throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO.   79206556
`
`           
`
`MARK: I
`
`CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`  
`       SAMEJIMA Mutsumi
`
`  
`
`       AOYAMA & PARTNERS,
`
`         Umeda Hankyu Bldg. Office Tower,
`
`           Osaka 530-0017
`
`    
`
`    JAPAN
`
`*79206556*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`   
`
`APPLICANT: Panasonic Corporation
`
`    
`CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO :       
`CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS:       
`
`  N/A
`
`   
`
`INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION NO. 1342535
`
`OFFICE ACTION
`
`STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTIFICATION:  TO AVOID ABANDONMENT OF THE REQUEST FOR
`EXTENSION OF PROTECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION, THE USPTO MUST RECEIVE A COMPLETE RESPONSE
`TO THIS PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL NOTIFICATION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE “DATE ON WHICH THE NOTIFICATION
`WAS SENT TO WIPO (MAILING DATE)” LOCATED ON THE WIPO COVER LETTER ACCOMPANYING THIS NOTIFICATION.
`
`In addition to the Mailing Date appearing on the WIPO cover letter, a holder (hereafter “Applicant”) may confirm this Mailing Date using the
`USPTO’s Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system at http://tsdr.uspto.gov/.  To do so, enter the U.S. Application serial
`number for this Application and then select “Documents.”   The Mailing Date used to calculate the response deadline for this provisional full
`refusal is the “Create/Mail Date” of the “IB-1rst Refusal Note.”
`
`This is a PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL of the request for extension of protection of the mark in the above-referenced U.S. Application. 
`See 15 U.S.C. §1141h(c).  See below in this notification (hereafter “Office action”) for details regarding the provisional full refusal.
`
`The referenced Application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.  Applicant must respond timely and completely to
`the issue(s) below.  15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
`
`Search Results
`
`The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no conflicting marks that
`would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d).  TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
`











`

`

`Although no similar registered or pending mark has been found that would bar registration, Applicant must satisfy/address the following
`Requirement:
`
`Requirements to be Addressed
`1.    Description of the Mark
`2.    Identification of Goods and Services
`
`Description of the Mark
`
`Applicant must submit an accurate and concise description of the literal and design elements in the mark.  37 C.F.R. §2.37; see TMEP
`§§808.01, 808.02.  The following is suggested, if accurate:
`
`The mark consists of an incomplete rectangle with an irregular curved corner on the bottom right corner where it does not fully
`connect.  Within the first rectangle is a second smaller rectangle with an irregular and inwardly curved bottom right corner.  Centered
`within the smaller rectangle appears the letter “i”.   In the top left corner of the mark are three stars with four points each.
`
`Identification of Goods and Services Requirement
`
`Much of the wording used in the identification of goods and/or services in International Classes 9, 11, 38 and 42 is indefinite and overly broad
`and must be clarified because it does not make clear the nature of the goods and/or services and could identify goods and/or services in more
`
`than one international class.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03, 1904.02(c), (c)(ii).  
`
`In Class 9:  “Computer software” and “computer software Applications” should specify the function of the software, e.g., use as a spreadsheet,
`word processing, etc. and, if software is content- or field-specific, the content or field of use.  “downloadable image files” should indicate the
`content or subject matter thereof.  “intercommunication apparatus” should provide greater specificity as to the goods.   “ intercommunication
`apparatus,” “projection apparatus,” “optical machines and apparatus,” “photographic machines and apparatus,” “cinematographic machines
`and apparatus” “measuring or testing machines and instruments,” “telecommunication machines” and apparatus,” “electronic machines,
`apparatus and their parts” and “downloadable image files” all need to further specify the goods by common commercial name.   The “electronic
`publications” should indicate the subject matter.
`
`In Class 11 “lighting apparatus” should either provide greater specificity as to the goods, or indicate “lighting apparatus installations”.
`
`In Class 38 “telecommunication services” should describe the services with greater specificity by common commercial name
`or indicate “ telecommunication access services”.   “Telecommunication other than broadcasting” should further specify the nature of these
`services.
`
`In Class 42, with some of the services, greater detail as to the nature of the services and/or the subject matter should be provided.
`
`In the identifications use of the alternative term “or” should be replaced with the more definite term “and” as indicated t below.
`
`If an identification of goods and/or services contains brackets, generally, Applicants should not use brackets in identifications in their
`applications so as to avoid confusion with the USPTO’s practice of using brackets in registrations to indicate goods and/or services that have
`been deleted from registrations or in an affidavit of incontestability to indicate goods and/or services not claimed.  See TMEP §1402.12.  The
`only exception is that parenthetical information is permitted in identifications in an application if it serves to explain or translate the matter
`immediately preceding the parenthetical phrase in such a way that it does not affect the clarity or scope of the identification, e.g., “fried tofu
`pieces (abura-age).”   Id.
`
`Therefore, Applicant must remove the brackets from the identification and incorporate any bracketed information into the description of the
`goods and/or services or insert parenthesis as is appropriate.
`













`

`

`In an Application filed under Trademark Act Section 66(a), an Applicant may not change the classification of goods and/or services from that
`assigned by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization in the corresponding international registration.  37 C.F.R.
`§2.85(d); TMEP §§1401.03(d), 1904.02(b).  Therefore, although the goods and/or services may be classified in several international classes, any
`modification to this wording must identify goods and/or services in International Classes 9, 11, 38 and 42 only, the Classes specified in the
`Application for these goods and/or services.  See TMEP §1904.02(c), (c)(ii).
`
`Applicant may adopt the following wording in International Classes 9, if accurate:
`
`Class 9:
`
`Audio-video receivers; bar code readers; blinkers signalling lights; calculating machines; camcorders; cameras photography; cell
`phones; cinematographic cameras; computer game software; computer hardware; computer operating software; computer
`peripheral devices; computer software for___ {specify the function of the software, e.g., use as a spreadsheet, word processing,
`etc. and, if software is content- or field-specific, the content or field of use}; computer software Applications   for ___{specify
`items, e.g., mobile phones, portable media players, handheld computers}, namely, software for___{specify the function of the
`programs, e.g., use in database management, use in electronic storage of data, etc.}; computers; cordless telephones; data
`processing apparatus; digital photo frames; digital signs; downloadable image files containing____{indicate content or subject
`matter}; downloadable music files; electronic agendas; electronic book readers; electronic notice boards; electronic pocket
`translators; facsimile machines; intercommunication apparatus, namely,___{further describe and detail what is intended by
`these goods}; laptop computers; light regulators dimmers, electric; light-emitting diodes LED; lighting ballasts; loudspeakers;
`microphones; mobile telephones; modems; monitors being computer hardware; navigation apparatus for vehicles on-
`board computers; electronic navigational and positioning instruments and apparatus; notebook computers; portable
`media players; projection apparatus for ___{indicate the goods with greater specificity, e.g. transparencies, slides, photographs,
`etc.}; projection screens; radiotelegraphy sets; radiotelephony sets; road signs, luminous or mechanical; screens photography;
`signalling panels, luminous or mechanical; signals, luminous or mechanical; signs, luminous; smartglasses in the nature of
`wearable computers; smartphones; tablet computers; television sets; LCDs liquid crystal displays; digital signage display panels;
`digital signage monitors; computer software to enable the transmission of photographs to mobile telephones; computer software
`and telecommunications apparatus, including modems, to enable connection to databases, computer networks and the Internet;
`digital cameras; digital projectors; lighting control apparatus; video surveillance cameras; point-of-sale POS terminals; computer
`software for controlling self-service terminals; optical sensors; wireless POS (point of service) devices; electronic equipment for
`point-of-sales (POS) systems, namely, point-of-sale terminals, bar code readers, optical readers, advertisement display monitors,
`keyboards, printers, scanners, radio transmitters, radio receivers, computer hardware, and computer operating software;
`interactive computer kiosks comprising computers, computer hardware, computer peripherals, and computer operating software;
`customer self-service electronic checkout stations for point of sale; electronic cash registers; computer software for use in the
`field of VLC (visible light communications) for the transmission of electronic data, namely, video, music, image, text and sound;
`railway signal apparatus, luminous or mechanical; vehicle breakdown warning triangles; luminous or mechanical road signs;
`cash registers; coin counting or sorting machines; electric sign boards for displaying target figures, current outputs or the like;
`photographic machines and apparatus, namely,____{further describe the goods by common commercial name};
`cinematographic machines and apparatus, namely,____{further describe the goods by common commercial name}; optical
`machines and apparatus, namely,____{further describe the goods by common commercial name}; measuring or testing
`machines and instruments, namely,____{further describe the goods by common commercial name}; telecommunication
`machines and apparatus, namely,____{further describe the goods by common commercial name}; electronic machines,
`apparatus and their parts, namely,____{further describe the goods by common commercial name}; computer programs;
`phonograph records; downloadable music files; downloadable image files containing___{indicate the subject matter}; recorded
`video discs and video tapes; power distribution or control machines and apparatus; rotary converters; phase modifiers; electronic
`publications
`
`Class 11:
`
`Automobile lights; bicycle lights; ceiling lights; Chinese lanterns; electric lanterns; electric lamps; light bulbs; LED light bulbs;
`flares; lighting fixtures; flashlights torches; headlights for automobiles; lamps; lamps for directional signals of automobiles; light-
`emitting diodes LED lighting apparatus being lighting installations; lighting apparatus installations; lighting apparatus for
`vehicles; lighting installations for air vehicles; street lamps; light-emitting diode LED luminaires; lighting apparatus for
`showcases; lighting apparatus for refrigerating or freezing showcases; flat panel lighting apparatus; lighting installations for air
`vehicles; electric lamps and other lighting apparatus installations.
`
`Class 38:
`
`Communications by computer terminals; communications by cellular phones; computer aided transmission of messages and
`images; electronic bulletin board services being telecommunications services; information about telecommunication; message
`






`

`

`sending; providing telecommunications connections to a global computer network; providing user access to global computer
`networks; radio communications; rental of modems; rental of telecommunication equipment; transmission of digital files; data
`transmission and telecommunication access services; electronic and digital transmission of voice, data, images, signals and
`messages; electronic transmission and streaming of digital media content for others via global and local computer networks;
`electronic transmission of audio, video and other data and documents among computers; electronic transmission of encrypted
`data; electronic transmission of sound, images and other data and information of all kinds via the Internet; consultancy,
`information and advisory services in the field of telecommunications; telecommunication access services using visible light
`communication (VLC) technologies; consultancy relating to telecommunication services using visible light communication
`(VLC) technologies; technical consultation in the field of data communications and telecommunications; telecommunication,
`namely,___{further specify the telecommunications services being offered by common commercial name} other than
`broadcasting; broadcasting of___{indicate what is being broadcast, e.g. radio, television, etc.}; rental of telecommunication
`equipment including telephones and facsimile apparatus.
`
`Class 42:
`
`Cloud computer services, namely, cloud hosting provider services; computer programming; computer software creation
`consultancy; computer software design; creating and maintaining web sites for others; hosting computer web sites on the
`internet; maintenance of computer software; monitoring of computer systems by remote access to ensure proper functioning;
`rental of computer software; rental of web servers; consultancy in connection with hardware and software for connection to,
`management of, operating and using computer networks; technical consultancy relating to the design of computer hardware,
`software and computer peripherals; computer technology consultancy; software as a service (SaaS) services featuring software
`for____{specify the function of the programs, e.g., for use in database management, for use as a spreadsheet, for word
`processing, etc. and, if software is content - or field-specific, the field of use}; hosting ____{further describe and detail what is
`intended by “platforms”} platforms on the Internet; platform as a service (PAAS) featuring computer software platforms for
`industrial or commercial purposes in the field of VLC (visible light communications) for the transmission of electronic data
`namely video, music, images, text and sound; technical support services relating to computer software, telecommunications and
`the Internet, namely,____{further detail the nature of the “technical support” e.g. monitoring technological functions of
`computer network systems}; computer software design, computer programming, and maintenance of computer software;
`designing of machines, apparatus, instruments including the parts to instruments and systems composed of such machines,
`apparatus and instruments; design and development of computer hardware; research on building construction or city planning;
`testing or research on prevention of pollution; testing or research on electricity; testing or research on civil engineering; testing or
`research on machines, apparatus and instruments; rental of computers; providing online data networks featuring computer
`programs.
`
`In a Trademark Act Section 66(a) Application, classification of goods and/or services may not be changed from that assigned by the
`International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization.  37 C.F.R. §2.85(d); TMEP §§1401.03(d), 1904.02(b).  Additionally,
`classes may not be added or goods and/or services transferred from one class to another in a multiple-class Section 66(a) Application.  37 C.F.R.
`
`§2.85(d); TMEP §1401.03(d).  
`
`For 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.  See TMEP §1402.04.
`
`WHO IS PERMITTED TO RESPOND TO THIS PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL:  Any response to this provisional refusal must be
`personally signed by an individual Applicant, all joint Applicants, or someone with legal authority to bind a juristic Applicant (e.g., a corporate
`officer or general partner).  37 C.F.R. §§2.62(b), 2.193(e)(2)(ii); TMEP §712.01.  If Applicant hires a qualified U.S. attorney to respond on his
`or her behalf, then the attorney must sign the response.  37 C.F.R. §§2.193(e)(2)(i), 11.18(a); TMEP §§611.03(b), 712.01.  Qualified U.S.
`attorneys include those in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S.
`commonwealths or U.S. territories.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(a), 2.62(b), 11.1, 11.14(a); TMEP §§602, 712.01.  Additionally, for all responses, the
`proper signatory must personally sign the document or personally enter his or her electronic signature on the electronic filing.  See 37 C.F.R.
`§2.193(a); TMEP §§611.01(b), 611.02.  The name of the signatory must also be printed or typed immediately below or adjacent to the signature,
`or identified elsewhere in the filing.  37 C.F.R. §2.193(d); TMEP §611.01(b).
`
`In general, foreign attorneys are not permitted to represent Applicants before the USPTO (e.g., file written communications, authorize an
`amendment to an Application, or submit legal arguments in response to a requirement or refusal).  See 37 C.F.R. §11.14(c), (e); TMEP
`
`§§602.03-.03(b), 608.01.  
`
`DESIGNATION OF DOMESTIC REPRESENTATIVE:  The USPTO encourages Applicants who do not reside in the United States to
`designate a domestic representative upon whom any notice or process may be served.  TMEP §610; see 15 U.S.C. §§1051(e), 1141h(d); 37
`


`  


`

`

`C.F.R. §2.24(a)(1)-(2).  Such designations may be filed online at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.   
`
`/Thomas M. Manor/
`
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`
`Law Office 110
`
`Phone: (571) 270-1519
`
`Fax. No. (571) 273-1519
`
`Thomas.Manor@USPTO.GOV
`
`TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:   Go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.   Please wait 48-72 hours from the
`issue/mailing date before using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), to allow for necessary system updates of the Application. 
`For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.  For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned
`trademark examining attorney.  E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to
`this Office action by e-mail.
`
`All informal e-mail communications relevant to this Application will be placed in the official Application record.
`
`WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE:  It must be personally signed by an individual Applicant or someone with legal authority to bind an
`Applicant (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint Applicants).  If an Applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign
`
`the response.  
`
`PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION:   To ensure that Applicant does not miss crucial deadlines or official
`notices, check the status of the Application every three to four months using the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system at
`http://tsdr.uspto.gov/.   Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen.   If the status shows no change for more than six months, contact the
`Trademark Assistance Center by e-mail at TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov or call 1-800-786-9199.   For more information on checking
`status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/.
`
`TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:  Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
`




`  
`

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