To: | TENG XUTAO (info@rongqh.cn) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88551400 - HUAN - N/A |
Sent: | October 26, 2019 08:53:38 PM |
Sent As: | ecom126@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 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88551400
Mark: HUAN
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: TENG XUTAO
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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 26, 2019
SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
Summary of Issues that Applicant Must Address:
· U.S. Counsel Requirement
REFUSAL UNDER SECTION 2(e)(4) – MARK IS PRIMARILY MERELY A SURNAME
Applicant seeks to register “HUAN” for use in connection with “abdominal corsets; back supports for medical purposes; compression garments, namely, stockings; force and motion testing apparatus for physical training; holders specially adapted for orthodontic retainers; medical instruments, namely, orthopedic apparatus and instruments; orthodontic retainers; orthopedic support bandage, namely, wearable pads for the hands; support bandages” in International Class 10.
An applicant’s mark is primarily merely a surname if the surname, when viewed in connection with the applicant’s recited goods, “‘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.
In this case, there is evidence to show that “HUAN” has primary significance as a common surname. Please see the attached evidence from LEXIS ADVANCE®, establishing the surname significance of “HUAN.” This evidence shows the applied-for mark appearing 759 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. This evidence satisfies the first factor of the test.
Second, the record does not indicate whether anyone associated with applicant has the surname Huan. Thus, this factor is neutral in the analysis.
Third, as to whether “HUAN” has any recognized meaning other than as a surname, the attached evidence from The Columbia Gazetteer of the World shows that “HUAN” is not a well-known geographic location. The locations in a foreign country would not necessarily be known to American consumers, indicating the obscurity of this location. The existence of such an obscure location does not take away from the primary surname significance of the term. A term’s primary significance as a surname may not be lessened even if it also has some minor significance as a geographical term. See In re Hamilton Pharm. Ltd., 27 USPQ2d 1939, 1943 (TTAB 1993); In re Picone, 221 USPQ 93, 95 (TTAB 1984); TMEP §1211.01(a)(iii).
The attached evidence from Merriam-Webster and Macmillan Dictionary shows that “HUAN” does not appear in the dictionary with an alternate meaning. There also appears to be an obscure given name for “Huan.” This obscure meaning does not conflict with the finding that “HUAN” has primary significance as a surname. 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). Thus, to satisfy the third factor, besides the obscure given name and geographic locations, this term appears to have no recognized meaning or significance other than as a surname.
Fourth, it is common for surnames to begin with the prefix Huan- and consumers are accustomed to seeing this prefix in surnames. See, for example, the attachments from United States 2010 Census listing “Surnames Occurring 100 or more times,” showing similar looking and sounding names with the same prefix, such as Huanca, Huang, Huanosta, and Huante. Considering that Huan clearly has the structure and appearance of a surname, the fourth factor is satisfied.
The mark includes no stylization or design elements that would remove its primary significance from that of a surname. See In re Pickett Hotel Co., 229 USPQ 760, 763 (TTAB 1986) (holding PICKETT SUITE HOTEL primarily merely a surname despite the stylization of the lettering). As the mark contains no stylization, the fifth and final factor is satisfied.
In sum, because the evidence shows that the applied-for mark “HUAN” would be perceived as primarily merely a surname, registration is refused pursuant to Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4).
SUPPLEMENTAL REGISTER ADVISORY
Benefits of Supplemental Register Registration
(1) Use of the registration symbol ® with the registered mark in connection with the designated goods, which provides public notice of the registration and potentially deters third parties from using confusingly similar marks.
(2) Inclusion of the registered mark in the USPTO’s database of registered and pending marks, which will (a) make it easier for third parties to find it in trademark search reports, (b) provide public notice of the registration, and thus (c) potentially deter third parties from using confusingly similar marks.
(3) Use of the registration by a USPTO trademark examining attorney as a bar to registering confusingly similar marks in applications filed by third parties.
(4) Use of the registration as a basis to bring suit for trademark infringement in federal court, which, although more costly than state court, means judges with more trademark experience, often faster adjudications, and the opportunity to seek an injunction, actual damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
(5) Use of the registration as a filing basis for a trademark application for registration in certain foreign countries, in accordance with international treaties.
See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(d), 1091, 1094; J. Thomas McCarthy, McCarthy on Trademarks & Unfair Competition §§19:33, 19:37 (rev. 4th ed. Supp. 2017).
U.S. COUNSEL REQUIREMENT
Applicant must be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney. An applicant whose domicile is located outside of the United States or its territories is foreign-domiciled and must be represented at the USPTO by an attorney who is an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a U.S. state or territory. 37 C.F.R. §§2.11(a), 11.14; Requirement of U.S.-Licensed Attorney for Foreign-Domiciled Trademark Applicants & Registrants, Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A. (Rev. Sept. 2019) An individual applicant’s domicile is the place a person resides and intends to be the person’s principal home. 37 C.F.R. §2.2(o); Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A. A juristic entity’s domicile is the principal place of business; i.e., headquarters, where a juristic entity applicant’s senior executives or officers ordinarily direct and control the entity’s activities. 37 C.F.R. §2.2(o); Examination Guide 4-19, at I.A. Because applicant is foreign-domiciled, applicant must appoint such a U.S.-licensed attorney qualified to practice under 37 C.F.R. §11.14 as its representative before the application may proceed to registration. 37 C.F.R. §2.11(a). See Hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney for more information.
To appoint a U.S.-licensed attorney. To appoint an attorney, applicant should submit a completed Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Revocation, Appointment, and/or Change of Address of Attorney/Domestic Representative form. The newly-appointed attorney must submit a TEAS Response to Examining Attorney Office Action form indicating that an appointment of attorney has been made and address all other refusals or requirements in this action, if any. Alternatively, if applicant retains an attorney before filing the response, the attorney can respond to this Office action by using the appropriate TEAS response form and provide his or her attorney information in the form and sign it as applicant’s attorney. See 37 C.F.R. §2.17(b)(1)(ii).
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.
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. 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
/D. Zarick/
D. Zarick
Trademark Examining Attorney
Law Office 126
(571) 270-5013
diana.zarick@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE