To: | Wilkinson, Brad (OJCranSoda@Gmail.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88489743 - OJ CRAN SODA - N/A |
Sent: | March 25, 2020 12:41:34 PM |
Sent As: | ecom103@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88489743
Mark: OJ CRAN SODA
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Correspondence Address: |
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Applicant: Wilkinson, Brad
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Reference/Docket No. N/A
Correspondence Email Address: |
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COMBINED EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT/PRIORITY ACTION 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: March 25, 2020
Applicant must address issues shown below. On March 24, 2020, the examining attorney and Brad Wilkinson discussed the issues below. Applicant must timely respond to these issues. See 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.62(a); TMEP §708.05.
Phone/email response suggested. Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney to resolve the issues in this Office action. Although the USPTO does not accept emails as responses to Office actions, communication by phone or email is permissible to agree to proposed amendments to the application that will immediately place the application in condition for publication, registration, or suspension. See 37 C.F.R. §2.62(c); TMEP §707.
Sections 1, 2, and 45 Refusal – Merely Ornamental:
The size, location, dominance, and significance of the alleged mark as used on the goods are all relevant factors in determining the commercial impression of the applied-for mark. See, e.g., In re Peace Love World Live, LLC, 127 USPQ2d 1400, 1403 (TTAB 2018) (quoting In re Hulting, 107 USPQ2d 1175, 1178 (TTAB 2013)); In re Lululemon Athletica Can. Inc., 105 USPQ2d at 1687 (quoting In re Right-On Co., 87 USPQ2d 1152, 1156 (TTAB 2008)); TMEP §1202.03(a).
With respect to clothing, consumers may recognize small designs or discrete wording as trademarks, rather than as merely ornamental features, when located, for example, on the pocket or breast area of a shirt. See TMEP §1202.03(a). Consumers may not, however, perceive larger designs or slogans as trademarks when such matter is prominently displayed across the front of a t-shirt. See In re Pro-Line Corp., 28 USPQ2d at 1142; In re Dimitri’s Inc., 9 USPQ2d 1666, 1667-68 (TTAB 1988); TMEP §1202.03(a), (b), (f)(i), (f)(ii).
In this case, the submitted specimen shows the applied-for mark, “OJ CRAN SODA” (and design), located directly on the upper-center area of the front of the shirt, where ornamental elements often appear. See TMEP §1202.03(a), (b). Furthermore, the mark is displayed in a relatively large size on the clothing such that it dominates the overall appearance of the goods. Lastly, the applied-for mark appears to be a design element that is used in a merely decorative manner that would be perceived by consumers as having little or no particular source-identifying significance.
Therefore, consumers would view the applied-for mark as a decorative or ornamental feature of the goods, rather than as a trademark to indicate the source of applicant’s goods and to distinguish them from others.
In appropriate circumstances, applicant may overcome this refusal by satisfying one of the following options:
(1) Submit a different specimen (a verified “substitute” specimen) that 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 that shows proper trademark use for the identified goods in International Class 25. Examples of acceptable specimens that show non-ornamental use on clothing include hang tags and labels used inside a garment.
(2) Amend to the Supplemental Register, which is a second trademark register for marks not yet eligible for registration on the Principal Register, but which may become capable over time of functioning as source indicators.
(3) Claim acquired distinctiveness under Trademark Act Section 2(f) by submitting evidence that the applied-for mark has become distinctive of applicant’s goods; that is, proof that applicant’s extensive use and promotion of the mark allowed consumers now directly to associate the mark with applicant as the source of the goods.
(4) Submit evidence that the applied-for mark is an indicator of secondary source; that is, proof that the mark is already recognized as a source indicator for other goods or services that applicant sells/offers.
(5) Amend the filing basis to intent to use under Section 1(b). This option will later necessitate additional fee(s) and filing requirements.
For an overview of the response options above and instructions on how to satisfy each option online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, see the Ornamental Refusal webpage.
Application has been amended as shown below. As agreed to by the individual identified in the Priority Action section, the examining attorney has amended the application as shown below. Please notify the examining attorney immediately of any objections. TMEP §707. In addition, applicant is advised that amendments to the goods and/or services are permitted only if they clarify or limit them; amendments that add to or broaden the scope of the goods and/or services are not permitted. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a).
Amended Color Claim and Mark Description:
Color Claim: The colors black, orange, red, white, and grey are claimed as a feature of the mark.
Mark Description: “The mark consists of the stylized black wording “OJ CRAN SODA”. Above the wording is an image of three carafes. The carafe on the left is orange with a black outline, the middle carafe is red with a black outline, and the carafe on the right is white with grey shading and small circles depicting bubbles. The circles depicting bubbles are located throughout the inside and above the right-most carafe. The additional appearance of the color white represents background, outlining, shading, and/or transparent area and is not part of the mark.”
37 C.F.R. §2.52(b)(1); TMEP §807.07(a)(i), (a)(ii).
Unnecessary Translation Statement:
The following translation statement is removed from the record: “The English translation of OJ Cran Soda in the mark is Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Soda Water.” See 37 C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §809.03.
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.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
/Anna Oakes/
Anna J. Oakes
Examining Attorney
Law Office 103
(571) 272-2569
aoakes1@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE