throbber
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)(cid:160) APPLICANT:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`79/025486
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`LTD ETC.
`
`MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC; INDUSTRIAL CO.,
`
`*79025486*
`
`RETURN ADDRESS:(cid:160)
`Commissioner for Trademarks
`P.O. Box 1451
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1451
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160) KAWAMIYA Osamu,
`(cid:160) 3-7, Shiromi 1-chome,
`(cid:160) Chuo-ku,
`(cid:160) Osaka-shi
`(cid:160) Osaka 540-0001 JAPAN
`
`HDAVI CONTROL
`
`(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) N/A
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT EMAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Please provide in all correspondence:
`
`(cid:160)1
`
`.(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.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`OFFICE ACTION
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`erial Number(cid:160) 79/025486
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`NTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION NO. 0889282(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`This is a PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL of the trademark and/or service mark in the above-
`referenced U.S. application.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1141h(c).
`
`(cid:160)W
`
`HO IS PERMITTED TO RESPOND TO THIS PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL:
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`pplicant may respond directly to this provisional refusal Office action, or applicant’s attorney may
`respond on applicant’s behalf. (cid:160) However, the only attorneys who can practice before the United States
`Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in trademark matters are:
`
`(cid:160)
`

`
`(1)(cid:160)(cid:160) Attorneys in good standing with the bar of any U.S. federal court or the highest court of any
`U.S. state, and
`
`(2)(cid:160)(cid:160) Canadian attorneys who have applied for and received reciprocal recognition by the USPTO
`under 37 C.F.R. §10.14(c).(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`37 C.F.R. §10.14; TMEP §602.
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`oreign attorneys are not permitted to practice before the USPTO, other than properly authorized
`Canadian attorneys.(cid:160) Preparing a paper, authorizing an amendment to an application, or submitting legal
`arguments in response to a requirement or refusal constitutes representation of a party in a trademark
`matter.(cid:160) A response signed by an unauthorized foreign attorney will be considered an incomplete
`response.(cid:160) TMEP §§602, 602.03, 603.05.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`HE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY REFUSED AS FOLLOWS:
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he assigned trademark examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and has determined
`the following.
`
`(cid:160)N
`
`o Similar Registered or Pending Marks
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he Office records have been searched and no similar registered or pending mark has been found that
`would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).(cid:160) TMEP §704.02.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`ndefinite Identification of Goods
`
`The identification of goods is unacceptable as indefinite.(cid:160) Pursuant to TMEP §1402.01, the applicant may
`
`adopt the following identification, if accurate:(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Class 9: Slim television sets equipped with a flat display; video cassette recorders; video cassette players;
`digital video disc recorders; digital video disc players; digital audio disc recorders; digital audio disc
`players; audio speakers; remote controllers for television; liquid crystal display projectors; amplifiers;
`stereo tuners; video player tuners.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he wording “video tuners” in the identification of goods needs clarification because it is too vague. (cid:160)
`TMEP §§1402.01 and 1402.03.
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`lease note that, while the identification of goods may be amended to clarify or limit the goods, adding to
`the goods or broadening the scope of the goods is not permitted.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06.(cid:160)
`Therefore, the applicant may not amend the identification to include goods that are not within the scope of
`the goods set forth in the present identification.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he international classification of goods and/or services in applications filed under Trademark Act
`Section 66(a) cannot be changed from the classification given to the goods and/or services by the
`International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization in the corresponding international
`registration.(cid:160) TMEP §§1401.03(d), 1401.04 and 1904.02(b).
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`or assistance with amending this identification of goods, the applicant may consult the searchable
`Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services online at
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`
`http://tess2.uspto.gov/netahtml/tidm.html.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`ignificance of the Mark
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he applicant must specify whether the letters “HDAVI” or (cid:160) “HD” and “AVI” have any significance in
`the electronics trade or industry or as applied to the goods described in the application.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R.
`§2.61(b).
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`isclaimer
`
`(cid:160) T
`
`he applicant must disclaim the descriptive wording “control” apart from the mark as shown because it
`merely describes a feature of the applicant’s goods in that the applicant offer’s controllers, as indicated
`by the applicant’s identification of goods. (cid:160) Trademark Act Section 6, 15 U.S.C. §1056; TMEP §§1213
`and 1213.03.
`
`(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 “control” apart from the mark as shown.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`ee In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he Office can require an applicant to disclaim exclusive rights to an unregistrable part of a mark, rather
`than refuse registration of the entire mark.(cid:160) Trademark Act Section 6(a), 15 U.S.C. §1056(a).(cid:160) Under
`Trademark Act Section 2(e), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e), the Office can refuse registration of the entire mark
`where it is determined that the entire mark is merely descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily
`geographically descriptive of the goods.(cid:160) Thus, the Office may require the disclaimer of a portion of a
`mark which, 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) TMEP
`§1213.03(a).(cid:160) If an applicant does not comply with a disclaimer requirement, the Office may refuse
`registration of the entire mark.(cid:160) TMEP §1213.01(b).
`
`(cid:160)A
`
` “disclaimer” is thus a written statement that an applicant adds to the application record that states that
`applicant does not have exclusive rights, separate and apart from the entire mark, to particular wording
`and/or to a design aspect.(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. Thus, the appearance of the
`applied-for mark does not change.
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`esponse Guidelines
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`lease note that there is no required format or form for responding to this Office action.(cid:160) However, the
`applicant should include the following information on all correspondence with the Office:(cid:160) (1) the name
`and law office number of the examining attorney; (2) the serial number of this application; (3) the mailing
`date of this Office action; and, (4) the applicant's telephone number.
`
`(cid:160)W
`
`hen responding to this Office action, applicant must make sure to respond in writing to each refusal and
`requirement raised.(cid:160) If there is a refusal to register the proposed mark, then the applicant may wish to
`
`(cid:160)
`

`
`argue against the refusal, i.e., explain why it should be withdrawn and why the mark should register.(cid:160)
`If there are other requirements, then the applicant should simply set forth in writing the required changes
`or statements and request that the Office enter them into the application record.(cid:160) The applicant must also
`sign and date its response.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he applicant may find general information about the trademark application and registration process at the
`Office’s website at http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm. The Trademark Manual of Examining
`Procedure may be found at(cid:160) http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/tmep/ .
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f the applicant has questions about its application or needs assistance in responding to this Office action,
`please telephone the assigned trademark examining attorney directly at the number below.
`
`/Dayna J. Browne/
`Trademark Attorney
`Law Office 104
`Ph: (571) 272-8361
`Fax: (571) 273-9104
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)V
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)G
`
`ENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION: For general information about trademarks, please visit
`the Office’s website at http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`OR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE
`ASSIGNED EXAMINING ATTORNEY SPECIFIED ABOVE.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket