To: | Dianne's Custom Candles, LLC (jjpatentcarl@yahoo.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88586027 - DCC - 7408 |
Sent: | November 20, 2019 05:00:09 PM |
Sent As: | ecom105@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88586027
Mark: DCC
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Correspondence Address: |
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Applicant: Dianne's Custom Candles, LLC
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Reference/Docket No. 7408
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: November 20, 2019
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 OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
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).
REQUIREMENT FOR ACCEPTABLE IDENTIFICATION/CLASSIFICATION OF GOODS
Some of the wording in the recitation of goods must be clarified because it is indefinite and/or too broad. See TMEP §1402.01.
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).
Where applicant’s goods are properly classified in other classes, applicant is required to either (1) specify the goods acceptably, add the appropriate international class(es) to the application, and classify the good therein, or (2) delete the good from the application. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.86, 6.1; TMEP §§1403 et seq.
The wording in the identification of goods is indefinite, overly broad and must be clarified because it does not make clear the nature of the goods and may include goods in other international classes. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.01.
For example, an air fragrance reed diffuser consists of scented oils, reeds, and container. These goods are classified in Class 3 because the primary component of the goods is the scented oils. Reeds for use in reed diffusers sold separately, without scented oils or fragrances, are in Class 20.
Further “scented objects” is indefinite and overly broad as it encompasses goods such as “scented wood”, “scented ceramic stones”, and “scented pine cones” in Class 3; “scented wax for use in candle warmers” in Class 4; “scented facial tissue” in Class 16; and “scented sand for decorative purposes” in Class 19.
Lastly, “room sprays” are classified in Class 3 if scented and in Class 5 if they are deodorizing.
Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate:
Class 3: Potpourri; Scented room sprays; Scented objects, namely, scented {specify, e.g., “pine cones”, “stones”, “wood”}
Class 4: Candles; air fragrance reed diffusers; wax melts
Class 5: Deodorizing room sprays
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 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The application references goods and/or services based on use in commerce in more than one international class; therefore, applicant must satisfy all the requirements below for each international class:
(1) List the goods and/or services by their international class number in consecutive numerical order, starting with the lowest numbered class (for example, International Class 3: perfume; International Class 18: cosmetic bags sold empty).
(2) Submit a filing fee for each international class not covered by the fee(s) already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule). Specifically, the application identifies goods and/or services based on use in commerce that are classified in at least six classes; however, applicant submitted a fee(s) sufficient for only one class. Applicant must either (a) submit the filing fees for the classes not covered by the submitted fees or (b) restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fees already paid.
(3) Submit verified dates of first use of the mark anywhere and in commerce for each international class. See more information about verified dates of use.
(4) Submit a specimen for each international class. The current specimen is acceptable for class 4; and applicant needs a specimen for classes 3, 5, 16, 19 and 20, if added. See more information about specimens.
Examples of specimens for goods include tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, and photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, or displays associated with the actual goods at their point of sale. Webpages may also be specimens for goods when they include a picture or textual description of the goods associated with the mark and the means to order the goods.
(5) Submit a verified statement that “The specimen was in use in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed in the application at least as early as the filing date of the application.” See more information about verification.
See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a), 1112; 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(6)-(7), 2.34(a)(1), 2.86(a); TMEP §§904, 1403.01, 1403.02(c).
See an overview of the requirements for a Section 1(a) multiple-class application and how to satisfy the requirements online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form.
Requirement for Acceptable Description of the Mark
The following description is suggested, if accurate:
The mark consists of the stylized “Dcc” with a design of a flame emanating from the top right of the last letter “c”.
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
/Jeanie H. Lee/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 105
571-272-6110
jeanie.lee@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE