| To: | ArtSkills, Inc. (trademarks@thebellesgroup.com) |
| Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88483046 - PROSTRENGTH - ART-TM30 |
| Sent: | September 19, 2019 02:14:22 PM |
| Sent As: | ecom120@uspto.gov |
| Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
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U.S. Application Serial No. 88483046
Mark: PROSTRENGTH
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: ArtSkills, Inc.
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Reference/Docket No. ART-TM30
Correspondence Email Address: |
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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 19, 2019
The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issues below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
SEARCH RESULTS: PRIOR PENDING APPLICATION
In response to this Office action, applicant may present arguments in support of registration by addressing the issue of the potential conflict between applicant’s mark and the mark in the referenced application. Applicant’s election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits applicant’s right to address this issue later if a refusal under Section 2(d) issues.
SPECIMEN REFUSAL – MARK DIFFERS ON DRAWING & SPECIMEN
Registration is refused because the specimen does not show the mark in the drawing in use in commerce in International Class 28, which is required in the application or amendment to allege use. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a), 1301.04(g)(i). The mark appearing on the specimen and in the drawing must match; that is, the mark in the drawing “must be a substantially exact representation of the mark” on the specimen. See 37 C.F.R. §2.51(a)-(b); TMEP §807.12(a).
In this case, the specimen displays the mark with an additional band around the term “STRENGH” which is not shown on the drawing. Applicant has thus failed to provide the required evidence of use of the mark in commerce. See TMEP §807.12(a).
Applicant may respond to this refusal by satisfying one of the following:
(1) Submit a new drawing of the mark that shows the mark on the specimen and, if appropriate, an amendment of the description and/or color claim that agrees with the new drawing. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72(a)-(b). Applicant may amend the mark in the drawing to match the mark on the specimen but may not make any other changes or amendments that would materially alter the drawing of the mark. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72(a)-(b); TMEP §807.14.
(2) Submit a different specimen (a verified “substitute” specimen) for each applicable international class that (a) shows the mark in the drawing in actual use in commerce for the goods in the application or amendment to allege use, and (b) was in actual use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application or prior to the filing of an amendment to allege use.
Examples of specimens for goods include tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, and displays associated with the actual goods at their point of sale. See TMEP §§904.03 et seq. 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. TMEP §904.03(i).
For more information about drawings and instructions on how to satisfy these response options online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, see the Drawing webpage.
Applicant should note the following additional ground for refusal.
SPECIMEN REFUSAL – SPECIMEN ILLEGIBLE
Examples of specimens for goods include tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, and displays associated with the actual goods at their point of sale. See TMEP §§904.03 et seq. 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. TMEP §904.03(i).
Applicant may respond to this refusal by satisfying one of the following for each applicable international class:
(1) Submit a true copy of the originally submitted specimen that is clear and readable, with a statement by the person who transmitted it that it is a true copy of the specimen that was originally submitted.
(2) Submit a different specimen (a verified “substitute” specimen) that (a) was in actual use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application or prior to the filing of an amendment to allege use and (b) shows the mark in actual use in commerce for the goods identified in the application or amendment to allege use. A “verified substitute specimen” is a specimen that is accompanied by the following statement made in a signed affidavit or supported by a declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The substitute (or new, or originally submitted, if appropriate) specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application or prior to the filing of the amendment to allege use.” The substitute specimen cannot be accepted without this statement.
(3) Amend the filing basis to intent to use under Section 1(b), for which no specimen is required. This option will later necessitate additional fees and filing requirements such as providing a specimen.
For an overview of all the response options referenced above and instructions on how to satisfy these options online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, see the Specimen webpage.
NEW DRAWING REQUIRED
Applicant must submit a new drawing with the TM symbol deleted from the drawing of the mark; this symbol is not part of the mark and is not registrable. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72; TMEP §807.14(a). Although applicant must delete this matter, applicant may not make any other changes or amendments that would materially alter the drawing of the mark. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72; TMEP §§807.14 et seq. For more information about deleting matter from the drawing, see the Drawing webpage.
MARK DESCRIPTION
The following description is suggested, if accurate: The mark consists of a shaded background featuring the unshaded wording “PROSTRENGTH”, with the “O” in “PRO” encompassing the wording “STRENGTH”, which is smaller than the wording “PRO”.
IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS
Many of the entries in the identification of goods, such as “balance balls” and “foam rollers”, among others, are indefinite and must be clarified because the nature and purpose of the goods, such as whether they are for exercise, is unspecified. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.01.
Additionally, the wording is overbroad because it includes goods which could be classified in other international classes, such as Class 10 massage equipment, Class 21 shaker bottles, Class 24 towels, Class 26 armbands, and Class 27 yoga mats.
Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate:
Class 10: lactation massage bars; foam massage rollers;
Class 21: Shaker bottles sold empty;
Class 24: Cooling towels;
Class 26: Sleeved active armbands;
Class 27: Yoga mats;
Class 28: Athletic equipment, exercise equipment, fitness equipment, sports equipment and yoga equipment, namely, ankle weights, exercise balance balls, exercise balls, exercise tension bands, exercise weights, exercise abdominal wheels being rollers, foam exercise rollers, inflatable exercise balls, jump ropes, resistance exercise bands, slimmer belts, stretch exercise bands, tension exercise bands, waist slimming belts being waist trimmer exercise belts, waist trainers being waist trimmer exercise belts, waist trimmers being waist trimmer exercise belts, workout and weight lifting gloves, wrist exercise weights, kettlebells, medicine balls, push up bars being handles, exercise running bands, lateral resistance exercise bands, yoga block.
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 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 fees already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule). Specifically, the application identifies goods based on use in commerce that are classified in at least 6 classes; however, applicant submitted a fee sufficient for only 1 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 not acceptable for any international class. 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 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.
ASSISTANCE
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action
/John S. Miranda/
Trademark Examining Attorney, Law Office 120
United States Patent & Trademark Office
571-272-4553
John.Miranda@USPTO.GOV
RESPONSE GUIDANCE
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.
