To: | ADATA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (mailroom@bskb.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88600497 - 4299-0862US1 |
Sent: | December 07, 2019 12:06:52 PM |
Sent As: | ecom120@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88600497
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Correspondence Address: BIRCH, STEWART, KOLASCH & BIRCH, LLP |
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Applicant: ADATA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
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Reference/Docket No. 4299-0862US1
Correspondence Email Address: |
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COMBINED EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT/PRIORITY ACTION 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: December 07, 2019
USPTO database searched; no conflicting marks found. The trademark examining attorney searched the USPTO database of registered and pending marks and found no conflicting marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); TMEP §704.02.
Applicant must address issues shown below. On December 5, 2019, the examining attorney and Michael Smith discussed the issues below. Applicant must timely respond to these issues. See 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.62(a); TMEP §708.05.
SECTION 2(d) REFUSAL – LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION
Registration of the applied-for mark is refused because of a likelihood of confusion with the marks in U.S. Registration Nos. 3869417 and 3869431. Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); see TMEP §§1207.01 et seq. See the attached registrations.
Applicant’s applied-for mark is a design mark consisting of a hummingbird with four stars underneath for “Computer memories; Memory modules; Memory cards for computers; Blank flash memory cards; Blank flash memory disks; DRAM (dynamic random access memory) modules; RAM (random access memory) modules; Data memories; Computer memories; Disc memories; Electronic memories; Semi-conductor memory units; Solid state drives; Blank USB flash drives; Disk drives; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic cards; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic disks; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic tapes; Electronic card readers; Flash card readers; Smart card readers; Chip card readers; Interface cards for computers; Cameras; Video cameras; Digital audio players; Integrated circuits; Integrated circuit boards; Semiconductors; Secure Digital (SD) Memory Cards; Memory cards for video game machines; Earphones; Portable media players; Audio-video receivers; Optical disk readers; Blank optical disks; Optical disk drives; USB cables; USB cables for cellphones; Portable battery chargers; Batteries and battery chargers; Electronic battery charging devices in the nature of wireless charging pads for use with cell phones, tablets, and mobile devices; Charging stands for electronic devices; Wireless communication devices for voice, data or image transmission; Computer network adapters, switches, routers and hubs; LAN (local area network) hardware; Network access server hardware; WAN (wide area network) hardware; Computer hardware, namely, wireless access point (WAP) devices, wireless network repeaters, and wireless network extenders; security surveillance robots for personal or hobby use; humanoid robots with artificial intelligence for personal or hobby use” in International Class 9.
The examining attorney submits that there is a likelihood of confusion with the following registered marks:
Although not all du Pont factors may be relevant, there are generally two key considerations in any likelihood of confusion analysis: (1) the similarities between the compared marks and (2) the relatedness of the compared goods. See In re i.am.symbolic, llc, 866 F.3d at 1322, 123 USPQ2d at 1747 (quoting Herbko Int’l, Inc. v. Kappa Books, Inc., 308 F.3d 1156, 1164-65, 64 USPQ2d 1375, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2002)); Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co.,544 F.2d 1098, 1103, 192 USPQ 24, 29 (C.C.P.A. 1976) (“The fundamental inquiry mandated by [Section] 2(d) goes to the cumulative effect of differences in the essential characteristics of the goods [or services] and differences in the marks.”); TMEP §1207.01.
a. Comparison of the Marks
Marks are compared in their entireties for similarities in appearance, sound, connotation, and commercial impression. Stone Lion Capital Partners, LP v. Lion Capital LLP, 746 F.3d 1317, 1321, 110 USPQ2d 1157, 1160 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (quoting Palm Bay Imps., Inc. v. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Maison Fondee En 1772, 396 F.3d 1369, 1371, 73 USPQ2d 1689, 1691 (Fed. Cir. 2005)); TMEP §1207.01(b)-(b)(v). “Similarity in any one of these elements may be sufficient to find the marks confusingly similar.” In re Inn at St. John’s, LLC, 126 USPQ2d 1742, 1746 (TTAB 2018) (citing In re Davia, 110 USPQ2d 1810, 1812 (TTAB 2014)); TMEP §1207.01(b).
When the marks at issue are both design marks, similarity of the marks is determined primarily on the basis of visual similarity. See, e.g., Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Rose ‘Vear Enters., 592 F.2d 1180, 1183, 201 USPQ 7, 9 (C.C.P.A. 1979) (quoting In re ATV Network Ltd., 552 F.2d 925, 929, 193 USPQ 331, 332 (C.C.P.A. 1977)); Ft. James Operating Co. v. Royal Paper Converting Inc., 83 USPQ2d 1624, 1628 (TTAB 2007); TMEP §1207.01(c). However, a side-by-side comparison is not the test. See Grandpa Pidgeon’s of Mo., Inc. v. Borgsmiller, 477 F.2d 586, 587, 177 USPQ 573, 574 (C.C.P.A. 1973). When comparing design marks, the focus is on the overall commercial impression conveyed by such marks, not on specific differences. See Grandpa Pidgeon’s of Mo., Inc. v. Borgsmiller, 477 F.2d at 587, 177 USPQ at 574; In re Triple R Mfg. Corp., 168 USPQ 447, 448 (TTAB 1970); TMEP §1207.01(c).
Here both applicant’s and registrant’s marks are design marks consisting of a hummingbird in flight with four stars below the tail. Further, the color of the mark in both the application and Registration No. 3869431 is the same. The marks are visually similar and create similar commercial impressions. As such, the marks are confusingly similar.
b. Comparison of the Goods
In the present case, applicant identified “Computer memories; Memory modules; Memory cards for computers; Blank flash memory cards; Blank flash memory disks; DRAM (dynamic random access memory) modules; RAM (random access memory) modules; Data memories; Computer memories; Disc memories; Electronic memories; Semi-conductor memory units; Solid state drives; Blank USB flash drives; Disk drives; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic cards; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic disks; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic tapes; Electronic card readers; Flash card readers; Smart card readers; Chip card readers; Interface cards for computers; Cameras; Video cameras; Digital audio players; Integrated circuits; Integrated circuit boards; Semiconductors; Secure Digital (SD) Memory Cards; Memory cards for video game machines; Earphones; Portable media players; Audio-video receivers; Optical disk readers; Blank optical disks; Optical disk drives; USB cables; USB cables for cellphones; Portable battery chargers; Batteries and battery chargers; Electronic battery charging devices in the nature of wireless charging pads for use with cell phones, tablets, and mobile devices; Charging stands for electronic devices; Wireless communication devices for voice, data or image transmission; Computer network adapters, switches, routers and hubs; LAN (local area network) hardware; Network access server hardware; WAN (wide area network) hardware; Computer hardware, namely, wireless access point (WAP) devices, wireless network repeaters, and wireless network extenders; security surveillance robots for personal or hobby use; humanoid robots with artificial intelligence for personal or hobby use” in International Class 9.
Registrant identified “Computer hardware; memories and memory modules for computers and other electronic devices, namely, memory cards, flash memory cards, flash memory disks, DRAM (dynamic random access memory) cards, RAM (random access memory) cards, computer memories, data memories, electronic memories, semi-conductor memory units, blank digital cards for computers, digital memory cards; solid state drives; USB flash drives; electrical, electro-technical and electronic devices, namely, data input, data processing, data transmission, data storage and data output devices; electrical power supplies, electrical power supplies for computers; electronic card readers; flash card readers” also in International Class 9.
