To: | Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (trademarks@kelleydrye.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 88738626 - RED DEAD ONLINE - N/A |
Sent: | March 26, 2020 05:10:50 PM |
Sent As: | ecom120@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 88738626
Mark: RED DEAD ONLINE
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Correspondence Address:
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Applicant: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
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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: March 26, 2020
The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
SEARCH OF USPTO DATABASE OF MARKS
SPECIMEN REFUSAL - MARK ON DRAWING DIFFERS FROM MARK ON SPECIMEN
Registration is refused because the specimen does not show the mark in the drawing in use in commerce in International Classes 9 and 42, which is required in the application or amendment to allege use. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a), 1301.04(g)(i). The mark appearing on the specimen and in the drawing must match; that is, the mark in the drawing “must be a substantially exact representation of the mark” on the specimen. See 37 C.F.R. §2.51(a)-(b); TMEP §807.12(a).
In this case, the specimen displays the mark as “RED DEAD” stacked above the term “ONLINE” with a thick line border or with a solid background. However, the drawing displays the mark as term “RED DEAD” on top of the word “ONLINE” with two square images to the right and left of the term “ONLINE”. The mark on the specimen does not match the mark in the drawing because the addition of the two square images to the right and left of the term “ONLINE”. Applicant has thus failed to provide the required evidence of use of the mark in commerce. See TMEP §807.12(a).
Response options. Applicant may respond to this refusal by satisfying one of the following:
(1) Submit a different specimen (a verified “substitute” specimen) for each applicable international class that (a) shows the mark in the drawing in actual use in commerce for the goods and/or services in the application or amendment to allege use, and (b) was in actual use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application or prior to the filing of an amendment to allege use.
Examples of specimens. Specimens for goods include a photograph of (1) the actual goods bearing the mark; (2) an actual container, packaging, tag or label for the goods bearing the mark; or (3) a point-of-sale display showing the mark directly associated with the goods. See 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(1), (c); TMEP §904.03(a)-(m). A webpage specimen submitted as a display associated with the goods must show the mark in association with a picture or textual description of the goods and include information necessary for ordering the goods. TMEP §904.03(i); see 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(1), (c).
Specimens for services must show a direct association between the mark and the services and include: (1) copies of advertising and marketing material, (2) a photograph of business signage or billboards, or (3) materials showing the mark in the sale, rendering, or advertising of the services. See 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(1), (c); TMEP §1301.04(a), (h)(iv)(C).
Any web page printout or screenshot submitted as a specimen, whether for goods or services, must include the webpage’s URL and the date it was accessed or printed. 37 C.F.R. §2.56(c).
(2) Submit a request to amend the filing basis to intent to use under Section 1(b) (which includes withdrawing an amendment to allege use, if one was filed), as no specimen is required before publication. This option will later necessitate additional fee(s) and filing requirements such as providing a specimen.
The USPTO will not accept an amended drawing submitted in response to this refusal because the changes would materially alter the drawing of the mark in the original application or as previously acceptably amended. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72(a)-(b); TMEP §807.14. Specifically, the two images are distinctive matter.
For more information about drawings and instructions on how to satisfy these response options using the online Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, see the Drawing webpage.
AMENDMENT TO IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES REQUIRED
International Class 9
The identification for game software computer game programs in International Class 9 is indefinite and too broad and must be clarified to specify whether its format is downloadable, recorded, or online non-downloadable. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.03(d), 1402.11(a). Downloadable and recorded goods are in International Class 9, whereas providing their temporary, online non-downloadable use is an entertainment service in International Class 41. See TMEP §1402.03(d).
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).
Finally, the wording “USB flash drives” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified because format of the flash drive is required. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.01. Applicant must amend this wording to specify the common commercial or generic name of the goods. See TMEP §1402.01. If the goods have no common commercial or generic name, applicant must describe the product, its main purpose, and its intended uses. See id.
International Class 41
Within International Class 41, applicant must clarify the wording “online games” “computer games” and “audio-visual content” because it is indefinite and too broad. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03. This wording is indefinite because it does not make clear what the services are.
Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate:
International Class 09: Downloadable Computer and video game programs and game software; downloadable computer and video game programs and game; downloadable digital materials, namely, ring tones, wallpapers, screensavers, digital music files, and graphics, videos, films, multimedia files, live action programs, motion pictures, and animation in the field of video games and computer games, all delivered via global computer networks and wireless networks; pre-recorded digital media featuring computer games and video games, ring tones, wallpapers, screensavers, digital music files, and graphics, videos, films, multimedia files, live action programs, motion pictures, and animation in the field of video games and computer games; blank USB flash drives; cases for mobile phones and tablets; mouse pads; pre-recorded media featuring music, namely, compact discs, and phonograph records; Downloadable computer application software for mobile phones, portable media players, tablets, handheld computers and other electronic mobile devices namely, downloadable software for video and computer games
International Class 41: Entertainment services, namely, providing online electronic games, providing a website featuring non-downloadable computer games and video games, and news, information, tips, hints, contests, computer interface themes, computer enhancements, audio-visual content in the nature of music, films, videos, television programs, animated series, and other multimedia materials in the field of computer games and video games; providing information, news and commentary in the field of computer games and video games
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.
NEW DRAWING OF THE MARK REQUIRED
Applicant must submit a new drawing with the ® symbol deleted from the drawing of the mark; this symbol is not part of the mark and is not registrable. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72; TMEP §807.14(a). Although applicant must delete this matter, applicant may not make any other changes or amendments that would materially alter the drawing of the mark. See 37 C.F.R. §2.72; TMEP §§807.14 et seq. For more information about deleting matter from the drawing, see the Drawing webpage.
Therefore, applicant must submit a new drawing showing a clear depiction of the mark. All lines must be clean, sharp and solid, and not fine or crowded. 37 C.F.R. §§2.53(c), 2.54(e); TMEP §§807.05(c), 807.06(a). Additionally, the USPTO will not accept a new drawing in which there are amendments or changes that would materially alter the applied-for mark. 37 C.F.R. §2.72; see TMEP §§807.13 et seq., 807.14 et seq.
For more information about drawings and instructions on how to submit a drawing, see the Drawing webpage.
The word “online” appears in applicant’s identification of services. Thus, the wording merely describes applicant’s goods and/or services because applicant provides games online.
Applicant may respond to this issue by submitting a disclaimer in the following format:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “ONLINE” apart from the mark as shown.
For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to provide one using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), see the Disclaimer webpage.
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.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
/Kara E. Jackson/
Kara E. Jackson
Examining Attorney
Law Office 120
571-272-4358
Kara.Jackson@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE