| To: | Thrombolex, Inc. (ipdocket@foxrothschild.com) |
| Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88533456 - BASHIR - 163283.00015 |
| Sent: | October 23, 2019 01:26:02 PM |
| Sent As: | ecom107@uspto.gov |
| Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 Attachment - 7 Attachment - 8 Attachment - 9 Attachment - 10 Attachment - 11 Attachment - 12 Attachment - 13 Attachment - 14 Attachment - 15 Attachment - 16 Attachment - 17 Attachment - 18 Attachment - 19 Attachment - 20 Attachment - 21 Attachment - 22 |
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. 88533456
Mark: BASHIR
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: Thrombolex, Inc.
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Reference/Docket No. 163283.00015
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 23, 2019
The examining attorney has searched the Office records and has found no similar registered or pending mark which would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.
Registration Refused - Surname Refusal
An applicant’s mark is primarily merely a surname if the surname, when viewed in connection with the applicant’s recited goods and/or services, “‘is the primary significance of the mark as a whole to the purchasing public.’” Earnhardt v. Kerry Earnhardt, Inc., 864 F.3d 1374, 1377, 123 USPQ2d 1411, 1413 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting In re Hutchinson Tech. Inc., 852 F.2d 552, 554, 7 USPQ2d 1490, 1492 (Fed. Cir. 1988)); TMEP §1211.01.
The following five inquiries are often used to determine the public’s perception of a term’s primary significance:
(1) Whether the surname is rare;
(2) Whether anyone connected with applicant uses the term as a surname;
(3) Whether the term has any recognized meaning other than as a surname;
(4) Whether the term has the structure and pronunciation of a surname; and
(5) Whether the term is sufficiently stylized to remove its primary significance from that of a surname.
In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d 1276, 1278 & n.2, 1282-83 (TTAB 2016) (citing In re Benthin Mgmt. GmbH, 37 USPQ2d 1332, 1333-34 (TTAB 1995) for the Benthin inquiries/factors); TMEP §1211.01; see also In re Etablissements Darty et Fils, 759 F.2d 15, 16-18, 225 USPQ 652, 653 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
These inquiries are not exclusive, and any of these circumstances – singly or in combination – and any other relevant circumstances may be considered when making this determination. In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d at 1277-78; TMEP §1211.01. For example, when the applied-for mark is not stylized, it is unnecessary to consider the fifth inquiry. In re Yeley, 85 USPQ2d 1150, 1151 (TTAB 2007); TMEP §1211.01.
Please see the evidence included at the end of this Office action from LexisNexis, establishing the surname significance of “BASHIR”. This evidence shows the applied-for mark appearing 5862 times as a surname in the LEXISNEXIS® surname database, which is a weekly updated directory of cell phone and other phone numbers (such as voice over IP) from various data providers.
Also, it is noted that, according to the attached press release about applicant’s goods, the technology was developed by Riyaz Bashir, MD, a Professor of Medicine and Director of Vascular and Endovascular Medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See attached from Endovascular Today, http://evtoday.com/2019/05/16/thrombolex-receives-fda-clearance-for-bashir-endovascular-catheters?center=16. Further, according to a news release on EurekAlert!, Dr. Bashir is a co-founder and has equity interest in applicant, Thrombolex, Inc. See attached from http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-05/tuhs-2co051719.php.
A term that is the surname of an individual applicant or that of an officer, founder, owner, or principal of applicant’s business is probative evidence of the term’s surname significance. TMEP §1211.02(b)(iv); see, e.g., In re Etablissements Darty et Fils, 759 F.2d 15, 16, 225 USPQ 652, 653 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (holding DARTY primarily merely a surname where “Darty” was the surname of applicant’s corporate president); In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d 1276, 1278-80 (TTAB 2016) (holding ALDECOA primarily merely a surname where ALDECOA was the surname of the founder and individuals continuously involved in the business); In re Integrated Embedded, 120 USPQ2d 1504, 1507 (TTAB 2016) (holding BARR GROUP primarily merely a surname where BARR was the surname of the co-founder and applicant’s corporate officer and GROUP was found “incapable of lending source-identifying significance to the mark”); Miller v. Miller, 105 USPQ2d 1615, 1620, 1622-23 (TTAB 2013) (holding MILLER LAW GROUP primarily merely a surname where “Miller” was the surname of the applicant and the term “law group” was found generic).
Further, according to the “Management Team” page of applicant’s website, Dr. Bashir is the Ex-Officio Chief Medical Consultant of the business. See attached from http://www.thrombolex.com/management-team. A term appearing on an applicant’s own website in a manner that confirms the term’s surname significance is probative evidence on the issue of that term’s primary significance. See In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d 1276, 1278-80 (TTAB 2016) (holding ALDECOA primarily merely a surname where applicant’s website explains the Aldecoa family history in coffee for three generations and notes that the current generation of coffee brewers shares the same surname); In re Integrated Embedded, 120 USPQ2d 1504, 1507 (TTAB 2016) (holding BARR GROUP primarily merely a surname where applicant’s website promotes its association with Mr. Michael Barr and his credentials and accomplishments as an active participant in applicant’s activities under the mark).
Moreover, evidence that a term has no recognized meaning or significance other than as a surname is relevant to determining whether the term would be perceived as primarily merely a surname. See In re Weiss Watch Co., 123 USPQ2d 1200, 1203 (TTAB 2017); In re Eximius Coffee, LLC, 120 USPQ2d 1276, 1280 (TTAB 2016); TMEP §1211.02(b)(vi). The attached evidence from two dictionaries shows that “BASHIR” does not appear in the dictionaries. Thus, this term appears to have no recognized meaning or significance other than as a surname. See attached from Macmillan Dictionary at http://www.macmillandictionary.com/spellcheck/british/?q=bashir and Cambridge Dictionary at http://dictionary.cambridge.org/spellcheck/english/?q=bashir.
Clearly, applicant’s product is named after its inventor, Dr. Bashir, who also is a founder, owner, and a manager of applicant’s business. The evidence shows that “BASHIR” is primarily merely a surname.
Accordingly, registration is refused.
Response Options
(1) Prior Registrations: Applicant may claim ownership of one or more active prior registrations on the Principal Register of the same mark for goods and/or services that are sufficiently similar to those named in the pending application. 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(1); TMEP §§1212, 1212.04. Applicant may do so by submitting the following statement, if accurate: “The mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services as evidenced by the ownership of active U.S. Registration No(s). [specify] on the Principal Register for the same mark for sufficiently similar goods and/or services.” TMEP §1212.04(e).
(2) Five Years’ Use: Applicant may submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services through the applicant’s substantially exclusive and continuous use of the mark in commerce that the U.S. Congress may lawfully regulate for at least the five years immediately before the date of this statement.” 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(2); TMEP §1212.05(d); see 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(1).
(3) Other Evidence: Applicant may submit other evidence of acquired distinctiveness, with the following statement, if accurate: “The evidence shows that the mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services.” 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a)(3); TMEP §1212.06. Such additional evidence may include “advertising expenditures, sales success, length and exclusivity of use, unsolicited media coverage, and consumer studies (linking the name to a source).” In re Change Wind Corp., 123 USPQ2d 1453, 1467 (TTAB 2017) (quoting In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1300, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1424 (Fed. Cir. 2005)).
If applicant cannot satisfy one of the above, applicant may respond by amending the application to seek registration on the Supplemental Register. See 15 U.S.C. §1091; 37 C.F.R. §§2.47, 2.75(a).
E-Mail or Telephone Response Encouraged
If applicant wishes to amend to the Supplemental Register, applicant is encouraged to telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney (kevin.dinallo@uspto.gov) to resolve the issues raised in this Office action by examiner’s amendment. Although the USPTO will not accept a formal response by e-mail, an applicant may communicate informally by phone or e-mail with the trademark examining attorney to agree to a proposed amendment to the application that will immediately place the application in condition for publication for opposition, issuance of a registration, or suspension. See 37 C.F.R. §2.62(c); TMEP §707.
Response Guidelines
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
If applicant has any questions, please email or telephone the examiner at the address or number provided below.
/Kevin M. Dinallo/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 107
kevin.dinallo@uspto.gov
571-272-9731
RESPONSE GUIDANCE
Search: Public Records : Surname
Terms: last-name(bashir) maxresults(500)
Total number found: 5862
No. Name Address Phone
1. BASHIR, A 15739 SW 102ND
MIAMI, FL 33196-5420 305-498-0145
2. BASHIR, A 15739 SW 102ND
MIAMI, FL 33196-5420 305-498-0145
3. BASHIR, A 501 12TH
BROOKLYN, NY 11215-7029 718-696-9292
4. BASHIR, A 6569 158TH W APT 222
APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124-6042 515-201-3839
5. BASHIR, A 6569 158TH W APT 222
APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124-6042 515-201-3839
6. BASHIR, A 26 ANJALI
STATEN ISLAND, NY 10314-7713 443-275-8280
7. BASHIR, A 2380 ARDSHEAL
LA HABRA HEIGHTS, CA 90631-7706 562-242-5342
8. BASHIR, A 7 AUTUMN LEAF APT 9
NASHUA, NH 03060-5557 603-275-2200
9. BASHIR, A 2406 AYLESBURY
DECATUR, GA 30034-3704 404-447-0884
10. BASHIR, A 60 BEACH
SWAMPSCOTT, MA 01907-1758 781-985-3572
11. BASHIR, A 890 BENEDETTI APT 103
NAPERVILLE, IL 60563-8928 917-682-3498
12. BASHIR, A 733 BROOKSIDE
WOODLAND, CA 95776-5737 530-661-6384
13. BASHIR, A 12 CALLE VIVEZA
SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673-6852 714-925-4297
14. BASHIR, A 1177 CARDENAS SE APT 1
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87108-4863 505-388-6994
15. BASHIR, A 1177 CARDENAS SE APT 1
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87108-4863 505-800-9806
16. BASHIR, A 1041 CARLOW
DES PLAINES, IL 60016-8725 847-363-2517
17. BASHIR, A 12608 CARRINGTON HILL
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20878-2238 240-813-5964
18. BASHIR, A 3012 CHRISTOPHER
BALTIMORE, MD 21214-1307 443-838-4737
19. BASHIR, A 3012 CHRISTOPHER
BALTIMORE, MD 21214-1307 443-838-4737
20. BASHIR, A 7776 COTTONWOOD
WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266-8043 515-201-3839
21. BASHIR, A 7776 COTTONWOOD
WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266-8043 515-201-3840
22. BASHIR, A 5900 COTTONWOOD
YPSILANTI, MI 48197-8203 734-829-9188
23. BASHIR, A 7630 CUPIDS DART APT 201
MANASSAS, VA 20109-8400 571-265-1396
24. BASHIR, A 7136 CYPRESS HILLS
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6246 718-687-9186
25. BASHIR, A 1222 DRUID OAKS NE
ATLANTA, GA 30329-3273 305-498-0145
26. BASHIR, A 26 ELM
BAYONNE, NJ 07002-4371 201-443-7936
27. BASHIR, A 308 E GATEHOUSE APT D
METAIRIE, LA 70001-2128 504-864-3758
28. BASHIR, A 1871 GATES APT 2L
FLUSHING, NY 11385-2906 646-339-8370
29. BASHIR, A 183 HARTFORD
NEW BRITAIN, CT 06053-1539 860-225-5064
30. BASHIR, A 4711 S HIMES APT 2007
TAMPA, FL 33611-2628 813-966-5197
31. BASHIR, A 4711 S HIMES APT 2007
TAMPA, FL 33611-2628 813-966-5197
32. BASHIR, A 18065 HYDRA
LAKEVILLE, MN 55044-7040 515-201-3839
33. BASHIR, A 18065 HYDRA
LAKEVILLE, MN 55044-7040 515-201-3840
34. BASHIR, A 12 INTERHAVEN
NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07060-3603 908-340-7652
35. BASHIR, A 12 INTERHAVEN
NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07060-3603 908-405-4444
36. BASHIR, A 603 ISHAM APT 4D
NEW YORK, NY 10034-2054 646-945-0027
37. BASHIR, A 29485 JUNEAU
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48336-2749 586-491-0658
38. BASHIR, A 805 LARKIN
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63141-7738 314-623-2160
39. BASHIR, A 805 LARKIN
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63141-7738 314-623-2160
40. BASHIR, A 2724 LURTING
BRONX, NY 10469-4106 917-378-7364
41. BASHIR, A 5630 LUXEMBURG
ROCKVILLE, MD 20852-3470 240-813-5964
42. BASHIR, A 5 MERKLIN
WEST ORANGE, NJ 07052-1605 973-444-6771
43. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 347-771-0903
44. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 347-771-0903
45. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 347-771-0907
46. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 347-771-0907
47. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 718-687-9186
48. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 718-757-9473
49. BASHIR, A 6429 MYRTLE
GLENDALE, NY 11385-6262 718-757-9473
50. BASHIR, A 1 NOT AVAILABLE
MCKINNEY, TX 75069 630-248-3305
51. BASHIR, A 644 OCEAN APT A5
BROOKLYN, NY 11230-1174 917-213-8049
52. BASHIR, A 75 PEACHTREE NW
ATLANTA, GA 30309-3828 404-453-6395
53. BASHIR, A 1130 QUAIL MEADOWS
IRVINE, CA 92603-0698 714-386-0376
54. BASHIR, A 4824 RIDGE
BALTIMORE, MD 21237-3340 410-733-1605
55. BASHIR, A 4824 RIDGE
BALTIMORE, MD 21237-3340 410-982-3020
56. BASHIR, A 1275 ROCK
NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07060-3501 908-548-3785
57. BASHIR, A 1275 ROCK
NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07060-3501 908-548-3785
58. BASHIR, A 221 ROMNEY
NEWARK, DE 19702-2671 302-229-1275
59. BASHIR, A 15 SMITH RD
EAST HADDAM, CT 06423-1249 860-537-8467
60. BASHIR, A 7940 VALLEY VIEW
BUENA PARK, CA 90620-2354 714-623-9463
61. BASHIR, A 9642 WALKER APT 6
CYPRESS, CA 90630-3858 858-699-1718
62. BASHIR, A 312 WALNUT
ELIZABETH, NJ 07201-1021 908-342-9669
63. BASHIR, A 11229 WHITE BARN
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879-3100 301-655-2236
64. BASHIR, A 11229 WHITE BARN
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879-3100 301-655-2236
65. BASHIR, A 320 YORK
BURLINGTON, NJ 08016-1522 609-727-5532
66. BASHIR, A 469-525-5687
67. BASHIR, A 636-634-0191
68. BASHIR, A 908-731-2231
69. BASHIR, A ABERDEEN, MD 21001 443-707-6845
70. BASHIR, A ALLENTOWN, NJ 08501 609-401-5408
71. BASHIR, A ALPHARETTA, GA 30004 470-295-6253
72. BASHIR, A ALPHARETTA, GA 30004 470-295-6253
73. BASHIR, A AMHERST, MA 01002 413-687-9086
74. BASHIR, A AMHERST, MA 01002 413-687-9086
75. BASHIR, A ANN ARBOR, MI 48105 734-709-4015
76. BASHIR, A ANN ARBOR, MI 48105 734-709-4015
77. BASHIR, A ANNANDALE, VA 22003 571-502-3688
78. BASHIR, A ANNANDALE, VA 22003 571-502-3688
79. BASHIR, A ANOKA, MN 55303 952-486-3225
80. BASHIR, A APEX, NC 27502 919-924-2362
81. BASHIR, A ATHENS, GA 30601 706-410-7325
82. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30301 678-296-3647
83. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30303 404-483-3072
84. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30303 404-786-4057
85. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30303 404-992-4623
86. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30303 678-891-8902
87. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30303 678-891-9941
88. BASHIR, A ATLANTA, GA 30318 404-418-2005
89. BASHIR, A AUBURN, MA 01501 774-289-7914
90. BASHIR, A AUBURN, AL 36830 334-209-0142
91. BASHIR, A BALTIMORE, MD 21202 443-825-0606
92. BASHIR, A BARRINGTON, NJ 08007 856-473-1253
93. BASHIR, A BAYONNE, NJ 07002 201-688-9675
94. BASHIR, A BELTSVILLE, MD 20705 571-275-9507
95. BASHIR, A BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI 48302 313-801-5557
96. BASHIR, A BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI 48302 313-801-5557
97. BASHIR, A BOSTON, MA 02115 617-331-2573
98. BASHIR, A BRONX, NY 10457 718-300-7888
99. BASHIR, A BROOKLYN, NY 11201 347-247-3982
100. BASHIR, A BROOKLYN, NY 11201 347-300-7389
Search: Public Records: Surname
Terms: last-name(bashir) maxresults(500)
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 12:39 PM
Permissible Use: Your DPPA Permissible Use: I have no permissible use
Your GLBA Permissible Use: I have no permissible use
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End of Document
