Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`PTO Form 1960 (Rev 10/2011)
`
`OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp 07/31/2017)
`
`Request for Reconsideration after Final Action
`
`The table below presents the data as entered.
`
`Entered
`
`86499954
`
`LAW OFFICE 118
`
`http://tmng-al.uspto.gov/resting2/api/img/86499954/large
`
`FLIGHTLINK
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`The mark consists of standard characters, without claim to any particular font style,
`size or color.
`
`APPLICANT’S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
`
`Input Field
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`SERIAL NUMBER
`
`LAW OFFICE ASSIGNED
`
`MARK SECTION
`
`MARK
`
`LITERAL ELEMENT
`
`STANDARD CHARACTERS
`
`USPTO-GENERATED IMAGE
`
`MARK STATEMENT
`
`ARGUMENT(S)
`
`Commissioner for Trademarks
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313
`
`Hon. Commissioner for Trademarks:
`
`This submission is in response to the Final Office Action mailed November 30, 2015 ("Office Action"). Applicant respectfully requests
`withdrawal of the refusal under Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act because the mark would not be perceived as immediately describing the
`services. Applicant submits that the mark FLIGHTLINK, as a whole, creates an incongruity beyond the literal meaning of the component
`terms, indicating that the mark is at least suggestive; TMEP § 1213.05(d). Additionally, the mark as a whole is indirect, vague and ambiguous,
`having no meaning in connection with weather-related services. Accordingly, the mark cannot be said to be merely descriptive.
`
`Applicant's services are identified in the service mark application filed on January 9, 2015, as "[m]eteorological forecasting; providing
`meteorological information; providing weather information; weather forecasting; weather information services; weather reporting." There is
`nothing in this identification that recites anything related to flights, airplanes, or airlines.
`
`Applicant respectfully submits that the mark FLIGHTLINK does not convey or describe an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature,
`purpose, or use of weather-related services. Nor does the mark FLIGHTLINK immediately convey to an average prospective purchaser that
`Applicant offers services in meteorological forecasting, weather information reporting, or weather-related services. The Examiner notes,
`however, that determination of descriptiveness is made in relation to Applicant's identified services. But even considering the mark
`FLIGHTLINK in relation to Applicant's identified services, which are all weather-related services; the mark does not convey information
`about the services. The arguments to the contrary in the Office Action are incorrect.
`
`For example, the Office Action states "[i]n this case, the proposed mark FLIGHTLINK merely describes meteorological and weather services
`provided to various airplanes and airline fleets connected to a shared voice and data communications system for safe travel, airspace
`management and accurate real-time aviation monitoring, analysis and reporting." (Emphasis added). But neither airplanes nor airline fleets are
`identified anywhere in Applicant's identified services. The same is true for "connected to a shared voice and data communications system for
`safe travel, airspace management and accurate real-time aviation monitoring, analysis and reporting." Those characteristics or services are not
`recited anywhere in Applicant's identified services, nor are they even implied.
`
`FLIGHTLINK epitomizes an incongruous mark because, as suggested in the Office Action and the evidence of record, the term "LINK"
`relates to a traditional definition of "connection," and there is neither traditional "FLIGHTLINK" nor any definitions explaining that such a
`concept exists (Meridian-Webster online dictionary empty search result enclosed). The addition of FLIGHT to LINK does not have any
`
`

`
`immediate relationship to traditional "connections," and thus it would not have any immediate descriptive meaning to purchasers of
`Applicant's weather-related services, who do not relate to "connections" for weather information. Thus, FLIGHTLINK is not merely
`descriptive of the services and such would not be the immediate impression to consumers. Adding the term "FLIGHT" to "LINK" suggests an
`incongruous figurative meaning that contrasts with the traditional "LINK" meaning. See TMEP § 1213.05(d).
`
`Thus, it is respectfully submitted that the mark FLIGHTLINK is unitary and incongruous because even when the terms are analyzed separately
`"FLIGHT" would not be associated with a traditional concept of "LINK" to relate to weather services. Further, neither term alone is
`descriptive, or even suggestive, of weather-related services, in and of themselves.
`
`A mark that is "incongruous" is unitary by definition; TMEP § 1213.05(d). According to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board,
`"[i]ncongruity is a strong indication that a mark is suggestive rather than merely descriptive." TMEP § 1209.01(a) (citing In re Tennis in the
`Round Inc., 199 USPQ 496, 498 (TTAB 1978). Incongruity in a mark is "one of the accepted guideposts in the evolved set of legal principles
`for discriminating the suggestive from the descriptive mark," and the Board has noted that the "concept of mere descriptiveness "should not
`penalize coinage of hitherto unused and somewhat incongruous word combinations whose import would not be grasped without some measure
`of imagination and 'mental pause.'" Id. (citing In re Shutts, 217 USPQ 363, 364-5 (TTAB 1983) (holding SNO-RAKE not merely descriptive
`of a snow- removal hand tool)). Applicant's coined FLIGHTLINK mark requires such "mental pause" for weather-related services and is such
`an incongruous unitary mark.
`
`Moreover, it is improper to dissect the mark in the manner discussed in the Office Action. The previous Office Action provided definitions of
`the term "FLIGHT" and the term "LINK" from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, including these many definitions of the term
`"FLIGHT:"
`
`1. a. an act or instance of passing through the air by the use of wings.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. the ability to fly.
`2. a. a passing through the air or through space outside the earth's atmosphere.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. the distance covered in such a flight.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) c. swift movement.
`3. a. trip made by or in an airplane or spacecraft.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. scheduled airplane trip.
`4. a group of similar beings or objects flying through the air together.
`5. a brilliant, imaginative, or unrestrained exercise or display.
`6. a. a continuous series of stairs from one landing or floor to another.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. a series (as of terraces or conveyors) resembling a flight of stairs.
`7. a unit of the United States Air Force below a squadron
`(Emphasis added [bold-face] to show definitions relied on by the Examiner in the Office Action).
`
`Further, the Merriam-Webster online dictionary includes these many definitions of the term "LINK:"
`
`1. a connecting structure: as
`
`a. a single ring or division of a chain; one of the standardized divisions of a surveyor's chain that is 7.92 inches (20.1
`centimeters) long and serves as a measure of length.
`b. cuff link.
`c. bond 3c.
`d. an intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion; especially: a short connecting rod with a hole or pin
`at each end.
`e. the fusible member of an electrical fuse.
`
`2: something analogous to a link of chain: as
`
`a. a segment of sausage in a chain.
`b. a connecting element or factor.
`c. a unit in a communication system.
`d. an identifier attached to an element (as an index term) in a system in order to indicate or permit connection
`with other similarly identified elements; especially: one (as a hyperlink) in a computer file.
`
`(Emphasis added [bold-face] to show the definitions relied on by the Examiner in the Office Action).
`
`There is nothing in the terms "FLIGHT" and/or "LINK" of the above definitions that would be descriptive of weather-related services, and the
`Examiner has not demonstrated otherwise.
`
`

`
`The Office Action simply quotes the Meridian-Webster's definitions of the term "FLIGHT" as "a trip made by or in an airplane or spacecraft"
`or "a group of similar beings or objects flying through the air together," and the term "LINK" as "a unit in a communication system," "an
`identifier attached to an element in a system in order to indicate or permit connection with other similarly identified elements," or "a
`connecting structure," and states that such definitions somehow make the mark FLIGHTLINK merely descriptive of weather-related services
`without providing a rational underpinning to support such a conclusion.
`
`Instead, the Examiner cites third-party registrations with the terms "FLIGHT" or "LINK" in the registered marks "featuring services the same
`as or similar to applicant's services" (Office Action) as alleged evidence for the merely descriptive refusal of the mark. However, the third-
`party registrations cited by the Examiner demonstrate the exact opposite, such that, neither the term "FLIGHT" nor "LINK" are merely
`descriptive of weather-related services. Otherwise, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) would have not registered the cited third-
`party marks on the Principal Register, or at least, the USPTO would have rejected them as "merely descriptive," which did not occur. See the
`list below of some of the third-party registrations cited by the Examiner:
`
`Mark: FLIGHT SENTINEL
`Reg. No. 3015078
`IC: 038
`Goods/Services: Wireless electronic transmission of data and information via facsimile and ground-to-air-to-ground
`communications for the purpose of assisting the flight crew with communications and for the purpose of providing the crew
`pertinent information regarding routing, weather, air traffic delays, airport status, and other air traffic initiatives.
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: SPIRE FLIGHT SOLUTIONS
`Reg. No. 4478939
`IC: 039
`Goods/Services: Flight planning services for airlines, aircraft companies, pilots and the military; flight planning services for
`airlines, aircraft companies, pilots and the military, namely, providing... weather briefings and information
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: TIMEX DATA LINK
`Int'l Reg. 1196000 (Abandoned)
`IC: 009
`Goods/Services: Computer hardware; computer software... multifunctional electronic devices for displaying, measuring, and
`uploading to the Internet information including time, date, body and heart rates, global positioning, direction, distance, altitude,
`speed, steps taken, calories burned, navigational information, weather information
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Additionally, Applicant respectfully points out that the USPTO has registered the following third-party marks, including the term "FLIGHT"
`or "LINK" without finding either term "merely descriptive" of weather-related goods/services (registrations including respective Office
`Actions or lack thereof, enclosed as evidence):
`
`Mark: DRIVERLINK
`Reg. No. 3257799
`IC: 042
`Goods/Services: Providing weather conditions updates for the transportation industry via a website on a global computer network
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: QUIKLINK
`Reg. No. 3945334
`IC: 042
`Goods/Services: Weather data services, namely, weather information services
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: ACULINK
`Reg. No. 4451201
`IC: 009
`Goods/Services: Electronic weather monitoring and recording system for displaying weather data comprised of remote air
`thermometers, water thermometers, relative humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, wind direction sensors, and rain gauges, and
`including other weather sensors
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`

`
`Mark: NULINK!
`Reg. No. 4106412
`IC: 009
`Goods/Services: ...GPS device that allows users to connect to a wireless communication network and provides users with online
`local traffic information, weather information, fuel location and price information, flight status information, traffic and parking
`information...
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None(cid:160)
`
`Mark: FLIGHT BRIEF
`Reg. No. 4034692
`IC: 042
`Goods/Services: Providing temporary use of on-line non-downloadable software for use in accessing and displaying weather
`information
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: FLIGHTGUARDIAN
`Reg. No. 2832176 (Canceled)
`IC: 009
`Goods/Services: Computer software for weather mapping used in the cellular transmission of voice, video and data related solely
`to weather information between aircraft and the ground
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: FLIGHTCAM
`Reg. No. 2433387 (Canceled) IC. 042
`Goods/Services: Weather Reporting.
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Mark: FLIGHTMAX
`Reg. No. 2608466 (Canceled)
`IC: 038
`Goods/Services: Computer programs for use in displaying and managing flight, weather and navigational information for
`business and commercial aircraft; flight computers; computer displays and monitors; light emitting diode displays; luminescent
`display panels and active- and passive-matrix liquid crystal displays.
`Merely Descriptive Refusal: None
`
`Particular emphasis is made to the third-party service mark registration DRIVERLINK for "providing weather conditions updates for the
`transportation industry via a website on a global computer network" that evidenced the non-descriptive nature of the term LINK for weather-
`related services. Further, the term DRIVER was not considered descriptive for services in the "transportation industry" by the USPTO. The
`term DRIVER is significantly more related to the described services ("...transportation industry") in the DRIVERLINK mark than the term
`FLIGHT is related to the services (weather-related services) in Applicant's mark.
`
`Referring back to Applicant's FLIGHTLINK mark, there are no definitions of the combined unitary incongruous mark and no evidence that the
`purchasers of Applicant's weather-related services would combine two distinct terms and arrive at any conclusion that the term "FLIGHT" and
`a traditional concept of "LINK," such as connection, would be associated together, and that such purchasers would immediately know that the
`services offered under the mark are for weather forecast information. It is also inappropriate to dissect the mark in such a manner and assert
`consumers would do the same and believe that the mark immediately describes the services, as is required for a mark to be deemed merely
`descriptive.
`
`To try to support the position that the mark is merely descriptive, the Final Office Action includes excerpts of Applicant's website as
`apparently using the service mark, and further refers to the specimen of record. However, the Examiner rejected the specimen in the Non-Final
`Office Action because "the specimen does not show the applied-for mark in use in commerce in connection with any of the services specified
`in the International Class 42 in the application." (Emphasis added). In response, Applicant amended the filing basis to section 1(b) intent-to-
`use.
`
`If Applicant's website does not constitute a specimen of use of the FLIGHTLINK service mark by the USPTO, it is inappropriate,
`unreasonable or at least contradictory, for the USPTO to use Applicant's website as evidence of Applicant's use of the mark. Applicant's
`website does not use the mark descriptively and the recitation of services does not relate a traditional "link" to a "flight." Applicant has coined
`the FLIGHTLINK service mark for weather-related services, and the website illustrates the unique aspect of combining FLIGHT and LINK for
`such services.
`
`

`
`Further, even if use of FLIGHTLINK on the website could be somehow considered as descriptive of Applicant's weather-related services, one
`isolated use would not evidence widespread descriptive use to support a descriptiveness refusal. See In re Stroh Brewery Co., 34 USPQ2d
`1796, 1797 (TTAB 1995). The evidence of record by the Examiner does not have sufficient weight to illustrate that the mark as a whole is
`merely descriptive, and that it would be perceived as having a known meaning when viewed by prospective purchasers of weather-related
`services.
`
`In view of the foregoing remarks, reconsideration and withdrawal of the refusal is respectfully requested.
`
`EVIDENCE SECTION
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`evi_206190759-20160523135657699477_._E11_SPIRE_FLIGHT_SOLUTIONS.pdf
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`evi_206190759-20160523135657699477_._E12_TIMEX_DATA_LINK.pdf
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`DESCRIPTION OF EVIDENCE FILE
`
`PDF files of a dictionary search and registrations cited in the Argument.
`
`SIGNATURE SECTION
`
`RESPONSE SIGNATURE
`
`SIGNATORY'S NAME
`
`SIGNATORY'S POSITION
`
`SIGNATORY'S PHONE NUMBER
`
`DATE SIGNED
`
`/Brian Furrer #37627/
`
`Brian Furrer
`
`Attorney of record, Washington bar member
`
`949-462-1285
`
`05/23/2016
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`
`AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
`
`CONCURRENT APPEAL NOTICE FILED
`
`FILING INFORMATION SECTION
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`SUBMIT DATE
`
`TEAS STAMP
`
`Mon May 23 18:24:33 EDT 2016
`
`USPTO/RFR-XXX.XXX.XX.X-20
`160523182433552876-864999
`54-55078c4636da92a15d1828
`cbaa34519074596ef868e3ccf
`99a8dca632f50e5cc91-N/A-N
`/A-20160523175841184570
`
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`PTO Form 1960 (Rev 10/2011)
`
`OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp 07/31/2017)
`
`Request for Reconsideration after Final Action
`To the Commissioner for Trademarks:
`
`Application serial no. 86499954(cid:160)FLIGHTLINK(Standard Characters, see http://tmng-al.uspto.gov/resting2/api/img/86499954/large) has been
`amended as follows:
`
`ARGUMENT(S)
`In response to the substantive refusal(s), please note the following:
`
`APPLICANT’S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
`
`Commissioner for Trademarks
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313
`
`Hon. Commissioner for Trademarks:
`
`This submission is in response to the Final Office Action mailed November 30, 2015 ("Office Action"). Applicant respectfully requests
`withdrawal of the refusal under Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act because the mark would not be perceived as immediately describing the
`services. Applicant submits that the mark FLIGHTLINK, as a whole, creates an incongruity beyond the literal meaning of the component terms,
`indicating that the mark is at least suggestive; TMEP § 1213.05(d). Additionally, the mark as a whole is indirect, vague and ambiguous, having
`no meaning in connection with weather-related services. Accordingly, the mark cannot be said to be merely descriptive.
`
`Applicant's services are identified in the service mark application filed on January 9, 2015, as "[m]eteorological forecasting; providing
`meteorological information; providing weather information; weather forecasting; weather information services; weather reporting." There is
`nothing in this identification that recites anything related to flights, airplanes, or airlines.
`
`Applicant respectfully submits that the mark FLIGHTLINK does not convey or describe an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature,
`purpose, or use of weather-related services. Nor does the mark FLIGHTLINK immediately convey to an average prospective purchaser that
`Applicant offers services in meteorological forecasting, weather information reporting, or weather-related services. The Examiner notes,
`however, that determination of descriptiveness is made in relation to Applicant's identified services. But even considering the mark
`FLIGHTLINK in relation to Applicant's identified services, which are all weather-related services; the mark does not convey information about
`the services. The arguments to the contrary in the Office Action are incorrect.
