class 3: perfume; International Class 18: cosmetic bags sold empty).
(2) Submit a filing fee for each international class not covered by the fee(s) already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule). Specifically, the application identifies goods and/or services based on use in commerce that are classified in at least TWO classes; however, applicant submitted a fee(s) sufficient for only ONE class. Applicant must either (a) submit the filing fees for the classes not covered by the submitted fees or (b) restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fees already paid.
(3) Submit verified dates of first use of the mark anywhere and in commerce for each international class. See more information about verified dates of use.
(4) Submit a specimen for each international class. The current specimen is acceptable for Class 5 only; and applicant needs a specimen for Class 3 if added to the application. See more information about specimens.
Examples of specimens for goods include tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, and photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, or displays associated with the actual goods at their point of sale. Webpages may also be specimens for goods when they include a picture or textual description of the goods associated with the mark and the means to order the goods.
(5) Submit a verified statement that “The specimen was in use in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed in the application at least as early as the filing date of the application.” See more information about verification.
See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a), 1112; 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(6)-(7), 2.34(a)(1), 2.86(a); TMEP §§904, 1403.01, 1403.02(c).
See an overview of the requirements for a Section 1(a) multiple-class application and how to satisfy the requirements online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form.
DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENT
Applicant may submit a disclaimer in the following format:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “CBD” apart from the mark as shown.
TMEP §1213.08(a)(i).
For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this issue using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), see the Disclaimer webpage.
To provide bar information. Applicant’s attorney should respond to this Office action by using the appropriate TEAS response form and provide his or her bar information in the “Attorney Information” page of the form, within the bar information section. See 37 C.F.R. §2.17(b)(1)(ii). Bar information provided in any other area of the form will be viewable by the public in USPTO records.
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. 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.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
/Jeffrey J Look/
Jeffrey J Look
Trademark Examining Attorney
Law Office 108
Phone: 571-272-1652
Email: jeffrey.look@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE