To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
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`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation (docketingtm@hdp.com)
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`TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77635201 - INFINITE BLACK - 9432-200452
`
`2/3/2009 1:36:36 PM
`
`ECOM111@USPTO.GOV
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`77/635201
`
`*77635201*
`
`RESPOND TO THIS ACTION:
`http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm
`
`(cid:160)G
`
`ENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION:
`http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) SERIAL NO:(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) MARK: INFINITE BLACK
`(cid:160) (cid:160)
`GREGORY A. STOBBS / GARRETT C. DONLEY(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)
`HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.(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)
`TROY, MI 48098(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) APPLICANT:(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) CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO :(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)
`9432-200452(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS:(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) CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`5445 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 200
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`(cid:160) Panasonic Corporation
`
`docketingtm@hdp.com
`
`OFFICE ACTION
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`O AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS
`OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE.
`
`(cid:160)I
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 2/3/2009
`
`The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) Applicant must respond timely and completely to
`the issue(s) below.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62, 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
`
`(cid:160) T
`
`he Office records have been searched and there are no similar registered or pending marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act
`Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`pplicant is encouraged to telephone the assigned trademark examining attorney to resolve the issues raised in this Office action.
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`isclaimer Required
`The applicant must insert a disclaimer of BLACK in the application because the applicant’s goods are black. (cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP
`§§1213, 1213.03(a).(cid:160) The term describes an aesthetic feature of the goods.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he Office can require an applicant to disclaim an unregistrable part of a mark consisting of particular wording, symbols, numbers, design
`elements or combinations thereof.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1056(a).(cid:160) Under Trademark Act Section 2(e), the Office can refuse registration of an entire mark
`if the entire mark is merely descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive of the goods.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1052(e).(cid:160)
`Thus, the Office may require an applicant to disclaim a portion of a mark that, when used in connection with the goods or services, is merely
`descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, primarily geographically descriptive, or otherwise unregistrable (e.g., generic).(cid:160) See TMEP §§1213,
`
`1213.03.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Failure to comply with a disclaimer requirement can result in a refusal to register the entire mark.(cid:160) TMEP §1213.01(b).
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`
`(cid:160)A
`
` “disclaimer” is a statement that applicant does not claim exclusive rights to an unregistrable component of a mark. (cid:160) TMEP §1213.(cid:160) A
`
`disclaimer does not affect the appearance of the applied-for mark.(cid:160) See TMEP §1213.10.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`A disclaimer does not physically remove the disclaimed matter from the mark, but rather is a written statement that applicant does not claim
`exclusive rights to the disclaimed wording and/or design separate and apart from the mark as shown in the drawing.(cid:160) TMEP §§1213, 1213.10.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he computerized printing format for the Office’s Trademark Official Gazette requires a standardized format for a disclaimer.(cid:160) TMEP
`§1213.08(a)(i).(cid:160) The following is the standard format used by the Office:
`
`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “ BLACK” apart from the mark as shown.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`MEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f the applicant has any questions or needs assistance responding to this office action, the applicant should contact the examining attorney.(cid:160) As
`noted above, the applicant is strongly encouraged to contact the examining attorney to resolve the issue(s) listed above.
`
`/Dawn Feldman Lehker/
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`(571) 272-9381
`F (571) 273-9111
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`RESPOND TO THIS ACTION:(cid:160)Applicant should file a response to this Office action(cid:160)online using the form at
`http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm, waiting 48-72 hours if applicant received notification of the Office action via e-mail.(cid:160)(cid:160)For
`technical assistance with the form, please e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.(cid:160) For(cid:160)questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned
`examining attorney.(cid:160)(cid:160) Do not respond to this Office action by e-mail;(cid:160)the USPTO does not accept e-mailed responses .
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f responding by paper mail, please include the following information: the application serial number, the mark, the filing date and the name,
`title/position, telephone number and e-mail address of the person signing the response.(cid:160) Please use the following address: Commissioner for
`Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`TATUS CHECK: Check the status of the application at least once every six months from the initial filing date using the USPTO Trademark
`Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) online system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.(cid:160) When conducting an online status check, print and
`maintain a copy of the complete TARR screen.(cid:160) If the status of your application has not changed for more than six months, please contact the
`assigned examining attorney.
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`
`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation (docketingtm@hdp.com)
`
`TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77635201 - INFINITE BLACK - 9432-200452
`
`2/3/2009 1:36:39 PM
`
`ECOM111@USPTO.GOV
`
`(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)P
`
`IMPORTANT NOTICE
`USPTO OFFICE ACTION HAS ISSUED ON 2/3/2009 FOR
`APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 77635201
`
`lease follow the instructions below to continue the prosecution of your application:
`
`ACTION:
`OFFICE
`VIEW
`link
`this
`on
`Click
`http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow?DDA=Y&serial_number=77635201&doc_type=OOA&mail_date=20090203 (or copy and
`paste this URL into the address field of your browser), or visit http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow and enter the application
`serial number to access the Office action.
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`LEASE NOTE: The(cid:160)Office action may not be(cid:160)immediately available but will be(cid:160)viewable within(cid:160)24 hours of this notification.
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`ESPONSE(cid:160)MAY BE REQUIRED: You should carefully review the Office action to determine (1) if a response is required; (2) how to
`respond; and (3) the applicable response time period. Your response deadline will be calculated from 2/3/2009.
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`o NOT hit “Reply” to this e-mail notification, or otherwise attempt to e-mail your response, as the USPTO does NOT accept e-mailed
`responses.(cid:160) Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System response form
`at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm.
`
`(cid:160)H
`
`ELP: For technical assistance in accessing the Office action, please e-mail
`
`TDR@uspto.gov.(cid:160) Please contact the assigned examining attorney with questions about the Office action.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) WARNING
`
`1. The USPTO will NOT send a separate e-mail with the Office action attached.
`
`(cid:160)2
`
`. Failure to file any required response by the applicable deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your
`application.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)