To:
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`Subject:
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`Sent:
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`Sent As:
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`Attachments:
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`Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of ETC. (RoachL@us.panasonic.com)
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`TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 78817368 - ANYTHING BUT STEREOTYPICAL - 11123.4002
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`2/12/2007 2:44:11 PM
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`ECOM105@USPTO.GOV
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`(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) APPLICANT:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of ETC.
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`78/817368
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`*78817368*
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`RETURN ADDRESS:(cid:160)
`Commissioner for Trademarks
`P.O. Box 1451
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1451
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`Please provide in all correspondence:
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`(cid:160)1
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`.(cid:160) Filing date, serial number, mark and
`applicant's name.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`2.(cid:160) Date of this Office Action.
`3.(cid:160) Examining Attorney's name and
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) Law Office number.
`4. Your
`telephone number and e-mail
`address.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160) LAURENCE S. ROACH, ESQ
`(cid:160) PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF
`(cid:160) LEGAL DEPARTMENT
`(cid:160) 776 HIGHWAY 74 SOUTH
`(cid:160) PEACHTREE CITY, GA 30269
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`ANYTHING BUT STEREOTYPICAL
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`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK:(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) 11123.4002
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT EMAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160)(cid:160) RoachL@us.panasonic.com
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`OFFICE ACTION
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`(cid:160)R
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`ESPONSE TIME LIMIT:(cid:160) TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE
`ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE MAILING OR E-MAILING DATE.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`MAILING/E-MAILING DATE INFORMATION:(cid:160) If the mailing or e-mailing date of this Office action does not appear above, this
`information can be obtained by visiting the USPTO website at http://tarr.uspto.gov/, inserting the application serial number, and viewing the
`prosecution history for the mailing date of the most recently issued Office communication.
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`(cid:160)S
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`erial Number(cid:160) 78/817368
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`(cid:160)T
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`HIS IS A FINAL ACTION
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`This letter responds to the applicant’s communication filed on January 19, 2007.
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`(cid:160)R
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`egistration was refused because the proposed mark, as used on the specimen of record, does not function as a trademark to indicate the source
`of the identified goods.(cid:160) Trademark Act Sections 1, 2 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1052 and 1127; In re Remington Products Inc., 3 USPQ2d 1714
`(TTAB 1987); TMEP §§1202 et seq.(cid:160)(cid:160) Invoices, announcements, order forms, bills of lading, leaflets, brochures, publicity releases and
`other printed advertising material generally are not acceptable specimens.(cid:160) In re Bright of America, Inc., 205 USPQ 63 (TTAB 1979);
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`TMEP sections 905.05 and 905.07.(cid:160) See In re Ultraflight Inc., 221 USPQ 903 (TTAB 1984).(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`The applicant believes that its specimens are acceptable, because they are displays associated with the goods. However, it is the examining
`attorney’s belief that the applicant’s specimens do not satisfy the statutory criteria for displays associated with the goods.
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`(cid:160)A
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`ccordingly, examining attorneys should accept any catalog or similar specimen as a display associated with the goods, provided: (1) it includes
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`(cid:160)
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`a picture of the relevant goods; (2) it shows the mark sufficiently near the picture of the goods to associate the mark with the goods; and (3) it
`includes the information necessary to order the goods, (e.g., an order form, or a phone number, mailing address, or e-mail address for placing
`orders). Any form of advertising that satisfies these criteria should be construed as a display associated with the goods.(cid:160) TMEP section 904.06(a).
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`(cid:160)I
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`n this case, the specimen is not acceptable because it consists of advertising material for goods.(cid:160) Section 45 of the Trademark Act requires use
`“on the goods or their containers or the displays associated therewith or on tags or labels affixed thereto.” (cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1127; see 37 C.F.R.
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`§2.56(b)(1); TMEP §904.05.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Material that functions merely to tell prospective purchasers about the goods, or to promote the sale of the goods, is unacceptable to show
`trademark use.(cid:160) Indeed, invoices, business cards, announcements, price lists, listings in trade directories, order forms, bills of lading, leaflets,
`brochures, publicity releases, advertising circulars and other printed advertising material, while normally acceptable for showing use in
`connection with services, generally are not acceptable specimens for showing trademark use in connection with goods.(cid:160) See In re MediaShare
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`Corp., 43 USPQ2d 1304, 1307 (TTAB 1997); In re Schiapparelli Searle, 26 USPQ2d 1520, 1522 (TTAB 1993); TMEP §§904.05 and 904.07.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`An application based on Section 1(a) must include a specimen showing the applied-for mark in use in commerce for each class of goods.(cid:160)
`Trademark Act Sections 1, 2 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051-1052 and 1127; 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(1)(iv).
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`(cid:160)T
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`herefore, applicant must submit the following:
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`(1)(cid:160)(cid:160) A substitute specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for the goods specified in the application; and
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`(2)(cid:160)(cid:160) The following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:(cid:160) “ The substitute specimen was in
`use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application.” (cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.59(a); TMEP §904.09.(cid:160) If submitting a
`specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.71(c).
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`(cid:160)E
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`xamples of specimens for goods are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the goods or packaging, or
`displays associated with the goods at their point of sale.(cid:160) TMEP §§904.04 et seq.
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`(cid:160)I
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`f applicant cannot satisfy the above requirements, applicant may amend the Section 1(a) filing basis (use in commerce) to Section 1(b) (intent to
`use basis), for which no specimen is required.(cid:160) However, should applicant amend the basis to Section 1(b), registration cannot be granted until
`applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C.
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`§1051(c); 37 C.F.R. §§2.76, 2.88; TMEP Chapter 1100.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`In order to amend to Section 1(b), applicant must submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R.
`§2.20:(cid:160) “ Applicant has had a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods or services listed in
`the application as of the filing date of the application.” (cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(2) and 2.35(b)(1); TMEP §806.01(b).
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`(cid:160)P
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`ending a proper response, registration is refused because the specimen does not show the applied-for mark in use in commerce as a trademark.(cid:160)
`15 U.S.C. §§1051-1052 and 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv) and 2.56.
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`(cid:160)T
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`his refusal is continued and made FINAL.
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`(cid:160)I
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`f applicant fails to respond to this final action within six months of the mailing date, the application will be abandoned.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37
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`C.F.R. §2.65(a).(cid:160) Applicant may respond to this final action by:(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`(1)(cid:160)(cid:160) submitting a response that fully satisfies all outstanding requirements, if feasible (37 C.F.R. §2.64(a)); and/or
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`(2)(cid:160)(cid:160) filing an appeal to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, with an appeal fee of $100 per class (37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(18) and 2.64(a);
`TMEP §§715.01 and 1501 et seq.; TBMP Chapter 1200).
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`(cid:160)I
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`n certain circumstances, a petition to the Director may be filed to review a final action that is limited to procedural issues, pursuant to 37 C.F.R.
`§2.63(b)(2).(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.64(a).(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.146(b), TMEP §1704, and TBMP Chapter 1201.05 for an explanation of petitionable matters.(cid:160)
`The petition fee is $100.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(15).
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`(cid:160)R
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`esponse
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`(cid:160)I
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`f the applicant has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.
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`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`
`/Charles L. Jenkins, Jr./
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`Law Office Action 105
`571-272-9305
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`HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS OFFICE ACTION:
`ONLINE RESPONSE:(cid:160) You may respond using the Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Office action
`form available on our website at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html.(cid:160) If the Office action issued via e-mail, you must wait 72 hours
`after receipt of the Office action to respond via TEAS.(cid:160) NOTE:(cid:160) Do not respond by e-mail.(cid:160) THE USPTO WILL NOT ACCEPT AN
`E-MAILED RESPONSE.
`REGULAR MAIL RESPONSE:(cid:160) To respond by regular mail, your response should be sent to the mailing return address above, and
`include the serial number, law office number, and examining attorney’s name. (cid:160) NOTE:(cid:160) The filing date of the response will be the date
`of receipt in the Office, not the postmarked date.(cid:160) To ensure your response is timely, use a certificate of mailing.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.197.
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`(cid:160)S
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`TATUS OF APPLICATION: To check the status of your application, visit the Office’s Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval
`(TARR) system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.
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`(cid:160)V
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`IEW APPLICATION DOCUMENTS ONLINE: Documents in the electronic file for pending applications can be viewed and downloaded
`online at http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow.
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`(cid:160)G
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`ENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION: For general information about trademarks, please visit the Office’s website at
`http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
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`(cid:160)F
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`OR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED EXAMINING
`ATTORNEY SPECIFIED ABOVE.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)