To: | Simply Southern Holdings, LLC (dsar@brookspierce.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 90309986 - SIMPLY SOUTHERN - N/A |
Sent: | April 12, 2021 09:24:53 PM |
Sent As: | ecom118@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 90309986
Mark: SIMPLY SOUTHERN
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Correspondence Address: |
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Applicant: Simply Southern Holdings, 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.
Issue date: April 12, 2021
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.
Search results: No conflicting marks
Refusal: Specimen does not show use in specific class
THIS PARTIAL REFUSAL APPLIES TO CLASS 25 ONLY
Registration is refused because the specimen does not show the applied-for mark as actually used in commerce in connection with any of the goods specified in International Class 25. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); In re Keep A Breast Found., 123 USPQ2d 1869, 1876-79 (TTAB 2017); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a), 1301.04(d), (g)(i). An application based on Trademark Act Section 1(a) must include a specimen showing the applied-for mark as actually used in commerce for each international class of goods identified in the application or amendment to allege use. 15 U.S.C. §1051(a)(1); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a); see In re Gulf Coast Nutritionals, Inc., 106 USPQ2d 1243, 1247 (TTAB 2013).
Specifically, applicant’s goods are identified as “knit face masks being headwear” in International Class 25. However, the submitted specimen of use shows the applied-for mark, SIMPLY SOUTHERN, used in connection with “fashion masks being sanitary masks for protection against viral infection” which are classified in International Class 10 and not in International Class 25. The “knit face masks being headwear” in International Class 25 are goods similar to those shown at Exhibit A and the not the goods shown in the specimen of use. See the notes in the Identification Manual showing that “knit face masks” was deleted because it is indefinite and overbroad. The Identification Manual notes show the following.
On 06-11-2020, this 06-25-2009 entry was deleted because it is indefinite and overbroad. As worded, the nature of the goods is unclear and could include goods in more than one class. This wording is no longer acceptable. This entry was replaced by "Knit face masks being headwear" in Class 25. See also similar entries for masks classified by their specific purpose, e.g., "Protective face masks for the prevention of accident or injury" in Class 9 and "Sanitary masks for protection against viral infection" in Class 10. See U.S. Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual.
Therefore, the submitted specimen of use is not acceptable to show use for the goods identified in International Class 25.
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).
Any webpage printout or screenshot submitted as a specimen must include the webpage’s URL and the date it was accessed or printed on the specimen itself, within the TEAS form that submits the specimen, or in a verified statement under 37 C.F.R. §2.20 or 28 U.S.C. §1746 in a later-filed response. See 37 C.F.R. §2.56(c); TMEP §§904.03(i), 1301.04(a).
Response options. Applicant may respond to this refusal by satisfying one of the following for each applicable international class:
(1) Submit a different specimen (a verified “substitute” specimen) that (a) 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 and (b) shows the mark in actual use in commerce for the goods and/or services identified in the application or amendment to allege use. A “verified substitute specimen” is a specimen that is accompanied by the following statement made in a signed affidavit or supported by a declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The substitute (or new, or originally submitted, if appropriate) specimen(s) was/were in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application or prior to the filing of the amendment to allege use.” The substitute specimen cannot be accepted without this statement.
(2) 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, including a specimen.
For an overview of the response options referenced above and instructions on how to satisfy these options using the online Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, see the Specimen webpage.
(1) Deleting the class to which the refusal pertains;
(2) Filing a Request to Divide Application form (form #3) to divide out the goods that have not been refused registration, so that the mark may proceed toward publication for opposition in the classes to which the refusal does not pertain. See 37 C.F.R. §2.87. See generally TMEP §§1110 et seq. (regarding the requirements for filing a request to divide). If applicant files a request to divide, then to avoid abandonment, applicant must also file a timely response to all outstanding issues in this Office action, including the refusal. 37 C.F.R. §2.87(e).; or
(3) Amending the basis, if appropriate. TMEP §806.03(h). (The basis cannot be changed for applications filed under Trademark Act Section 66(a). TMEP §1904.01(a).)
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
The USPTO does not accept emails as responses to Office actions; however, emails can be used for informal communications and are included in the application record. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05.
/Tina Brown/
Trademark Examining Attorney
Law Office 118
E: tina.brown@uspto.gov
T: 571-272-8864
RESPONSE GUIDANCE