To: | Tree of Life Planted LLC (delajoe8688@gmail.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Application Serial No. 90457365 - TREE OF LIFE PLANTED - N/A |
Sent: | August 14, 2021 07:39:18 PM |
Sent As: | ecom127@uspto.gov |
Attachments: | Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Applicant’s Trademark Application
U.S. Application Serial No. 90457365
Mark: TREE OF LIFE PLANTED
|
|
Correspondence Address:
|
|
Applicant: Tree of Life Planted LLC
|
|
Reference/Docket No. N/A
Correspondence Email Address: |
|
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: August 14, 2021
INTRODUCTION
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 OF USPTO DATABASE OF MARKS
SECTIONS 1 AND 45 SPECIMEN REFUSAL – MARK NOT SHOWN USED IN CONNECTION WITH IDENTIFIED GOODS
Registration is refused because the specimen does not show the applied-for mark as actually used in commerce in International Class 19. 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). 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. 15 U.S.C. §1051(a)(1); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).
Specifically, the specimen appears to show the applied-for mark used in the display of stone or ceramic vases, which are goods in International Class 21. However, applicant identified “[p]ottery stone” in International Class 19, which is a type of stone to make tableware products or porcelain, as evidenced in the webpage attachments from KCM Corporation and Pottery Histories. Thus, the specimen fails to show the applied-for mark used in connection with the goods in International Class 19 identified in the application.
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 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.
AMENDED COLOR CLAIM AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF MARK REQUIRED
Furthermore, applicant must delete from the description any text that does not reference things appearing in the mark, such as interpretation, assessment, or analysis of the mark elements, or indications of how the mark is or is not used or intended to be used. Specifically, the mark description indicates that the green circle “represent[s] global impact,” which is an abstract concept that is not a design element appearing in the mark.
A complete color claim must reference all the colors appearing in the drawing of the mark. See 37 C.F.R. §2.52(b)(1); TMEP §§807.07(a) et seq. Similarly, a complete description must identify only all the literal and design elements in the mark and specify where the colors appear in those elements. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.37, 2.52(b)(1); TMEP §§807.07(a) et seq. If black, white, and/or gray represent background, outlining, shading, and/or transparent areas and are not part of the mark, applicant must so specify in the description. See TMEP §807.07(d).
(1) If white is a feature of the mark, applicant must amend the color claim to include white and amend the description to identify where white appear in the literal and/or design elements of the mark. The following color claim and description are suggested, if accurate:
Color claim: “The colors purple, green, gold, and white are claimed as a feature of the mark.”
Description: “The mark consists of a circle with a green outline and white interior containing a gold symbol representing a root and tree with 7 purple leaves, 7 green leaves, and 1 circular purple fruit. Below the design is the wording “TREE OF LIFE PLANTED” in green stylized font.”
(2) If white is not a feature of the mark, applicant must amend the description to state that white represents background, outlining, shading and/or transparent areas and is not part of the mark. The following description is suggested, if accurate:
“The mark consists of a green single-line circle with a transparent interior containing a gold symbol representing a root and tree with 7 purple leaves, 7 green leaves, and 1 circular purple fruit. Below the design is the wording “TREE OF LIFE PLANTED” in green stylized font. The color white represents background, outlining, shading, and/or transparent area and is not part of the mark.”
TMEP §807.07(d).
RESPONSE GUIDELINES
For this application to proceed, applicant must explicitly address each refusal and 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.
Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney with clarification questions about this Office action. Although an examining attorney cannot provide legal advice, the examining attorney can provide additional explanation about the refusal and/or requirement in this Office action. See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
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.
SUGGEST HIRING TRADEMARK COUNSEL
Because of the legal technicalities and strict deadlines of the trademark application process, applicant is encouraged to hire a private attorney who specializes in trademark matters to assist in this process. The assigned trademark examining attorney can provide only limited assistance explaining the content of an Office action and the application process. USPTO staff cannot provide legal advice or statements about an applicant’s legal rights. TMEP §§705.02, 709.06. See Hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney for more information.
How to respond. Click to file a response to this nonfinal Office action.
/G. Iñaki Liñero Guarda/
G. Iñaki Liñero, Esq.
Examining Attorney
Law Office 127
(571)270-1783
Gerardo.LineroGuarda@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE