Response to Office Action

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. PTO Form 1957 (Rev 10/2011)

OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp 09/20/2020)

---

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. PTO Form 1957 (Rev 10/2011)

OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp 09/20/2020)

Response to Office Action

To the Commissioner for Trademarks:

Application serial no. 88424690 MASTERS IN GOVERNANCE(Standard Characters, see http://uspto.report/TM/88424690/mark.png) has been amended as follows:

ARGUMENT(S)
In response to the substantive refusal(s), please note the following:

In this response to the October 21, 2020 Office Action, Applicant submits the following additional evidence of acquired distinctiveness:

· Declaration of Stephanie Goodlett showing that California School Boards Association (“CSBA”) has spent an average of approximately $3,581.57 each year since 2002 to promote the Masters in Governance program.

· Each of the following as part of the Goodlett Declaration:

o Masters in Governance brochures over the years starting from 2000.

o Google search results for “Masters in Governance.”

o Third party articles from newspapers that reference the Masters in Governance program.

This evidence shows that the MASTERS IN GOVERNANCE mark has acquired distinctiveness. The Google search results are primarily third party websites referencing MASTERS IN GOVERNANCE as a CSBA program. Similarly, the unsolicited third party media articles show that MASTERS IN GOVERNANCE is recognized as a CSBA program. In short, consumers in the US understand that MASTERS IN GOVERNANCE refers to a program provided by the Applicant, CSBA.

EVIDENCE
Evidence in the nature of Declaration of Stephanie Goodlett, Exhibit A (parts 1 & 2), Exhibit B, Exhibit C has been attached.
Original PDF file:
evi_389939129-20200412191935175769_._Declaration_of_Stephanie_Goodlett.pdf
Converted PDF file(s) ( 2 pages)
Evidence-1
Evidence-2
Original PDF file:
evi_389939129-20200412191935175769_._Exhibit_A_Part1.pdf
Converted PDF file(s) ( 27 pages)
Evidence-1
Evidence-2
Evidence-3
Evidence-4
Evidence-5
Evidence-6
Evidence-7
Evidence-8
Evidence-9
Evidence-10
Evidence-11
Evidence-12
Evidence-13
Evidence-14
Evidence-15
Evidence-16
Evidence-17
Evidence-18
Evidence-19
Evidence-20
Evidence-21
Evidence-22
Evidence-23
Evidence-24
Evidence-25
Evidence-26
Evidence-27
Original PDF file:
evi_389939129-20200412191935175769_._Exhibit_A_Part2.pdf
Converted PDF file(s) ( 27 pages)
Evidence-1
Evidence-2
Evidence-3
Evidence-4
Evidence-5
Evidence-6
Evidence-7
Evidence-8
Evidence-9
Evidence-10
Evidence-11
Evidence-12
Evidence-13
Evidence-14
Evidence-15
Evidence-16
Evidence-17
Evidence-18
Evidence-19
Evidence-20
Evidence-21
Evidence-22
Evidence-23
Evidence-24
Evidence-25
Evidence-26
Evidence-27
Original PDF file:
evi_1-389939129-20200412191935175769_._Exhibit_B.pdf
Converted PDF file(s) ( 2 pages)
Evidence-1
Evidence-2
Original PDF file:
evi_389939129-20200412191935175769_._Exhibit_C.pdf
Converted PDF file(s) ( 18 pages)
Evidence-1
Evidence-2
Evidence-3
Evidence-4
Evidence-5
Evidence-6
Evidence-7
Evidence-8
Evidence-9
Evidence-10
Evidence-11
Evidence-12
Evidence-13
Evidence-14
Evidence-15
Evidence-16
Evidence-17
Evidence-18

OWNER AND/OR ENTITY INFORMATION
Applicant proposes to amend the following:
Current: California School Boards Association, a corporation of California, having an address of
      3251 Beacon Blvd.
      West Sacramento, California 95691
      United States

Proposed: California School Boards Association, a corporation of California, having an address of
      3251 Beacon Blvd.
      West Sacramento, California 95691
      United States
      Email Address: XXXX
Correspondence Information (current):
      Cristina N. Rubke
      PRIMARY EMAIL FOR CORRESPONDENCE: trademarks@sflaw.com
      SECONDARY EMAIL ADDRESS(ES) (COURTESY COPIES): ehoward@sflaw.com; crubke@sflaw.com; hnye@sflaw.com

The docket/reference number is 11265/30400.
Correspondence Information (proposed):
      Cristina N. Rubke
      PRIMARY EMAIL FOR CORRESPONDENCE: trademarks@sflaw.com
      SECONDARY EMAIL ADDRESS(ES) (COURTESY COPIES): ehoward@sflaw.com; crubke@sflaw.com; ssmith@sflaw.com

The docket/reference number is 11265/30400.

Requirement for Email and Electronic Filing: I understand that a valid email address must be maintained by the owner/holder and the owner's/holder's attorney, if appointed, and that all official trademark correspondence must be submitted via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

SIGNATURE(S)
Response Signature
Signature: /Cristina Rubke/     Date: 04/13/2020
Signatory's Name: Cristina N. Rubke
Signatory's Position: Attorney of record, California bar member

Signatory's Phone Number: 415-421-6500

The signatory has confirmed that he/she is a U.S.-licensed attorney who is an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a U.S. state (including the District of Columbia and any U.S. Commonwealth or territory); and he/she is currently the owner's/holder's attorney or an associate thereof; and to the best of his/her knowledge, if prior to his/her appointment another U.S.-licensed attorney not currently associated with his/her company/firm previously represented the owner/holder in this matter: the owner/holder has revoked their power of attorney by a signed revocation or substitute power of attorney with the USPTO; the USPTO has granted that attorney's withdrawal request; the owner/holder has filed a power of attorney appointing him/her in this matter; or the owner's/holder's appointed U.S.-licensed attorney has filed a power of attorney appointing him/her as an associate attorney in this matter.

Mailing Address:    Cristina N. Rubke
   SHARTSIS FRIESE LLP
   
   ONE MARITIME PLAZA, 18TH FLOOR
   SAN FRANCISCO, California 94111
Mailing Address:    Cristina N. Rubke
   SHARTSIS FRIESE LLP
   ONE MARITIME PLAZA, 18TH FLOOR
   SAN FRANCISCO, California 94111
        
Serial Number: 88424690
Internet Transmission Date: Mon Apr 13 14:15:09 ET 2020
TEAS Stamp: USPTO/ROA-XX.XX.XX.XXX-20200413141509760
650-88424690-710786c397ab6d1cd3f509355da
abc93c74ed713edaab5d27ba891dfef571156-N/
A-N/A-20200413141230058843