To: | PocketWatch, Inc. (vic@brandidentitylawyer.com) |
Subject: | U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 88437740 - MYSTERY SPLASHERS - PW-msplsh |
Sent: | 6/17/2019 5:10:07 PM |
Sent As: | ECOM120@USPTO.GOV |
Attachments: |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 88437740
MARK: MYSTERY SPLASHERS
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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: PocketWatch, 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: 6/17/2019
The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
DEFERRED SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks for Class 041 definite identifications only. TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
Please Note
The USPTO strongly discourages the use of the language of the international class headings or statements that the mark is used on all goods or services in a class to identify the goods or services for which registration of the mark is sought, and will generally require amendment of any such identification. See In re Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corporate Commc'ns S.p.A., 109 USPQ2d 1593, 1598 (TTAB 2014) (stating that "use of the words comprising a class heading as an identification in an application filed with the USPTO is not deemed to include all the goods or services in the established scope of that class"); TMEP §1402.07(a). See also TMEP §1402.01 regarding use of "included in this class" and similar wording.
Note also that an applicant is required to submit a verified statement that the applicant is either using the mark in commerce or has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with all the goods and/or services set forth in the identification. It is unlikely that any applicant is using or intends to use a mark on all goods or services within a certain class. If an applicant claims use or asserts a bona fide intention to use the mark on all goods/services in a particular class but only uses or intends to use the mark on some of those goods/services, the resulting registration could be void. In re Bose Corp., 580 F.3d 1240, 91 USPQ2d 1938 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ; Torres v. Cantine Torresella S.r.l., 808 F.2d 46, 1 USPQ2d 1483 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
A review of the merits of the application is deferred, and a search of the USPTO’s database of registered and pending marks is deferred in part, until applicant responds to this Office action by satisfying one of the following:
(1) Specify the number of classes for which registration is sought and provide the filing fees for all such classes.
(2) Delete class(es) from the application not covered by the fee(s) already submitted.
See TMEP §§810.01, 1401.04.
The application was filed online as a Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Reduced Fee (RF) application and therefore the filing fee per class was $275. See 37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(i)-(iii); TMEP §810. The application identifies goods and/or services in at least 18 class(es), which require a total of fees in the amount of $4950. Applicant submitted $275 with the application. The fee(s) submitted was sufficient for only 1 class.
IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENT
Additionally, applicant has provided the application fee for only 1 international class(es). Thus, not all international classes in the application are covered by the application fee(s). Because of this disparity, applicant must clarify the number of classes for which registration is sought. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(d), 2.86.
Applicant may respond by (1) adding one or more international class(es) to the application, and reclassifying the above goods and/or services accordingly; or (2) deleting from the application the goods and/or services for all but the number of international class(es) for which the application fee was submitted. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.86(a), 6.1; TMEP §§1403.02 et seq. If applicant adds one or more international classes to the application, applicant must comply with the multiple-class application requirements specified in this Office action.
If applicant’s “clothing” and “apparel” is in International Class 25, applicant may amend the identification to insert the word “namely,” after “clothing” and “apparel” and then list the specific types of clothing items in that class (e.g., shirts, pants, coats, dresses).
Applicant must specify the nature of the educational service being provided. If applicant is providing classes or similar group learning activities, the identification must specify (1) the form of the activity (e.g., classes, seminars, workshops) and (2) the subject matter or field (e.g., retirement benefits, nutrition, business management).
In an identification, an applicant must use the common commercial or generic name for the services, be specific and all-inclusive, and avoid using indefinite words or phrases. TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03(a). Further, applicant may amend the identification to list only those items that are within the scope of the services set forth in the initial application or as acceptably amended. See 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07. Scope is generally determined by the ordinary meaning of the wording in the identification. TMEP §1402.07(a).
In addition, software can be classified in three international classes (International Classes 9, 41, and 42) depending on whether the software is recorded on media, downloadable, or non-downloadable (either online or for temporary use), and if non-downloadable, whether it is game software. For information regarding proper classification of computer software, see TMEP §§1402.03(d), 1402.11(a)(xii), and the USPTO’s online U.S. Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual.
Moreover, the wording “tape; discs,” “bags,” “toys,” and “cards” in the identification of services for International Class 041 must be clarified because it is too broad and could include services or goods in other international classes. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03. For example, the wording toys could encompass “Sex toys” in Class 010 and “Action figure toys” in Class 028.
Applicant may substitute the following wording, with suggestions in bold, if accurate:
Class 007
Vacuum cleaner bags
Class 008
Knife bags
Class 009
Prerecorded music downloads, Prerecorded ringtones downloads, Blank floppy computer discs, Measuring tapes and Downloadable credit screening software, all in the field of music, dance, dramatic, theatrical, comedic and audiovisual long- and short-form animated and live-action entertainment; cases for mobile telephones and computers, computer game cartridges and discs; Downloadable accounting software for use in the construction industry for contract bidding and job accounting for personal and mobile computing devices; headphones; sunglasses; Microchip cards; Computer bags
Class 010
Cards printed with lines of varying widths used for testing and analyzing vision; Douche bags; Sex toys
Class 012
Vehicle brake discs; Inflatable air bags for use in vehicles for the prevention of injury in accidents
Class 013
Ammunition bags
Class 014
Keychains; clocks and watches
Class 016
Paper tape; Paper and paper goods, stationery, Scratch cards, posters, pens, pencils, decals,
Class 018
Barrel Bags, baggage tags, luggage, totes bags, carrying cases, satchels, valises, purses, wallets
Class 017
Duct tapes
Class 021
Lunch boxes; Heat-insulated containers for beverages, dishes, plates, cups, mugs
Class 024
Bedding, namely, Bed sheets
Class 025
Clothing and wearing apparel, namely, Panties
Class 026
Ornamental novelty buttons and pins
Class 028
Flying discs; Game cards; paper party favors; punching bags; Backgammon Games, Action figure toys and Beanbags in the form of playthings, sporting goods, namely, carriers specially adapted for sport balls, Coin-operated video games and gaming machines
Class 038
Providing an on-line forum for virtual vehicle customization
Class 041
Entertainment services, namely, cabarets; Educational services in the nature of beauty schools; production and distribution of music, films and television shows; fan club services; arranging and conducting entertainment and educational exhibitions, conferences, and symposia for producing video games and multimedia entertainment, namely, arranging and conducting business congresses for video game production; production and distribution of virtual reality games and augmented reality entertainment
Class 045
Online Social networking services; Licensing services in the field of intellectual property
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.
MULTIPLE-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.
(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 18 classes; however, applicant submitted a fee(s) sufficient for only 1 class(es). 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. For this application to proceed, applicant must explicitly address each refusal and/or requirement in this Office action. For a refusal, applicant may provide written arguments and evidence against the refusal, and may have other response options if specified above. For a requirement, applicant should set forth the changes or statements. Please see “Responding to Office Actions” and the informational video “Response to Office Action” for more information and tips on responding.
If applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney. All relevant e-mail communications will be placed in the official application record; however, an e-mail communication will not be accepted as a response to this Office action and will not extend the deadline for filing a proper response. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05. Further, although the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) in this Office action, the trademark examining attorney may not provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights. See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
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.
Dean, Jules
/Jules Dean/
Trademark Examining Attorney, Law Office 120
Phone: (571) 272-5322
Jules.Dean@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.