In this case, applicant and registrant have identified identical goods, specifically, computer memories, memory cards for computers, data memories, electronic memories, semi-conductor memory units, solid state drives, electronic card readers, and flash card readers. Further, the registration uses broad wording to describe its goods such as computer hardware, flash memory cards, flash memory disks, USB flash drives, and electronic card readers, which presumably encompasses all goods of the type described, including applicant’s more narrow identifications of memory modules, memory cards for computers, blank flash memory cards, blank flash memory disks, DRAM (dynamic random access memory) modules, RAM (random access memory) modules, computer memories, blank USB flash drives, disk drives, electronic reading apparatus for magnetic cards, smart card readers, chip card readers, interface cards for computers, integrated circuits, integrated circuit boards, semiconductors, secure digital (SD) memory cards, computer network adapters, switches, routers and hubs, LAN (local area network) hardware, network access server hardware, WAN (wide area network) hardware, and computer hardware, namely, wireless access point (WAP) devices, wireless network repeaters, and wireless network extenders since applicant’s goods are types of computer hardware, flash memory cards, flash memory disks, USB flash drives, and electronic card readers. See, e.g., In re Solid State Design Inc., 125 USPQ2d 1409, 1412-15 (TTAB 2018); Sw. Mgmt., Inc. v. Ocinomled, Ltd., 115 USPQ2d 1007, 1025 (TTAB 2015). Thus, applicant’s and registrant’s goods are legally identical. See, e.g., In re i.am.symbolic, llc, 127 USPQ2d 1627, 1629 (TTAB 2018) (citing Tuxedo Monopoly, Inc. v.Gen. Mills Fun Grp., Inc., 648 F.2d 1335, 1336, 209 USPQ 986, 988 (C.C.P.A. 1981); Inter IKEA Sys. B.V. v. Akea, LLC, 110 USPQ2d 1734, 1745 (TTAB 2014); Baseball Am. Inc. v. Powerplay Sports Ltd., 71 USPQ2d 1844, 1847 n.9 (TTAB 2004)).
Additionally, the goods of the parties have no restrictions as to nature, type, channels of trade, or classes of purchasers and are “presumed to travel in the same channels of trade to the same class of purchasers.” In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 1362, 101 USPQ2d 1905, 1908 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (quoting Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Packard Press, Inc., 281 F.3d 1261, 1268, 62 USPQ2d 1001, 1005 (Fed. Cir. 2002)). Thus, applicant’s and registrant’s goods are related.
c. Conclusion
Applicant’s and registrant’s marks are confusingly similar. Further, the goods of applicant and registrant are considered closely related. Therefore, registration of the applied-for mark is refused under Trademark Act Section 2(d).
ADVISORY REGARDING CLAIM OF OWNERSHIP OF CITED REGISTRATIONS
(1) Record the assignment with the USPTO’s Assignment Recordation Branch (ownership transfer documents such as assignments can be filed online at http://etas.uspto.gov) and promptly notify the trademark examining attorney that the assignment has been duly recorded.
(2) Submit copies of documents evidencing the chain of title.
(3) Submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 3869417 and 3869431.” To provide this statement using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), use the “Response to Office Action” form; answer “yes” to wizard questions #3 and #10; then, continuing on to the next portion of the form, in the “Additional Statement(s)” section, find “Active Prior Registration(s)” and insert the U.S. registration numbers in the data fields; and follow the instructions within the form for signing. The form must be signed twice; a signature is required both in the “Declaration Signature” section and in the “Response Signature” section.
TMEP §812.01; see 15 U.S.C. §1060; 37 C.F.R. §§2.193(e)(1), 3.25, 3.73(a)-(b); TMEP §502.02(a).
Recording a document with the Assignment Recordation Branch does not constitute a response to an Office action. TMEP §503.01(d).
AMENDMENT TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS REQUIRED
The wording “data memories” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified because it is unclear what type of good applicant is providing. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.01. Applicant should clarify the nature of the goods such as data memory modules.
Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate. Please note that bolding, italics, and the like are used only to highlight suggested changes to the original language:
International Class 9: Computer memories; Memory modules; Memory cards for computers; Blank flash memory cards; Blank flash memory disks; DRAM (dynamic random access memory) modules; RAM (random access memory) modules; Data memories in the nature of {specify Class 9 goods, e.g., data memory modules}; Disc memories; Electronic memories; Semi-conductor memory units; Solid state drives; Blank USB flash drives; Disk drives; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic cards; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic disks; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic tapes; Electronic card readers; Flash card readers; Smart card readers; Chip card readers; Interface cards for computers; Cameras; Video cameras; Digital audio players; Integrated circuits; Integrated circuit boards; Semiconductors; Secure Digital (SD) Memory Cards; Memory cards for video game machines; Earphones; Portable media players; Audio-video receivers; Optical disk readers; Blank optical disks; Optical disk drives; USB cables; USB cables for cellphones; Portable battery chargers; Batteries and battery chargers; Electronic battery charging devices in the nature of wireless charging pads for use with cell phones, tablets, and mobile devices; Charging stands for electronic devices; Wireless communication devices for voice, data or image transmission; Computer network adapters, switches, routers and hubs; LAN (local area network) hardware; Network access server hardware; WAN (wide area network) hardware; Computer hardware, namely, wireless access point (WAP) devices, wireless network repeaters, and wireless network extenders; security surveillance robots for personal or hobby use; humanoid robots with artificial intelligence for personal or hobby use
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.
Application has been amended as shown below. As agreed to by the individual identified in the Priority Action section, the examining attorney has amended the application as shown below. Please notify the examining attorney immediately of any objections. TMEP §707. In addition, applicant is advised that amendments to the goods and/or services are permitted only if they clarify or limit them; amendments that add to or broaden the scope of the goods and/or services are not permitted. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a).
AMENDMENT TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS
The identification of goods is amended to delete out the duplicate wording and read as follows:
International Class 9: Computer memories; Memory modules; Memory cards for computers; Blank flash memory cards; Blank flash memory disks; DRAM (dynamic random access memory) modules; RAM (random access memory) modules; Data memories; Disc memories; Electronic memories; Semi-conductor memory units; Solid state drives; Blank USB flash drives; Disk drives; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic cards; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic disks; Electronic reading apparatus for magnetic tapes; Electronic card readers; Flash card readers; Smart card readers; Chip card readers; Interface cards for computers; Cameras; Video cameras; Digital audio players; Integrated circuits; Integrated circuit boards; Semiconductors; Secure Digital (SD) Memory Cards; Memory cards for video game machines; Earphones; Portable media players; Audio-video receivers; Optical disk readers; Blank optical disks; Optical disk drives; USB cables; USB cables for cellphones; Portable battery chargers; Batteries and battery chargers; Electronic battery charging devices in the nature of wireless charging pads for use with cell phones, tablets, and mobile devices; Charging stands for electronic devices; Wireless communication devices for voice, data or image transmission; Computer network adapters, switches, routers and hubs; LAN (local area network) hardware; Network access server hardware; WAN (wide area network) hardware; Computer hardware, namely, wireless access point (WAP) devices, wireless network repeaters, and wireless network extenders; security surveillance robots for personal or hobby use; humanoid robots with artificial intelligence for personal or hobby use
See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.01(e).
AMENDMENT TO THE MARK DESCRIPTION
The following description of the mark replaces the current description of record:
The mark consists of a distinct stylized representation of a hummingbird having a purple beak, a purple, crimson and red head with a transparent eye through which the color of the background on which the mark is printed exhibits, a pair of red wings, an indigo neck, a blue breast, a green belly, and a yellow and orange tail with four orange stars underneath in flight. The mark appears on a white background which is not claimed as a feature of the mark.
See 37 C.F.R. §§2.37, 2.72; TMEP §§808 et seq.
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.
ASSISTANCE
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.
/Danythe Johnson/
Trademark Examining Attorney
Law Office 120
Phone: 571-272-4391
Email: danythe.johnson@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE