To: | GS Holistic, LLC (marc@hankinpatentlaw.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88516924 - G PEN CONNECT - GS-00032 |
Sent: | December 03, 2019 11:02:04 AM |
Sent As: | ecom108@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88516924
Mark: G PEN CONNECT
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Correspondence Address: |
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Applicant: GS Holistic, LLC
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Reference/Docket No. GS-00032
Correspondence Email Address: |
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SUSPENSION NOTICE
No Response Required
The cited prior-pending mark in Application No. 88380212 is still pending.
Applicant filed a Response on October 23, 2019 and offered arguments in support of registration.
Based on applicant’s response, the trademark examining attorney notes that the following requirement has been satisfied: requirement to disclaim descriptive wording in the mark. See TMEP §§713.02, 714.04.
Further, applicant’s arguments have been carefully considered but found unpersuasive for the reasons set forth below. Additionally, applicant did not amend the identification of goods as proposed. Therefore, the partial Trademark Act Section 2(d) Refusal and requirement to amend the identification of goods are continued and maintained. Further, action on this application is SUSPENDED pending disposition of the potentially-conflicting pending application in U.S. Serial No. 86706212. 37 C.F.R. §2.83(c); TMEP §§716.02(c), 1208.02(c).
REFUSALS AND REQUIREMENT CONTINUED AND MAINTAINED
PARTIAL TRADEMARK ACT 2(d) REFUSAL CONTINUED AND MAINTAINED
Registration previously was refused partially because applicant’s mark is likely to be confused with the marks in Reg. Nos. 5020915 and 5020916. In addition, applicant previously was provided information regarding pending U.S. Application Serial No. 88380212, which may present a bar to registration of applicant’s mark based on a likelihood of confusion under Trademark Act Section 2(d). See 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq.
In its Response, applicant argued the applied-for mark is not likely to be confused with the marks in the cited registrations and application. However, applicant’s arguments are unpersuasive. First, it is not necessary for the marks to be identical in order to find a likelihood of confusion. Marks may be confusingly similar in appearance where similar terms or phrases or similar parts of terms or phrases appear in the compared marks and create a similar overall commercial impression. See Crocker Nat’l Bank v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 228 USPQ 689, 690-91 (TTAB 1986), aff’d sub nom. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce v. Wells Fargo Bank, Nat’l Ass’n, 811 F.2d 1490, 1495, 1 USPQ2d 1813, 1817 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (finding COMMCASH and COMMUNICASH confusingly similar); In re Corning Glass Works, 229 USPQ 65, 66 (TTAB 1985) (finding CONFIRM and CONFIRMCELLS confusingly similar); In re Pellerin Milnor Corp., 221 USPQ 558, 560 (TTAB 1983) (finding MILTRON and MILLTRONICS confusingly similar); TMEP §1207.01(b)(ii)-(iii). In this case, the marks are confusingly similar because similar terms and phases appear in the compared marks and create a similar overall commercial impression.
In the response, applicant also maintains that the parties’ goods are not related because they differ (specifically, applicant contends the goods it provides are not in Class 34). However, the fact that the goods of the parties may differ is not controlling in determining likelihood of confusion. The issue is not likelihood of confusion between particular goods, but likelihood of confusion as to the source or sponsorship of those goods. In re Majestic Distilling Co., 315 F.3d 1311, 1316, 65 USPQ2d 1201, 1205 (Fed. Cir. 2003); In re Shell Oil Co., 992 F.2d 1204, 1208, 26 USPQ2d 1687, 1689 (Fed. Cir. 1993); TMEP §1207.01.
In this case, applicant’s goods are related to registrant’s goods because the circumstances surrounding their marketing are such that they could give rise to the mistaken belief that the goods emanate from the same source. Accordingly, applicant’s goods are sufficiently related to the goods in the cited registration and application for purposes of the likelihood of confusion analysis.
The trademark examining attorney has found applicant’s arguments unpersuasive and still believes there may be a likelihood of confusion between applicant’s mark and the cited registrations and application.
REQUIREMENT TO AMEND IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS CONTINUED AND MAINTAINED
In the response, applicant maintains that the same descriptors, that is, the identifications found indefinite in the prior action, previously have been approved. However, prior decisions and actions of other trademark examining attorneys in registering other marks have little evidentiary value and are not binding upon the USPTO or the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. TMEP §1207.01(d)(vi); see In re USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, Inc., 122 USPQ2d 1790, 1793 n.10 (TTAB 2017). Each case is decided on its own facts, and each mark stands on its own merits. In re USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, Inc., 122 USPQ2d at 1793 n.10 (quoting In re Boulevard Entm’t, 334 F.3d 1336, 1343, 67 USPQ2d 1475, 1480 (Fed. Cir. 2003)).
Further, the USPTO has the discretion to determine the degree of particularity needed to clearly identify goods and/or services covered by a mark. In re Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corp. Commc’ns S.p.A, 109 USPQ2d 1593, 1597 (TTAB 2014) (citing In re Omega SA, 494 F.3d 1362, 1365, 83 USPQ2d 1541, 1543-44 (Fed. Cir. 2007)). Accordingly, the USPTO requires the description of goods and/or services in a U.S. application to be specific, definite, clear, accurate, and concise. TMEP §1402.01; see In re Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corp. Commc’ns S.p.A, 109 USPQ2d at 1597-98; Cal. Spray-Chem. Corp. v. Osmose Wood Pres. Co. of Am., 102 USPQ 321, 322 (Comm’r Pats. 1954). As such, applicant must amend the identification to clarify the nature of the vaporizers it provides and ensure proper classification.
Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate (proposed amendments in bold):
International Class 10: Electric vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., medical} aromatherapy
purposes; Structural parts for electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., medical} aromatherapy purposes, namely, atomizers, electronic vaporizer caps,
vaporizer refill cartridges sold empty, clearomizers, coils, cones, drip tips, tanks, glass hydro mouthpieces and stems; Refilling tools for electronic vaporizers for medical aromatherapy purposes, namely, eye droppers for liquid that is vaporizable for aromatherapy purposes, {specify nature of syringes,
e.g., medical, disposable} syringes for liquid that is vaporizable for aromatherapy purposes; Cartomizers, namely, combination electronic vaporizer refill cartridges sold empty and atomizers,
sold as a component of electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., medical} purposes; Cases for electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose
of vaporizers, e.g., medical} aromatherapy purposes; Kits for electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., medical}
aromatherapy purposes comprising electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., medical} aromatherapy purposes and refill cartridges for electronic vaporizers
for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., medical} aromatherapy purposes sold empty
International Class 11: Electric vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., household} aromatherapy purposes;
Structural parts for electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., household; non-medical} aromatherapy purposes, namely, atomizers, electronic vaporizer caps,
vaporizer refill cartridges sold empty, clearomizers, coils, cones, drip tips, tanks, glass hydro mouthpieces, and stems; Refilling tools for electronic vaporizers for non-medical aromatherapy purposes, namely, eye droppers for liquid that is vaporizable for aromatherapy purposes, {specify nature of
syringes, e.g., medical, disposable} syringes for liquid that is vaporizable for aromatherapy purposes; Cartomizers for {specify purpose of cartomizers, e.g., non-medical
aromatherapy purposes}, namely, combination electronic vaporizer refill cartridges sold empty and atomizers, sold as a component of electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of
vaporizers, e.g., household} purposes; Cases for electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., household; non-medical} aromatherapy purposes; Kits for electronic vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., household; non-medicak} aromatherapy purposes comprising electronic
vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., household; non-medical} aromatherapy purposes and refill cartridges for electronic vaporizers for {specify
purpose of vaporizers, e.g., household; non-medical} aromatherapy purposes sold empty
International Class 21: Electric vaporizers for {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., non-medical} aromatherapy purposes
International Class 34: Electric {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers} for aromatherapy purposes; Structural parts for electronic {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers} for aromatherapy purposes, namely, atomizers, electronic vaporizer caps, vaporizer refill cartridges sold empty, clearomizers, coils, cones, drip tips, tanks, glass hydro mouthpieces and stems; Refilling tools for electronic vaporizers for aromatherapy purposes, namely, eye droppers for liquid that is vaporizable for aromatherapy purposes, {specify nature of syringes, e.g., medical, disposable} syringes for liquid that is vaporizable for aromatherapy purposes; Cartomizers, namely, combination electronic vaporizer refill cartridges sold empty and atomizers, sold as a component of electronic {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers}; Cases for electronic {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers} for aromatherapy purposes; Kits for electronic {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers} for aromatherapy purposes comprising electronic {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers} for {aromatherapy purposes and refill cartridges for electronic {specify purpose of vaporizers, e.g., smokers’ oral vaporizers} for aromatherapy purposes sold empty
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.
Applicant should note that the refusals and requirement will be made final once this application is removed from suspension, unless a new issue arises. See TMEP §716.01.
Suspension process. The USPTO will periodically check this application to determine if it should remain suspended. See TMEP §716.04. As needed, the trademark examining attorney will issue a letter to applicant to inquire about the status of the reason for the suspension. TMEP §716.05.
No response required. Applicant may file a response, but is not required to do so.
/Oreoluwa Alao/
Oreoluwa Alao
Examining Attorney
Law Office 108
(571) 270-7210
oreoluwa.alao@uspto.gov