To: | Benaissa, Khalil (benaissanyc@gmail.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88463571 - TWO TONE - N/A |
Sent: | September 06, 2019 03:52:22 PM |
Sent As: | ecom122@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 Attachment - 7 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88463571
Mark: TWO TONE
|
|
Correspondence Address:
|
|
Applicant: Benaissa, Khalil
|
|
Reference/Docket No. N/A
Correspondence Email Address: |
|
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: September 06, 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).
However, applicant must respond to the following refusal and requirements.
SECTION 2(e)(1) REFUSAL - MERELY DESCRIPTIVE
A mark is merely descriptive if it describes a characteristic of an applicant’s goods. TMEP §1209.01(b); see, e.g., In re TriVita, Inc., 783 F.3d 872, 874, 114 USPQ2d 1574, 1575 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (quoting In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d 1171, 1173, 71 USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004)); In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (citing Estate of P.D. Beckwith, Inc. v. Comm’r of Patents, 252 U.S. 538, 543 (1920)).
“Whether consumers could guess what the product [or service] is from consideration of the mark alone is not the test.” In re Am. Greetings Corp., 226 USPQ 365, 366 (TTAB 1985).
Only where the combination of descriptive terms creates a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods 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 do not create a unique, incongruous, or nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods. Specifically, the applicant has applied to register the mark TWO TONE for “Clothing, namely, shirts, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, under shirts, polo shirts, rugby shirts, jerseys, dress shirts, denim jeans, hooded sweat shirts, warm-up suits, snow suits, parkas, cardigans, pants, jean jackets, cargo pants, shorts, boxer shorts, tops, tank tops, sweat shirts, sweat jackets, sweat shorts, sweat pants, sweaters, vests, fleece vests, pullovers, jackets, coats, blazers, suits, turtlenecks, reversible jackets, wind-resistant jackets, shell jackets, sports jackets, golf and ski jackets, heavy coats, over coats, top coats, swimwear, beachwear, visors, headbands, ear muffs, thermal underwear, long underwear, underclothes, caps, hats, knit caps, headwear, scarves, bandanas, belts, neckwear, ties, robes, gloves, boots, rainwear, footwear, shoes and sneakers” in class 025. TWO TONE means “Having two colors or two shades of a single color.” See http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=two-tone. Therefore, TWO TONE merely describes that applicant provides clothing, footwear and headwear goods that have two colors or two shades of a single color, which is a characteristic of applicant’s goods.
Moreover, many companies that provide similar goods as applicant use the phrase TWO TONE to describe a characteristic of their goods, as denoted by the following examples of use in the attached screenshots:
Thus, the wording in the applicant’s mark is merely descriptive of a characteristic of applicant’s goods.
Therefore, the phrase TWO TONE immediately conveys to purchasers that applicant provides clothing, footwear and headwear goods that have two colors or two shades of a single color. Thus, the mark is merely descriptive of a feature of applicant’s goods, and registration is refused pursuant to Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REQUIREMENT
(1) Fact sheets, instruction manuals, brochures, advertisements and pertinent screenshots of applicant’s website as it relates to the goods in the application, including any materials using the terms in the applied-for mark. Merely stating that information about the goods is available on applicant’s website is insufficient to make the information of record;
(2) If these materials are unavailable, applicant should submit similar documentation for goods of the same type, explaining how its own product will differ. If the goods feature new technology and information regarding competing goods is not available, applicant must provide a detailed factual description of the goods. Factual information about the goods must make clear how they operate, salient features, and prospective customers and channels of trade. Conclusory statements will not satisfy this requirement; and
(3) Applicant must respond to the following questions:
1. Are applicant’s goods two tone?
2. Do applicant’s goods feature two colors or two shades of a single color?
See 37 C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §§814, 1402.01(e).
Failure to comply with a request for information is grounds for refusing registration. In re Harley, 119 USPQ2d 1755, 1757-58 (TTAB 2016); TMEP §814.
IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS REQUIREMENT
Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate:
Class 025: “Clothing, namely, shirts, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, undershirts, polo shirts, rugby shirts, jerseys, dress shirts, denim jeans, hooded sweat shirts, warm-up suits, snow suits, parkas, cardigans, pants, jean jackets, cargo pants, shorts, boxer shorts, tops as clothing, tank tops, sweat shirts, sweat jackets, sweat shorts, sweat pants, sweaters, vests, fleece vests, pullovers, jackets, coats, blazers, suits, turtlenecks, reversible jackets, wind-resistant jackets, shell jackets, sports jackets, golf and ski jackets, heavy coats, over coats, top coats, swimwear, beachwear, visors being headwear, headbands, ear muffs, thermal underwear, long underwear, underclothes, caps being headwear, hats, knit caps being headwear, headwear, scarves, bandanas, belts, neckwear, ties as clothing, robes, gloves, boots, rainwear, footwear, shoes and sneakers”
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.
TRADEMARK ATTORNEY ADVISORY
Because of the legal technicalities and strict deadlines of the trademark application process, applicant may wish to hire a private attorney who specializes in trademark matters to assist in the process. The assigned trademark examining attorney can provide only limited assistance explaining the content of an Office action and the application process. USPTO staff cannot provide legal advice or statements about an applicant’s legal rights. TMEP §§705.02, 709.06. See Hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney for more information.
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.
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
/Rebecca Lee/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 122
(571) 272 - 7809
Rebecca.Lee1@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE