To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (ptodocket@arelaw.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77672208 - WHISPER-MODE SURROUN - 55210/648
`
`5/9/2009 10:31:30 AM
`
`ECOM103@USPTO.GOV
`
`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`Attachment - 2
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`(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) MARK: WHISPER-MODE SURROUN(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)
`MORTON AMSTER(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)
`AMSTER ROTHSTEIN & EBENSTEIN LLP(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)
`NEW YORK, NY 10016-1301(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)
`America(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) 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)
`55210/648(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)
`
`*77672208*
`
`RESPOND TO THIS ACTION:
`http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm
`
`(cid:160)G
`
`ENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION:
`http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
`
`77/672208
`
`(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)
`
`90 PARK AVE
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160) Panasonic Corporation of North
`
`ptodocket@arelaw.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
`
`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 5/9/2009
`
`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)N
`
`O CONFLICTING MARKS
`
`(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)C
`
`LAIM OF OWNERSHIP OF PRIOR REGISTRATIONS
`
`If applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 2977368 and 2977451, then applicant must submit a claim of ownership.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.36;
`TMEP §812.(cid:160) The following standard format is suggested:
`
`Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 2977368 and 2977451.
`
`ISCLAIMER REQUIRED
`
`pplicant must insert a disclaimer of SURROUND in the application because the term connotes the ability to “occupy a space all around
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`
`something.” When used in the context of the identified goods, “surround” describes the ability of applicant’s product to put out sound all
`around a room or space.(cid:160) As such, the term is descriptive of a feature of the goods and must be disclaimed.(cid:160) See the attached definition.(cid:160) See 15
`U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he following is the accepted standard format for a disclaimer:
`
`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “SURROUND” apart from the mark as shown.
`
`MEP §1213.08(a)(i).
`
`RESPONSE TO OFFICE ACTION(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`There is no required format or form for responding to an Office action.(cid:160) The Office recommends applicants use the Trademark Electronic
`Application System (TEAS) to respond to Office actions online at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html.(cid:160) However, if applicant responds on
`paper via regular mail, the response should include the title “Response to Office Action” and the following information: (cid:160) (1) the name and law
`office number of the examining attorney, (2) the serial number and filing date of the application, (3) the mailing date of this Office action, (4)
`applicant’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address (if applicable), and (5) the mark. (cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.194(b)(1); TMEP §302.03(a).
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he response should address each refusal and/or requirement raised in the Office action.(cid:160) If a refusal has issued, applicant can argue against the
`refusal; i.e., applicant can submit arguments and evidence as to why the refusal should be withdrawn and the mark should register.(cid:160) To respond to
`requirements, applicant should set forth in writing the required changes or statements and request that the Office enter them into the application
`
`record.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`The response must be personally signed or the electronic signature manually entered by applicant or someone with legal authority to bind
`applicant (i.e., a corporate officer of a corporate applicant, the equivalent of an officer for unincorporated organizations or limited liability
`company applicants, a general partner of a partnership applicant, each applicant for applications with multiple individual applicants).(cid:160) TMEP
`§§605.02, 712.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f applicant has questions about its application or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned trademark
`examining attorney.
`
`(cid:160)C
`
`ounsel is encouraged to telephone the examining attorney to resolve the raised requirement(s).(cid:160) Alternatively, counsel may contact the
`examining attorney by e-mail at emily.carlsen@uspto.gov.
`
`/Emily K. Carlsen/
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`Law Office 103
`Phone: 571.272.2235
`Fax: 571.273.2235
`
`(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)(cid:160)
`

`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`
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`l.:II'\.:I{Il'
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`3. be around somebody: to associate
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`Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] :9 E: {P]2D|J9
`Microsott Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by
`Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
`
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`

`
`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (ptodocket@arelaw.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77672208 - WHISPER-MODE SURROUN - 55210/648
`
`5/9/2009 10:31:32 AM
`
`ECOM103@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 5/9/2009 FOR
`APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 77672208
`
`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=77672208&doc_type=OOA&mail_date=20090509 (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 5/9/2009.
`
`(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)