UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
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`79099820
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`(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)
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`*79099820*
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`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
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`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) APPLICATION SERIAL NO.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK: ELSEEV(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`JAPAN(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) Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.(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)
`N/A(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)
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`KUBOTA Eiichiro,; Hogan Lovells Horitsu(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`15th Floor Daido Seimei(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`Tokyo 100-0013(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Kasumigaseki Building,
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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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`STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER
`TO AVOID ABANDONMENT OF APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION, THE USPTO MUST RECEIVE APPLICANT’S COMPLETE
`RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE BELOW.
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`OFFICE ACTION
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`(cid:160)I
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`(cid:160)I
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE:
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`NTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION NO. 1083647
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`This is a PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL of the trademark and/or service mark in the above-referenced U.S. application.(cid:160) See 15 U.S.C.
`§1141h(c).
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`(cid:160)W
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`HO IS PERMITTED TO RESPOND TO THIS PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL:
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`Applicant may respond directly to this provisional refusal Office action if applicant is not represented by an authorized attorney.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R.
`(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(i).(cid:160) However, the
`§2.193(e)(2)(ii).(cid:160) Otherwise, applicant’s authorized attorney must respond on applicant’s behalf.
`only attorneys who are authorized to sign responses and practice before the USPTO in trademark matters are as follows:
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`(1)(cid:160) Attorneys in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other
`federal territories and possessions of the United States; and
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`(2)(cid:160) Canadian agents/attorneys who represent applicants located in Canada and (a) are registered with the USPTO and in good standing
`as patent agents or (b) have been granted reciprocal recognition by the USPTO.
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`(cid:160)S
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`ee 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(e), 2.62(b), 11.1, 11.5(b)(2), 11.14(a), (c); TMEP §§602, 712.03.
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`(cid:160)F
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`oreign attorneys, other than authorized Canadian attorneys, are not permitted to represent applicants before the USPTO.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R.
`§§2.17(e), 11.14(c), (e); TMEP §602.03-.03(b).(cid:160) That is, foreign attorneys may not file written communications, authorize an amendment to an
`application, or submit legal arguments in response to a requirement or refusal, among other things.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §11.5(b)(2); TMEP
`§§602.03(c), 608.01.(cid:160) If applicant is represented by such a foreign attorney, applicant must respond directly to this provisional refusal Office
`action.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii).
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`(cid:160)D
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`ESIGNATION OF DOMESTIC REPRESENTATIVE:
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`(cid:160)T
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`he USPTO encourages applicants who do not reside in the U.S. to designate a domestic representative upon whom notices or process may be
`served.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §§1051(e), 1141h(d); 37 C.F.R. §2.24(a)(1)-(2); see TMEP §610.(cid:160) Such designations may be filed online at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
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`(cid:160)
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`THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY REFUSED AS FOLLOWS:
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`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.
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`SEARCH OF THE RECORDS
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`(cid:160) T
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`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.
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`(cid:160)I
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`DENTIFICATION OF GOODS
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`(cid:160)T
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`he identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified.(cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160) Applicant must specify the common commercial or generic
`name for the goods.(cid:160) If there is no common commercial or generic name, applicant must describe the product and intended consumer as well as
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`its main purpose and intended uses.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Specifically, the wording “Battery charging apparatus for electric vehicles; distribution boards; electric outlets” is overly broad and must be
`further specified.
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant may adopt the following identification, if accurate:(cid:160)(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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`Class 9
`Battery charging apparatus for electric vehicles, namely, __________ [applicant must specify the type of apparatus using common
`commercial terms, e.g., battery chargers for use with vehicle batteries]; __________ [applicant must specify the goods intended by the
`term “distribution boards” using common commercial terms, e.g., electrical distribution systems, namely, power distribution panels];
`__________ [applicant must specify the goods intended by the term “electric outlets” using common commercial terms], in International
`Class 9.
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`(cid:160)T
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`MEP §1402.01.
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`(cid:160)F
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`or assistance with identifying and classifying goods and/or services in trademark applications, please see the online searchable Manual of
`Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services at http://tess2.uspto.gov/netahtml/tidm.html.(cid:160) See TMEP §1402.04.
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`(cid:160)I
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`dentifications of goods and/or services can be amended only to clarify or limit the goods and/or services; adding to or broadening the scope of
`the goods and/or services is not permitted.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07.(cid:160) Therefore, applicant may not amend the
`identification to include goods and/or services that are not within the scope of the goods and/or services set forth in the present identification.
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION 66(a) APPLICATIONS – Classification for Goods and/or Services Cannot be Changed (Advisory)
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`(cid:160)T
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`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 in the corresponding international registration.(cid:160) TMEP §§1401.03(d),
`1904.02(b).
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION 66(a) APPLICANT MAY WISH TO SEEK TRADEMARK COUNSEL
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant may wish to hire a trademark attorney to assist in prosecuting this application because of the legal technicalities involved.(cid:160) The Office,
`however, cannot aid in the selection of an attorney.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.11.
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`(cid:160)P
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`lease be advised that the only attorneys who can practice before the USPTO in trademark matters are as follows:
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`(1)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) Attorneys in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other
`federal territories and possessions of the United States; and
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`(2)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) Canadian agents/attorneys who represent applicants residing in Canada and who have received reciprocal recognition by the USPTO
`under 37 C.F.R. §10.14(c).
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`(cid:160)3
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`7 C.F.R. §§10.1(c), 10.14; TMEP §602.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Foreign attorneys are not permitted to practice before the USPTO, other than properly authorized Canadian attorneys.(cid:160) TMEP §602.06(b).(cid:160) Filing
`written communications, 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 is considered an incomplete
`response.(cid:160) See TMEP §§602.03, 712.03.
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`If applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) All relevant e-
`mail communications will be placed in the official application record; however, an e-mail communication will not be accepted as a response to
`this Office action and will not extend the deadline for filing a proper response.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.191; TMEP §§709.04-.05.(cid:160) Further, although
`the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) in this Office action, the
`trademark examining attorney may not provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights. (cid:160) See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
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`/Sharon A. Meier/
`________________________
`Trademark Attorney, LO 112
`(571) 272-9195 - phone
`(571) 273-9112 - fax
`sharon.meier1@uspto.gov
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`(cid:160)T
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`O RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: (cid:160) Go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. (cid:160) Please wait 48-72 hours from the
`issue/mailing date before using TEAS, to allow for necessary system updates of the application.(cid:160) For technical assistance with online forms, e-
`mail TEAS@uspto.gov.(cid:160) For(cid:160)questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160)(cid:160) E-mail
`communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to this Office action by e-mail.
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`(cid:160)A
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`ll informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
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`(cid:160)W
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`HO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE:(cid:160) It must be personally signed by(cid:160)an individual applicant or(cid:160)someone with legal authority to bind an
`applicant (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint applicants).(cid:160)(cid:160)If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the
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`response.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION: (cid:160) To ensure that applicant does not miss crucial deadlines or official
`notices, check the status of the application every three to four months using Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) at
`http://tarr.uspto.gov/. (cid:160) Please keep a copy of the complete TARR screen. (cid:160) If TARR shows no change for more than six months, call
`1-800-786-9199. (cid:160) For more information on checking status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/.
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`(cid:160)T
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`O UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160) Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageE.htm.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)