To: | Velotec Sports LLC (officeactions@br-tmlaw.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88643553 - LUMIERE - N/A |
Sent: | January 13, 2020 10:21:31 PM |
Sent As: | ecom113@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5 Attachment - 6 Attachment - 7 Attachment - 8 Attachment - 9 Attachment - 10 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88643553
Mark: LUMIERE
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Correspondence Address: |
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Applicant: Velotec Sports LLC
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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.
The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issues below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
SUMMARY OF ISSUES:
The trademark examining attorney has searched the USPTO’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no similar registered marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). However, marks in prior-filed pending applications may present a bar to registration of applicant’s mark as provided below. Please note that no response is required to the potential Section 2(d) – Likelihood of Confusion Refusal at this time.
ADVISORY: POTENTIAL SECTION 2(d) REFUSAL – ONE PRIOR PENDING APPLICATION
In response to this Office action, applicant may present arguments in support of registration by addressing the issue of the potential conflict between applicant’s mark and the mark in the referenced application. Applicant’s election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits applicant’s right to address this issue later if a refusal under Section 2(d) issues.
While applicant is not required to respond to the issue of the pending application, applicant must respond to this Office Action within six months of the mailing date to avoid abandonment.
However, applicant must respond to the following refusal and requirement.
SECTION 2(e)(1) – MERE DESCRIPTIVENESS REFUSAL
In this case, applicant has applied for the mark “LUMIERE” for use in connection with bicycle helmets.
Here, applicant’s mark, “LUMIERE” means “light” in French, which is a common, modern language in the United States. See In re Optica Int’l, 196 USPQ 775 (TTAB 1977).
The doctrine is applied when “the ordinary American purchaser” would “stop and translate” the foreign term into its English equivalent. Palm Bay, 396 F.3d at 1377, 73 USPQ2d at 1696 (quoting In re Pan Tex Hotel Corp., 190 USPQ 109, 110 (TTAB 1976)); TMEP §1209.03(g). The ordinary American purchaser includes those proficient in the foreign language. In re Spirits Int’l, N.V., 563 F.3d 1347, 1352, 90 USPQ2d 1489, 1492 (Fed. Cir. 2009); see In re Highlights for Children, Inc., 118 USPQ2d at 1271.
In this case, the ordinary American purchaser would likely stop and translate the mark because the French language is a common, modern language spoken by an appreciable number of consumers in the United States. Thus, these consumers will understand the mark, “LUMIERE” as meaning light and as conveying the applied-for goods feature a lamp, or source of light. See http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=light.
The following attached evidence demonstrates the term “light” is commonly used in connection with similar goods to describe bicycle helmets that feature a source of light. See e.g.,
1. http://www.qualitygrabber.com/products/smart-bike-helmet-with-led-light-5-colors?variant=30861054672969 (“Bike Safety Helmet with LED Light”).
2. http://www.wish.com/product/5cb1979d8029606a85eda6c7?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=US&_force_currency_code=USD&pid=googleadwords_int&c=%7BcampaignId%7D&ad_cid=5cb1979d8029606a85eda6c7&ad_cc=US&ad_curr=USD&ad_price=39.00&campaign_id=7203534630&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhYDzifmB5wIVCYizCh1xfArpEAQYBCABEgIjQfD_BwE (“Xiaomi Smart4u SH50 Cycling Helmet Intelligent Back LED Light Waterproof Long Use Helmet Back Light for Bike Scooter Women Men”).
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM1yy0KRW3Q (“The Lumos bike helmet is a bike helmet that wants to save your life. Its 60 LEDs cover the front and back. In the rear, it has an automatic brake light that is controlled by an accelerometer. Left and right turn signals can be switched with buttons on the handlebars.”).
4. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Zefal-Adjustable-Light-up-Bicycle-Helmet-L-58-61cm-Universal-Dial/149607505?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=4424&adid=22222222227131567681&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=237891338538&wl4=aud-430887228898:pla-390625680649&wl5=9016920&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=149607505&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjqjL8_2B5wIViJyzCh1ahgSuEAkYHSABEgLDavD_BwE (“The light-up helmet also offers an integrated visor and a soft comfortable padded helmet liner that is also removable for quick and easy cleaning. Additionally, the helmet has a built in rear LED light that helps the traffic behind you know that you are there. The rear LED light offer 3 modes to choose from (constant, flashing and chasing). Overall, the Zefal "light-up" helmet offers superb protection in a lightweight, attractive and yet, affordable design.”).
5. http://www.amazon.com/VICTGOAL-Detachable-Adjustable-Lightweight-Teenagers/dp/B07BP3QNZS/ref=asc_df_B07BP3QNZS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242033862368&hvpos=1o40&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7133374734196431095&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016920&hvtargid=pla-584824909159&psc=1 (“VICTGOAL Bike Helmet with Detachable Visor Back Light & Insect Net Padded Adjustable Sport Cycling Helmet Lightweight Bicycle Helmets for Adult Men and Women Youth Teenagers… BRIGHT TAILLIGHT, LED SAFETY LIGHT, 6 LED Bulb with 3 lighting modes - steady, slow flashing and fast flashing, it will help people behind you clearly recognized your direction, More safer when night cycling.”).
The attached evidence of third-party usage of the term “light” to describe bicycle helmets that contain a light source demonstrates that purchasers will immediately understand the applied-for-mark as conveying a salient feature of applicant’s goods is that it contains a light source.
Ultimately, when purchasers encounter applicant’s goods using the mark “LUMIERE”, they will immediately understand the mark as an indication of the feature of applicant’s goods rather than as an indication that applicant is the source of the goods. Therefore, the mark is merely descriptive and registration is refused pursuant to Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act.
Response to Section 2(e)(1) – Mere Descriptiveness Refusal
ADVISORY: SUPPLEMENTAL REGISTER NOT PERMITTED UNTIL ACCEPTABLE AMENDMENT TO ALLEGE USE FILED
If applicant files an acceptable allegation of use and also amends to the Supplemental Register, the application effective filing date will be the date applicant met the minimum filing requirements under 37 C.F.R. §2.76(c) for an amendment to allege use. TMEP §§816.02, 1102.03; see 37 C.F.R. §2.75(b). In addition, the undersigned trademark examining attorney will conduct a new search of the USPTO records for conflicting marks based on the later application filing date. TMEP §§206.01, 1102.03.
REQUIREMENT
If applicant responds to the refusal, applicant must also respond to the requirement set forth below.
INFORMATION ABOUT GOODS REQUIRED
To permit proper examination of the application, applicant must submit additional information about applicant’s goods. See 37 C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §§814, 1402.01(e). Specifically, applicant must submit the following:
Factual information about the goods must clearly indicate how they operate, their salient features, and their prospective customers and channels of trade. Conclusory statements will not satisfy this requirement for information.
Failure to comply with a request for information is grounds for refusing registration. In re Harley, 119 USPQ2d 1755, 1757-58 (TTAB 2016); TMEP §814. Merely stating that information about the goods is available on applicant’s website is an insufficient response and will not make the relevant information of record. See In re Planalytics, Inc., 70 USPQ2d 1453, 1457-58 (TTAB 2004).
RESPONSE GUIDANCE
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
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.
ASSISTANCE
Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney with questions about this Office action. If applicant requires technical assistance in using the online response form, applicant may email TEAS@uspto.gov or call the Trademark Assistance Center at 1-800-786-9199.
/Tiffany Y. Chiang/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 113
(571) 272-7681
tiffany.chiang@uspto.gov