To: | Sanchez, Jorge F. (jfswelder@yahoo.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88490852 - SMOKEY - N/A |
Sent: | October 01, 2019 06:23:32 PM |
Sent As: | ecom123@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88490852
Mark: SMOKEY
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: Sanchez, Jorge F.
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Reference/Docket No. N/A
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: October 01, 2019
INTRODUCTION
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 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).
MARK DESCRIPTION AMENDMENT REQUIRED
The following description is suggested, if accurate: The mark consists of a gray and black oval outlined by a silver and white rope design with the image of the state of Texas in the middle of the oval with white stars on a black background and black and white stripes inside the state and the wording “SMOKEY” in white on a red background written across the design.
DISCLAIMER REQUIRED
In this case, applicant must disclaim the design of the state of Texas because it is not inherently distinctive. This unregistrable design at best is primarily geographically descriptive of the origin of applicant’s goods and/or services. See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(e)(2); In re Societe Generale des Eaux Minerales de Vittel S.A., 824 F.2d 957, 959, 3 USPQ2d 1450, 1451-52 (Fed. Cir. 1987); In re Joint-Stock Co. “Baik”, 80 USPQ2d 1305, 1309 (TTAB 2006); TMEP §§1210.01(a), 1213, 1213.03(a), (c).
An accurate design of geographically descriptive matter and the word or words which describe the design are legal equivalents; therefore, a design must be disclaimed the same as the primarily geographically descriptive wording See In re Can. Dry Ginger Ale, Inc., 86 F.2d 830, 832, 32 USPQ 49, 50 (C.C.P.A. 1936); TMEP §1210.02(a).
The design of Texas is the legal equivalent of the geographic place or location named Texas. TMEP §1210.02(a). The attached evidence from The Columbia Gazeteer shows that Texas is a generally known geographic place or location. See http://www.columbiagazetteer.org/main/ViewPlace/5/142763; See TMEP §§1210.02 et seq. The goods and/or services for which applicant seeks registration originate in this geographic place or location as shown by applicant’s address of record which is in Texas. See TMEP §1210.03. Because the goods and/or services originate in this place or location, a public association of the goods and/or services with the place is presumed. See In re Hollywood Lawyers Online, 110 USPQ2d 1852, 1858 (TTAB 2014) (citing In re Spirits of New Merced, LLC, 85 USPQ2d 1614, 1621 (TTAB 2007)); TMEP §§1210.02(a) 1210.04.
Applicant may respond to this issue by submitting a disclaimer in the following format:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “THE PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS” apart from the mark as shown.
For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this issue using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), see the Disclaimer webpage.
TELEPHONE/EMAIL FOR CLARIFICATION RECOMMENDED
Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney with questions about this Office action. Although the trademark examining attorney cannot provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights, the trademark examining attorney can provide applicant with additional explanation about the requirements in this Office action. See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06. Although the USPTO does not accept emails as responses to Office actions, emails can be used for informal communications and will be included in the application record. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05.
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.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action
/Collier L Johnson II/
Collier L Johnson II
Examining Attorney
Law Office 123
571-270-0878
collier.johnson@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE