United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

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

 

 

 

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:  January 10, 2020

 

PRIORITY ACTION

 

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 January 10, 2020, the examining attorney and applicant’s attorney Jeremy Peter Green 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.

 

 

Registration Refused – Section 2(e)(4) Primarily Merely A Surname

 

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. 

 

The applied-for mark is “STRYKER” in standard characters for “Suspension systems for non-military automotive trucks” in International Class 12.

 

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); TMEP §1211.01. 

 

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 instance, the attached evidence from LexisNexis® establishes the surname significance of “STRYKER” (“Exhibit A”).  This evidence shows the applied-for mark appearing over 7,600 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. 

 

In addition, the attached evidence from Oxford University Press® and The American Heritage® dictionaries demonstrates that the term “STRYKER” does not appear in the dictionary (“Exhibit B”). 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); TMEP §1211.02(b)(vi).  Thus, this term appears to have no recognized meaning or significance other than as a surname. 

 

Therefore, registration of the applied-for mark is refused under Section 2(e)(4) of the Trademark Act because the applied-for mark is primarily merely a surname.

 

Advisory: Supplemental Register

The applied-for mark has been refused registration on the Principal Register.  Applicant may respond to the refusal by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration and/or 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); TMEP §§801.02(b), 816.  Amending to the Supplemental Register does not preclude applicant from submitting evidence and arguments against the refusal(s).  TMEP §816.04.

 

Although registration on the Supplemental Register does not afford all the benefits of registration on the Principal Register, it does provide the following advantages to the registrant:

 

(1)        Use of the registration symbol ® with the registered mark in connection with the designated goods and/or services, 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).

 

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

 

 

EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT

 

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 are permitted only if they clarify or limit them; amendments that add to or broaden the scope of the goods are not permitted.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a).

 

The identification of goods is amended to read as follows: “Suspension systems for non-military automotive trucks” in International Class 12. See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.01(e).

 

 

Response Guidelines

Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney with questions about this Office action.  Although the trademark examining attorney cannot provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights, the trademark examining attorney can provide applicant with additional explanation about the refusal in this Office action.  See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.  Although the USPTO does not accept emails as responses to Office actions, emails can be used for informal communications and will be included in the application record.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05. 

 

If the applicant has any questions or requires assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.

 

/Thomas P. Young/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 120

thomas.young@uspto.gov

(571) 272-5152

 

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.

 

RESPONSE GUIDANCE

• Missing the response deadline to this letter will cause the application to abandon.  The response must be received by the USPTO before midnight Eastern Time of the last day of the response period.  TEAS 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“EXHIBIT A”

 

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

 

Total number found: 7661
No.	Name	Address	Phone
1.	STRYKER, A	7711 N 51ST GLENDALE, AZ 85301-1442	602-930-6905
2.	STRYKER, A	3412 E 6TH KANSAS CITY, MO 64124-2604	816-394-1125
3.	STRYKER, A	102 INTERVALE CRANSTON, RI 02910-5240	541-760-5418
4.	STRYKER, A	ATLANTA, GA 30303	678-467-2131
5.	STRYKER, A	BEND, OR 97701	541-647-4203
6.	STRYKER, A	NAPLES, FL 34109	239-572-0384
7.	STRYKER, A JR.	NAPLES, FL 34109	239-777-7416
8.	STRYKER, A	NEW CASTLE, DE 19720	302-753-7242
9.	STRYKER, A	NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652	727-359-5883
10.	STRYKER, A	PHOENIX, AZ 85027	623-434-4106
11.	STRYKER, A	SAN ANTONIO, TX 78212	210-326-2957
12.	STRYKER, AARON	1929 GRAND PRAIRIE SE ALBANY, OR 97322-5500	541-606-5316
13.	STRYKER, AARON	156 HIGH MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457-3763	203-942-8851
14.	STRYKER, AARON	8262 MACKENZIE NW CANTON, OH 44720-8170	330-933-9130
15.	STRYKER, AARON	201 W PACIFIC CALLAWAY, NE 68825-2523	308-870-1590
16.	STRYKER, AARON	PO BOX 373 PALA, CA 92059-0373	760-742-4326
17.	STRYKER, AARON CHRISTOPHER	3841 TIMBER STREAM SOUTHPORT, NC 28461-9023	951-215-5603
18.	STRYKER, AARON MICHAEL	136 SW WACISSA GREENVILLE, FL 32331-3865	850-339-3202
19.	STRYKER, AARON		616-634-6823
20.	STRYKER, AARON	CARNEGIE, PA 15106	412-276-9498
21.	STRYKER, ABIGAIL	428 CHESTNUT HICKMAN, NE 68372-9624	402-802-0595
22.	STRYKER, ABIGAIL R	1137 E CLIFF APT SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062-3765	831-458-3156
23.	STRYKER, ABNE	2401 PENNSYLVANIA APT 212 WILMINGTON, DE 19806-1402	239-777-7416
24.	STRYKER, ADAM	2200 COLUMBIA APT 201 ARLINGTON, VA 22204-4416	917-355-2325
25.	STRYKER, ADAM	580 NW HAVEN PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL 34983-8647	786-217-4448
26.	STRYKER, ADAM	262 WILLARD HEWLETT, NY 11557-1831	516-593-6519
27.	STRYKER, ADAMS	5880 W 5300 S HOOPER, UT 84315-6732	801-479-5559
28.	STRYKER, ADAMS	EL MONTE, CA 91731	626-617-8442
29.	STRYKER, ADDIE	45 CARROLL TEMPLE, GA 30179-3839	404-623-8110
30.	STRYKER, ADELHEID ADELHEID	APT 160 NAPLES, FL 34108	239-598-3522
31.	STRYKER, ADING	329 OLIVE WAHIAWA, HI 96786-5711	808-636-8659
32.	STRYKER, ADRIAN	1505 WREATH MANHATTAN, KS 66503-2403	785-268-0502
33.	STRYKER, AGNES I	3539 BENDER TRL PLANO, TX 75075-3344	972-867-5572
34.	STRYKER, AIMEE M	207 SE 2ND STE I8 GAINESVILLE, FL 32601-6594	727-862-8439
35.	STRYKER, ALAN	1600 W WASHINGTON SHERMAN, TX 75092-5236	903-267-0644
36.	STRYKER, ALBERT	2619 KALAMAZOO SE APT 115 GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49507-3967	616-550-4839
37.	STRYKER, ALEE	91970 MARCOLA SPRINGFIELD, OR 97478-8782	541-933-1066
38.	STRYKER, ALEX C	528 HIGHLAND TOWNE WARRENTON, VA 20186-2637	540-520-6998
39.	STRYKER, ALEX	3433 ROCK SPRING FALLS CHURCH, VA 22041-2907	703-606-8738
40.	STRYKER, ALEX	BURKE, VA 22015	703-508-1805
41.	STRYKER, ALEXAND	3503 LANGDALE HIGH POINT, NC 27265-1832	336-688-5879
42.	STRYKER, ALEXANDRA T	2480 16TH NW APT 729 WASHINGTON, DC 20009-6745	414-243-2018
43.	STRYKER, ALEXANDRA G	7531 35TH NE SEATTLE, WA 98115-4810	206-390-6343
44.	STRYKER, ALEXIS	3410 GREEN BRIAR APT 4 GULF BREEZE, FL 32563-2895	850-390-0826
45.	STRYKER, ALEXIS	SAINT LOUIS, MO 63105	314-255-3863
46.	STRYKER, ALFRED E	155 PASTORS MONROE BRIDGE, MA 01350	203-261-3195
47.	STRYKER, ALICE O	520 S 4TH GALLOWAY, NJ 08205-9503	609-287-2366
48.	STRYKER, ALICE JEAN	1295 E WALDEN DRAPER, UT 84020-9563	801-623-8000
49.	STRYKER, ALICE	1277 S WALNUT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005-3055	847-274-0972
50.	STRYKER, ALICE	WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33401	561-601-6848

 

Search:	Public Records: Surname
Terms:	last-name(stryker) maxresults(500)
Date/Time:	Friday, January 10, 2020 12:44 PM
Permissible Use:	Your DPPA Permissible Use: I have no permissible use Your GLBA Permissible Use: I have no permissible use

 

Copyright © 2020 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

 

USPTO OFFICIAL NOTICE

 

Office Action (Official Letter) has issued

on January 10, 2020 for

U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88638103

 

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. 

 

 

/Thomas P. Young/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 120

thomas.young@uspto.gov

(571) 272-5152

 

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 January 10, 2020, 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.”