To: | VoxPopMe Ltd. (rhilbert@holleymenker.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88509168 - VOXPOPME - N/A |
Sent: | September 28, 2019 01:52:02 PM |
Sent As: | ecom121@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88509168
Mark: VOXPOPME
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: VoxPopMe Ltd.
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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: September 28, 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 of Office’s Database of Marks
Summary of Issues
Potential Section 2(d) Likelihood of Confusion Refusal—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 marks in the referenced applications. 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.
True Copy of Foreign Registration Required
An application with a Section 44(e) basis must include a true copy, photocopy, certification, or certified copy of a foreign registration from an applicant’s country of origin. 15 U.S.C. §1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(3)(ii); TMEP §§1004, 1004.01, 1016. In addition, the applicant’s country of origin must be a party to a convention or treaty relating to trademarks to which the United States is also a party, or must extend reciprocal registration rights to nationals of the United States by law. 15 U.S.C. §1126(b); TMEP §§1002.01, 1004.
Therefore, applicant must provide a copy of the foreign registration from applicant’s country of origin when it becomes available. TMEP §1003.04(a). A copy of a foreign registration must consist of a document issued to an applicant by, or certified by, the intellectual property office in applicant’s country of origin. TMEP §1004.01. If applicant’s country of origin does not issue registrations or Madrid Protocol certificates of extension of protection, the applicant may submit a copy of the Madrid Protocol international registration that shows that protection of the international registration has been extended to applicant’s country of origin. TMEP §1016. In addition, applicant must also provide an English translation if the foreign registration is not written in English. 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(3)(ii); TMEP §1004.01(a)-(b). The translation should be signed by the translator. TMEP §1004.01(b).
If the foreign registration is not yet available, applicant should inform the trademark examining attorney that the foreign application is still pending and request that the U.S. application be suspended until a copy of the foreign registration is available. TMEP §§716.02(b), 1003.04(a).
If applicant cannot satisfy the requirements of the Section 44(e) basis, applicant may amend the basis to Section 1(a) or 1(b), if applicant can satisfy the requirements for the new basis. See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a)-(b), 1126(e); TMEP §806.03. Please note that, if the U.S. application satisfied the requirements of Section 44(d) as of the U.S. application filing date, applicant may retain the priority filing date under Section 44(d) without perfecting the Section 44(e) basis, provided there is a continuing valid basis for registration. See 37 C.F.R. §2.35(b)(3)-(4); TMEP §§806.02(f), 806.03(h).
Particular Wording in the Identification of Goods and Services is Indefinite and Broad
Applicant must clarify particular wording in the identification of goods in International Class 9 because it is indefinite and too broad. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03. Specifically, “Computer software, namely, downloadable software and software for creating, using, organizing, editing, storing, sharing, accessing, uploading, transmitting, transcribing, sharing and analyzing images, photos, data, audio, video and multimedia files in the field of market research” is indefinite in the use of “Computer software, namely, downloadable software and software”. It is unclear whether the second instance of the word “software” is modified by downloadable. It is also unclear whether “for creating, using, organizing, editing, storing, sharing, accessing, uploading, transmitting, transcribing, sharing and analyzing images, photos, data, audio, video and multimedia files in the field of market research” is meant to modify “software” or “software” and “downloadable software”. Applicant must specify whether the software they provide is downloadable and non-downloadable, and the function of the software must be clear.
When identifying software, applicant’s must specify (1) the purpose or function of the software and its content or field of use, if content- or field- specific; and (2) whether its format is downloadable, recorded, or online non-downloadable. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.03(d), 1402.11(a). Downloadable and recorded goods are in International Class 9, whereas providing their temporary, online non-downloadable use is a service in International Class 42. See TMEP §1402.03(d).
Currently, “software for creating, using, organizing, editing, storing, sharing, accessing, uploading, transmitting, transcribing, sharing and analyzing images, photos, data, audio, video and multimedia files in the field of market research” could include Downloadable software in Class 9, or the service of providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software in Class 42. Thus, clarification is required. A function of all identified software must be clarified.
Applicant may adopt the following identification, if accurate:
Class 9: Computer software, namely, downloadable software for creating, using, organizing, editing, storing, sharing, accessing, uploading, transmitting, transcribing, sharing and analyzing images, photos, data, audio, video and multimedia files in the field of market research
Class 35: Consumer research; consumer marketing research and consulting related thereto; Marketing services, namely, conducting consumer tracking behavior research and consumer trend analysis; Marketing services, namely, consumer marketing research; Business services, namely, consumer research and consulting related thereto; Online business research services that allow users to share opinions with a marketing research company related to everyday consumer products and services; Consumer survey services; Conducting market surveys; Design of marketing surveys; Conducting business surveys; Business research and surveys; Business management; Business management consulting; Business management analysis; Business management consulting with relation to strategy, marketing, sales, operation, product design particularly specializing in the use of analytic and statistic models for the understanding and predicting of consumers, businesses, and market trends and actions; Providing business management information in connection with consulting and advisory services in the field of strategic planning; Business consultation and management regarding marketing activities and launching of new products; Advice in the field of business management and marketing; Branding services, namely, consulting, development, management and marketing of brands for businesses and/or individuals
Class 42: Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable computer software for creating, using, organizing, editing, storing, sharing, accessing, uploading, transmitting, transcribing, sharing and analyzing images, photos, data, audio, video and multimedia files in the field of market research
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 Advisory
(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 fees already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule). The application identifies goods and services that are classified in at least three classes; however, applicant submitted fees sufficient for only two classes. 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 44 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.
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 refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) 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
Rosen, Amanda
/Amanda Rosen/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 121
(571) 270-5984
Amanda.Rosen@USPTO.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE