To: | Pierre, Kameka (Inlipstickwetrust@gmail.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88626143 - LIPSTICK LAWS - N/A |
Sent: | December 29, 2019 01:46:52 PM |
Sent As: | ecom116@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88626143
Mark: LIPSTICK LAWS
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: Pierre, Kameka
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Reference/Docket No. N/A
Correspondence Email Address: |
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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 29, 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 RESULTS
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).
However, before examination may proceed, the applicant must address the following issues:
Summary of Issues:
DISCLAIMER REQUIRED
Applicant must disclaim the descriptive wording “LIPSTICK” apart from the mark as shown because, as evidenced by the applicant’s identification of goods, Cosmetic preparations for eyelashes; Cosmetics; Lipsticks; Make-up, it merely describes the nature of the applicants’ goods. See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).
A “disclaimer” is a statement that applicant does not claim exclusive rights to an unregistrable component of a mark. TMEP§1213. A disclaimer does not physically remove the disclaimed matter from the mark or otherwise affect the appearance of the applied-for mark. See TMEP§1213.10.
The Office can require an applicant to disclaim an unregistrable part of a mark consisting of particular wording, symbols, numbers, design elements, or combinations thereof. 15 U.S.C. §1056(a). Under Trademark Act Section 2(e), the Office can refuse registration of an entire mark if the entire mark is merely descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive of the goods and/or services. 15 U.S.C. §1052(e). Thus, the Office may require an applicant to disclaim a portion of a mark that, when used in connection with the goods and/or services, is merely descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, primarily geographically descriptive, or otherwise unregistrable (e.g., generic). See TMEP §§1213, 1213.03.
Failure to comply with a disclaimer requirement can result in a refusal to register the entire mark. TMEP §1213.01(b).
The computerized printing format for the Office’s Trademark Official Gazette requires a standardized format for a disclaimer. TMEP §1213.08(a)(i). The following is the standard format used by the Office:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “LIPSTICK” apart from the mark as shown.
TMEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
RESPONSE GUIDELINES
The above issue(s) may be resolved by way of a telephone call to the examining attorney at the number shown below.
IMPORTANT: A response to an Office action by joint applicants who are not represented by an attorney must be signed by each of the applicants, since they are individual parties and not a single entity. TMEP §712.01(a)(i). Likewise, both applicants may participate in a phone call to the examining attorney.
For this application to proceed, applicant must explicitly address each refusal and/or requirement in this Office action. Please see “Responding to Office Actions” and the informational video “Response to Office Action” for more information and tips on responding.
Because of the legal technicalities and strict deadlines of the trademark application process, applicant may wish to hire a private attorney who specializes in trademark matters to assist in the process. The assigned trademark examining attorney can provide only limited assistance explaining the content of an Office action and the application process. USPTO staff cannot provide legal advice or statements about an applicant’s legal rights. TMEP §§705.02, 709.06. See Hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney for more information.
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.
/Ellen F. Burns/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 116
571.272.9098
ellen.burns@uspto.gov
(email for informal communications only)
RESPONSE GUIDANCE