`
`For example, the Office Action states "[i]n this case, the proposed mark FLIGHTLINK merely describes meteorological and weather services
`provided to various airplanes and airline fleets connected to a shared voice and data communications system for safe travel, airspace
`management and accurate real-time aviation monitoring, analysis and reporting." (Emphasis added). But neither airplanes nor airline fleets are
`identified anywhere in Applicant's identified services. The same is true for "connected to a shared voice and data communications system for safe
`travel, airspace management and accurate real-time aviation monitoring, analysis and reporting." Those characteristics or services are not recited
`anywhere in Applicant's identified services, nor are they even implied.
`
`

`
`FLIGHTLINK epitomizes an incongruous mark because, as suggested in the Office Action and the evidence of record, the term "LINK" relates
`to a traditional definition of "connection," and there is neither traditional "FLIGHTLINK" nor any definitions explaining that such a concept
`exists (Meridian-Webster online dictionary empty search result enclosed). The addition of FLIGHT to LINK does not have any immediate
`relationship to traditional "connections," and thus it would not have any immediate descriptive meaning to purchasers of Applicant's weather-
`related services, who do not relate to "connections" for weather information. Thus, FLIGHTLINK is not merely descriptive of the services and
`such would not be the immediate impression to consumers. Adding the term "FLIGHT" to "LINK" suggests an incongruous figurative meaning
`that contrasts with the traditional "LINK" meaning. See TMEP § 1213.05(d).
`
`Thus, it is respectfully submitted that the mark FLIGHTLINK is unitary and incongruous because even when the terms are analyzed separately
`"FLIGHT" would not be associated with a traditional concept of "LINK" to relate to weather services. Further, neither term alone is descriptive,
`or even suggestive, of weather-related services, in and of themselves.
`
`A mark that is "incongruous" is unitary by definition; TMEP § 1213.05(d). According to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, "[i]ncongruity
`is a strong indication that a mark is suggestive rather than merely descriptive." TMEP § 1209.01(a) (citing In re Tennis in the Round Inc., 199
`USPQ 496, 498 (TTAB 1978). Incongruity in a mark is "one of the accepted guideposts in the evolved set of legal principles for discriminating
`the suggestive from the descriptive mark," and the Board has noted that the "concept of mere descriptiveness "should not penalize coinage of
`hitherto unused and somewhat incongruous word combinations whose import would not be grasped without some measure of imagination and
`'mental pause.'" Id. (citing In re Shutts, 217 USPQ 363, 364-5 (TTAB 1983) (holding SNO-RAKE not merely descriptive of a snow- removal
`hand tool)). Applicant's coined FLIGHTLINK mark requires such "mental pause" for weather-related services and is such an incongruous unitary
`mark.
`
`Moreover, it is improper to dissect the mark in the manner discussed in the Office Action. The previous Office Action provided definitions of the
`term "FLIGHT" and the term "LINK" from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, including these many definitions of the term "FLIGHT:"
`
`1. a. an act or instance of passing through the air by the use of wings.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. the ability to fly.
`2. a. a passing through the air or through space outside the earth's atmosphere.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. the distance covered in such a flight.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) c. swift movement.
`3. a. trip made by or in an airplane or spacecraft.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. scheduled airplane trip.
`4. a group of similar beings or objects flying through the air together.
`5. a brilliant, imaginative, or unrestrained exercise or display.
`6. a. a continuous series of stairs from one landing or floor to another.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) b. a series (as of terraces or conveyors) resembling a flight of stairs.
`7. a unit of the United States Air Force below a squadron
`(Emphasis added [bold-face] to show definitions relied on by the Examiner in the Office Action).
`
`Further, the Merriam-Webster online dictionary includes these many definitions of the term "LINK:"
`
`1. a connecting structure: as
`
`a. a single ring or division of a chain; one of the standardized divisions of a surveyor's chain that is 7.92 inches (20.1
`centimeters) long and serves as a measure of length.
`b. cuff link.
`c. bond 3c.
`d. an intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion; especially: a short connecting rod with a hole or pin at
`each end.
`e. the fusible member of an electrical fuse.
`
`2: something analogous to a link of chain: as
`
`a. a segment of sausage in a chain.
`b. a connecting element or factor.
`c. a unit in a communication system.
`d. an identifier attached to an element (as an index term) in a system in order to indicate or permit connection
`with other similarly identified elements; especially: one (as a hyperlink) in a computer file.
`
`(E