Offc Action Outgoing

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application

 

 

 

NONFINAL OFFICE ACTION

 

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 10, 2019

 

 

 

 

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.  

 

 

The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.  Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below.  15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.

 

Search for References

 

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).

 

Surname Refusal – Section 2(e)(4)

 

Registration is refused because the applied-for mark is primarily merely a surname.  Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(4); see TMEP §1211. 

 

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 attached evidence from the LEXISNEXIS® surname database, establishing the surname significance of HARKIN.  This evidence shows the applied-for mark appearing 1424 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. 

 

Presentation of a surname in its plural or possessive form does not diminish its surname significance.  TMEP §1211.01(b)(v); see, e.g., In re Bed & Bars Ltd., 122 USPQ2d 1546, 1551 (TTAB 2017); In re Binion, 93 USPQ2d 1531, 1537 (TTAB 2009).  Therefore, the presence of a letter “S” at the end of the surname, HARKIN, does not obviate the surname significance of the mark.

 

A mark deemed primarily merely a surname may be registered on the Principal Register under Trademark Act Section 2(f) based on a claim of acquired distinctiveness.  See 15 U.S.C. §1052(f); 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a); TMEP §§1211, 1212.  Applicant may respond by asserting a claim of acquired distinctiveness based on one or more of the following:

 

(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 any relevant registrations owned by applicant] 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).

 

Although applicant’s mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal(s) by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.

 

 

 

 

How to respond.  Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action  

 

 

/Vivian First/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 114

571-272-9159

vivian.first@uspto.gov

 

 

 

RESPONSE GUIDANCE

• Missing the response deadline to this letter will cause the application to abandon.  A response or notice of appeal must be received by the USPTO before midnight Eastern Time of the last day of the response period.  TEAS and ESTTA maintenance or unforeseen circumstances could affect an applicant’s ability to timely respond.  

 

• Responses signed by an unauthorized party are not accepted and can cause the application to abandon.  If applicant does not have an attorney, the response must be signed by the individual applicant, all joint applicants, or someone with legal authority to bind a juristic applicant.  If applicant has an attorney, the response must be signed by the attorney.

 

• If needed, find contact information for the supervisor of the office or unit listed in the signature block.

 

 

 

 

 

Search:	Public Records : Surname
Terms:	last-name(harkin) maxresults(500)

 

Total number found: 1424
No.	Name	Address	Phone
1.	HARKIN, A	131 KENTUCKY VILLAS, NJ 08251-1710	609-889-4068
2.	HARKIN, A	22 N TANGLEWOOD GIBBSBORO, NJ 08026-1512	609-560-2370
3.	HARKIN, A		201-835-6758
4.	HARKIN, A		215-601-7516
5.	HARKIN, A		713-998-9485
6.	HARKIN, A	BEND, OR 97701	541-350-6849
7.	HARKIN, A	GOLETA, CA 93117	805-252-2682
8.	HARKIN, A	SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103	805-252-2682
9.	HARKIN, AARON C	172 HOLIDAY BLVD CENTER MORICHES, NY 11934-3120	631-878-0041
10.	HARKIN, AARON	1019 MYRTLE CALISTOGA, CA 94515-1727	707-332-8917
11.	HARKIN, AARON	YAPHANK, NY 11980	631-294-2839
12.	HARKIN, ADAM	201 N ELM ST MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758-2520	516-795-1260
13.	HARKIN, ADAM	1037 FLEUR WATERLOO, IA 50701-3507	563-633-5001
14.	HARKIN, ADRIANNA	WEST VALLEY CITY, UT 84120	801-448-1810
15.	HARKIN, ADRIENNE	3547 WESTBURY MOUNTAIN BRK, AL 35223-1439	205-222-7142
16.	HARKIN, ALAN		602-463-7788
17.	HARKIN, ALANE	6884 LINDA VISTA MISSOULA, MT 59803-2772	408-396-2969
18.	HARKIN, ALANO D	1868 RALPHS APT 201 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80910-4420	719-320-9193
19.	HARKIN, ALANO		719-502-1123
20.	HARKIN, ALEX	309 SE LITTLE BEAVER GRIMES, IA 50111-1015	515-371-1218
21.	HARKIN, ALEXANDE	14600 HUFFMEISTER APT 5108 CYPRESS, TX 77429-5787	254-833-0130
22.	HARKIN, ALEXANDER	CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78401	361-813-7644
23.	HARKIN, ALEXANDER	HOUSTON, TX 77002	713-969-7622
24.	HARKIN, ALEXANDRA P	195 KELDER OLIVEBRIDGE, NY 12461-5231	845-901-6076
25.	HARKIN, ALEXIS		253-888-6112
26.	HARKIN, ALI	POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601	845-853-6684
27.	HARKIN, ALICE M	409 MCCABE BRADLEY BEACH, NJ 07720-1453	973-835-6758
28.	HARKIN, ALICE M	29 VAN NESS POMPTON LAKES, NJ 07442-1427	973-835-6758
29.	HARKIN, ALISON	607 PLAINTAIN THE VILLAGES, FL 32162-5056	609-774-0477
30.	HARKIN, ALISON M	803 VICKSBURG ATLANTA, GA 30350-3025	307-742-7992
31.	HARKIN, ALLISON	SCRANTON, PA 18503	570-507-9533
32.	HARKIN, ALONO	3332 QUAIL LAKE COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80906-4660	719-499-6534
33.	HARKIN, AMANDA R	2928 LYNNWOOD BELLEVUE, NE 68123-1983	402-661-9076
34.	HARKIN, AMBER C	7136 S 300 E MIDVALE, UT 84047-1657	801-209-0942
35.	HARKIN, AMBER	2454 W ARDMORE CHICAGO, IL 60659-5016	708-595-9503
36.	HARKIN, AMBER	3 WATERVIEW MARLTON, NJ 08053-3722	609-238-5698
37.	HARKIN, AMY Z	8 APPEL DR E SHIRLEY, NY 11967-3604	631-395-8563
38.	HARKIN, AMY R	7871 BLERIOT LOS ANGELES, CA 90045-2904	310-670-2909
39.	HARKIN, ANA F	9 POWER ST HICKSVILLE, NY 11801-5124	516-935-4349
40.	HARKIN, ANDREW J	4211 CORCORAN ALEXANDRIA, VA 22309-1310	703-619-1314
41.	HARKIN, ANDREW	5238 JENKINS SOUTH BELOIT, IL 61080-2072	704-657-0033
42.	HARKIN, ANDREW J	204 STATION CUMMING, IA 50061	515-981-0234
43.	HARKIN, ANDREW P		917-450-3427
44.	HARKIN, ANDREW	DENVER, CO 80239	720-327-0387
45.	HARKIN, ANGELA N	139 NE MCALISTER BURLESON, TX 76028-2579	817-881-1316
46.	HARKIN, ANGELIQUE M	220 LCR 750B THORNTON, TX 76687-2587	512-423-3119
47.	HARKIN, ANGELITA	811 TOWN AND COUNTRY HOUSTON, TX 77024-3982	713-437-9417
48.	HARKIN, ANGIE L	6220 E KACENA MARION, IA 52302-4766	319-721-4757
49.	HARKIN, ANN L	110 BRITTANY ROCK TAVERN, NY 12575-5551	845-323-2213
50.	HARKIN, ANN W	738 CEDAR PHOENIXVILLE, PA 19460-3606	610-780-0906
51.	HARKIN, ANN	3705 GLENN CURTISS EAST MEADOW, NY 11554-5633	516-617-1399
52.	HARKIN, ANN C	40 JANE NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ 07974-1850	908-568-1764
53.	HARKIN, ANN	1064 WESTCLIFF SHOREVIEW, MN 55126-1404	651-765-9792
54.	HARKIN, ANN M	6 WINSLOW CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138-6714	617-828-4759
55.	HARKIN, ANN L	36 WOODLAND AVE VILLAS, NJ 08251-1843	609-889-0287
56.	HARKIN, ANN	FALL RIVER, MA 02720	508-493-5445
57.	HARKIN, ANNA	633 E HIGH LEXINGTON, KY 40502-1788	859-421-9608
58.	HARKIN, ANNA C	9752 HIGHWAY 14 S UNIT 50 MONROE, IA 50170-8597	319-231-9875
59.	HARKIN, ANNA L	3994 S RICHFIELD AURORA, CO 80013-3232	720-277-2696
60.	HARKIN, ANNA M	23 VILLAGE SAINT CHARLES, MO 63303-5178	636-395-7717
61.	HARKIN, ANNE C	689 MAKETEWAH DELAWARE, OH 43015-8499	614-390-2129
62.	HARKIN, ANNE E	6595 NE RISING SUN DR PLEASANT HILL, IA 50327-9153	515-266-7086
63.	HARKIN, ANNE C	8763 WESTWARD POWELL, OH 43065-6906	614-339-4669
64.	HARKIN, ANNE	15 WILMER ST MADISON, NJ 07940-2903	973-822-1492
65.	HARKIN, ANNE	719 WINTERGREEN LEWIS CENTER, OH 43035-7566	614-339-4669
66.	HARKIN, ANNE	DENVER, CO 80202	720-402-2029
67.	HARKIN, ANNETTE	540 GREIG ROBINSON, TX 76706-7118	254-723-0521
68.	HARKIN, ANNM	564 76TH BROOKLYN, NY 11209-3305	718-833-8724
69.	HARKIN, ANTHONY E	2251 S FORT APACHE APT LAS VEGAS, NV 89117-5758	702-804-8804
70.	HARKIN, ANTHONY J	364 OUTING CLUB AIKEN, SC 29801-8690	254-716-0767
71.	HARKIN, ANTHONY E		702-204-5804
72.	HARKIN, ANTHONY	HONOLULU, HI 96819	808-389-6645
73.	HARKIN, ARIANNA	732 HILLSIDE ALGONQUIN, IL 60102-3201	847-830-0266
74.	HARKIN, ARTHUR S	2038 COLUSA SAN JOSE, CA 95130-1807	408-893-7344
75.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	175 LOCUST BABYLON, NY 11702-2111	516-449-0361
76.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	ALVISO, CA 95002	408-802-1009
77.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	BABYLON, NY 11702	631-792-3205
78.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	CAMPBELL, CA 95008	408-796-8917
79.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	CAMPBELL, CA 95008	408-866-4222
80.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	RIVERHEAD, NY 11901	631-871-0449
81.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	SAN JOSE, CA 95132	408-802-1009
82.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	SAN JOSE, CA 95148	408-218-3487
83.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	SANTA CLARA, CA 95054	408-218-3487
84.	HARKIN, ARTHUR	SANTA CLARA, CA 95054	408-802-1009
85.	HARKIN, ASHLEY	AURORA, CO 80014	720-514-0954
86.	HARKIN, ATHENA R	1620 STERLING BROWN LUCAS, TX 75002-7902	254-749-8015
87.	HARKIN, AUSTIN C	562 8TH MONTARA, CA 94037	650-728-3317
88.	HARKIN, AUSTIN J	PO BOX 370140 MONTARA, CA 94037-0140	415-420-1660
89.	HARKIN, AUSTIN	1327 SOLANO PACIFICA, CA 94044-4258	415-420-1660
90.	HARKIN, AUSTIN	30 VERDE SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93405-1621	650-270-0977
91.	HARKIN, AUSTIN	SAN BRUNO, CA 94066	650-296-1604
92.	HARKIN, AUSTIN	SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103	415-519-6752
93.	HARKIN, B	4308 72ND WOODSIDE, NY 11377-3934	718-899-8321
94.	HARKIN, B	8 SUMMIT RD STRATFORD, NJ 08084-1818	856-782-1647
95.	HARKIN, B	7608 VALBURN AUSTIN, TX 78731-1152	512-527-0815
96.	HARKIN, B	AMES, IA 50010	515-290-1912
97.	HARKIN, BANKS	1162 CATALPA LIMA, OH 45804-2616	419-296-6078
98.	HARKIN, BARBARA	4212 154TH URBANDALE, IA 50323-1913	515-669-8047
99.	HARKIN, BARBARA B	3200 N HIGHWAY A1A APT 1009 FORT PIERCE, FL 34949-8841	772-465-8248
100.	HARKIN, BARBARA	364 OUTING CLUB AIKEN, SC 29801-8690	803-430-3089

 

Search:	Public Records: Surname
Terms:	last-name(harkin) maxresults(500)
Date/Time:	Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:20 PM
Permissible Use:	Your DPPA Permissible Use: I have no permissible use Your GLBA Permissible Use: I have no permissible use

 

Copyright © 2019 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

End of Document

 

 

 

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

 

USPTO OFFICIAL NOTICE

 

Office Action (Official Letter) has issued

on September 10, 2019 for

U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88577405

 

Your trademark application has been reviewed by a trademark examining attorney.  As part of that review, the assigned attorney has issued an official letter that you must respond to by the specified deadline or your application will be abandoned.  Please follow the steps below.

 

(1)  Read the official letter.

 

(2)  Direct questions about the contents of the Office action to the assigned attorney below. 

 

 

/Vivian First/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 114

571-272-9159

vivian.first@uspto.gov

 

 

Direct questions about navigating USPTO electronic forms, the USPTO website, the application process, the status of your application, and/or whether there are outstanding deadlines or documents related to your file to the Trademark Assistance Center (TAC).

 

(3)  Respond within 6 months (or earlier, if required in the Office action) from September 10, 2019, using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).  The response must be received by the USPTO before midnight Eastern Time of the last day of the response period.  See the Office action for more information about how to respond.

 

 

 

GENERAL GUIDANCE

·         Check the status of your application periodically in the Trademark Status & Document Retrieval (TSDR) database to avoid missing critical deadlines.

 

·         Update your correspondence email address, if needed, to ensure you receive important USPTO notices about your application.

 

·         Beware of misleading notices sent by private companies about your application.  Private companies not associated with the USPTO use public information available in trademark registrations to mail and email trademark-related offers and notices – most of which require fees.  All official USPTO correspondence will only be emailed from the domain “@uspto.gov.”