Offc Action Outgoing

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

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

 

 

 

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 02, 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).

 

DISCLAIMER

Applicant must provide a disclaimer of the unregistrable part(s) of the applied-for mark even though the mark as a whole appears to be registrable.  See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).  A disclaimer of an unregistrable part of a mark will not affect the mark’s appearance.  See Schwarzkopf v. John H. Breck, Inc., 340 F.2d 978, 979-80, 144 USPQ 433, 433 (C.C.P.A. 1965).

 

In this case, applicant must disclaim the wording “hub” because it is not inherently distinctive.  These unregistrable term(s) at best are merely descriptive of an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of applicant’s goods and/or services.  See 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., 695 F.3d 1247, 1251, 103 USPQ2d 1753, 1755 (Fed. Cir. 2012); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a). 

 

The attached evidence from the website of Merriam-Webster shows this wording means “a central device that connects multiple computers on a single network.”  Thus, the wording merely describes applicant’s goods and/or services because they include goods and services that utilize a central device for connecting and controlling various computerized devices and users on a single network.

 

Applicant may respond to this issue by submitting a disclaimer in the following format: 

 

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “HUB” apart from the mark as shown. 

 

For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this issue using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), see the Disclaimer webpage. 

 

IDENTIFICATIONS REQUIRE AMENDMENT

The International Class 38 identification of services is acceptable as written.

 

The remaining identification of goods and services are unacceptable because certain goods and services are indefinitely worded. See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03.

 

Additionally, the applicant has classified “certification services, namely, for the professional installation of electronic devices, computer hardware, and security and surveillance products, HVAC systems, lighting, and appliances” in International Class 37; however, the proper classification is International Class 42. 

 

The USPTO requires such specificity in order for a trademark examining attorney to examine the application properly and make appropriate decisions concerning possible conflicts between the applicant’s mark and other marks.  See In re N.A.D. Inc., 57 USPQ2d 1872, 1874 (TTAB 2000); TMEP §1402.03(d). 

 

Applicant may change the wording to the following, if accurate [please note that the current unacceptable entries appear italicized and suggested wording the applicant must provide appears in bold]:

 

Class 9:           Computer hardware for streaming and playing audio, video, and multimedia content, and for controlling televisions, monitors, gaming systems, DVD players, portable media players, and digital media streaming devices; Audio speakers; Loud Speakers; Wireless indoor and outdoor speakers; Voice controlled audio speakers; Electronic devices and downloadable computer software that allow the sharing and transmission of data and information between devices for the purposes of facilitating environmental monitoring, control, and automation; Climate control system consisting of a digital thermostat; Wireless cameras; digital cameras; motion activated cameras; video cameras; Electronic monitors and sensors for monitoring water, humidity levels, heat, temperature, air quality, light, movement, motion, sound, and the presence of people, animals and objects; Light switches; lighting control panels; light systems comprising light sensors and switches; Electronic locks; programmable locking systems; digital door locks; Electronic doorbells; electronic wirelessly enabled doorbells; electronic doorbells featuring a camera; intercoms; Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire alarms; access control and alarm monitoring systems; security alarm hubs; sound alarms; alarm sensors; security alarm controllers; keypads for use with security alarm devices; electronic key fobs being remote control apparatus; Stand-alone information device, namely, voice and manual controlled audio speakers with personal digital assistant capabilities for streaming and playing audio, video, and multimedia content, for controlling televisions, monitors, gaming systems, DVD Players, portable media players, and digital media streaming devices; Stand-alone information device, namely, voice and manual controlled audio speakers with personal digital assistant capabilities for accessing and searching online databases, websites, mobile phones, computers, tablets, smart phones, handheld computers, portable computers for documents, files, and other stored information on command; Stand-alone information device, namely, voice and manual controlled audio speakers with personal digital assistant capabilities for providing personal concierge services for others initiated by voice-controlled commands via a mobile phone, computer, tablet, smart phone, handheld computer, portable computer, namely, adding and accessing calendar appointments, alarms, timers, reminders, making restaurant, travel, and hotel reservations, and making professional services appointments; Downloadable software for controlling home automation systems, namely, lighting, appliances, HVAC systems, thermostats, air quality monitors and sensors, alarms and other safety equipment, locks, doorbells, cameras, and home monitoring equipment; Downloadable software for streaming and playing audio, video, and multimedia content, and for controlling televisions, monitors, gaming systems, DVD players, portable media players, and digital media streaming devices.

 

Class 37:         Installation of electronic devices, computer hardware, and security and surveillance products, HVAC systems, lighting, and appliances.

 

Class 42:         Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for providing a personal voice-enabled digital assistant; Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable voice recognition software; Computer services, namely, providing a voice-controlled search engine for obtaining data, images, audio and video via a global computer network; Provision of Internet search engines; Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software used to provide voice-controlled information and communications; Electronic storage of electronic media, namely, images, text, audio, and video data; providing online non-downloadable software for recording, viewing, storing, sharing and analyzing online audio and video; Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for streaming and playing audio, video, and multimedia content, and for controlling televisions, monitors, gaming systems, DVD players, portable media players, and digital media streaming devices; Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for use in providing personal concierge services for others by voice-controlled commands via a mobile phone, computer, tablet, smart phone, handheld computer, portable computer, namely, adding and accessing calendar appointments, alarms, timers, reminders, making restaurant, travel, hotel reservations, and making professional services appointments; Providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for monitoring and controlling home automation systems, namely, lighting, appliances, HVAC systems, thermostats, air quality monitors and sensors, alarms and other safety equipment, locks, doorbells, cameras, and home monitoring equipment; Computer services, namely, providing a website featuring technology that allows users to monitor and control home automation systems, namely, lighting, appliances, HVAC systems, thermostats, air quality monitors and sensors, alarms and other safety equipment, locks, doorbells, cameras, and home monitoring equipment at a remote location; certification services, namely, testing, analysis and evaluation of the professional installation of others of electronic devices, computer hardware, and security and surveillance products, HVAC systems, lighting, and appliances to determine conformity with certification standards.

 

TMEP §1402.01.

 

PLEASE NOTE: An applicant may amend an identification of goods and services only to clarify or limit the goods and services; adding to or broadening the scope of the goods and/or services is not permitted.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07 et seq.

                                                                                                                                       

For assistance with identifying goods and/or services in trademark applications, please see the online searchable Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services at http://tess2.gov.uspto.report/netahtml/tidm.html.

 

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(s) and/or requirement(s) 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. 

 

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.    

 

 

/Ronald L. Fairbanks/

Ronald L. Fairbanks

Examining Attorney

Law Office 119

571-272-9405

ron.fairbanks@uspto.gov

 

 

RESPONSE GUIDANCE

• 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.

 

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

 

USPTO OFFICIAL NOTICE

 

Office Action (Official Letter) has issued

on December 02, 2019 for

U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88671239

 

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. 

 

 

/Ronald L. Fairbanks/

Ronald L. Fairbanks

Examining Attorney

Law Office 119

571-272-9405

ron.fairbanks@uspto.gov

 

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 December 02, 2019, 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.”