UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
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`*79230700*
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`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS
`LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
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`U.S. APPLICATION
`SERIAL NO.   79230700
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`           
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`MARK: ATOUN
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`ADDRESS:
`  
`       SAMEJIMA
`Mutsumi
`  
`       AOYAMA &
`PARTNERS,
`         Umeda Hankyu Bldg.
`Office Tower,
`           Osaka 530-0017
`    
`    JAPAN
`APPLICANT: Panasonic
`Corporation
`
`    
`
`CORRESPONDENT’S
`REFERENCE/DOCKET
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`        
`
`NO:       
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`  N/A
`CORRESPONDENT E-
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`MAIL ADDRESS:   
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`OFFICE ACTION
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`STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER
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`INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION NO. 1398394
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`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 issues below.  15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
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`SUMMARY OF ISSUES:
`Requirement for clarification of the identification of goods and services
`Requirement for information regarding the significance of the mark
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`SEARCH RESULTS
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`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).
`
`However, applicant must address the following issues.
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`IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
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`The wording in the identification of goods and services is indefinite and too broad.  This wording must be clarified because it is not clear what
`the goods and services are and could identify goods and services in more than one international class.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP
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`§§1402.01, 1402.03, 1904.02(c), (c)(ii).  
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`In Class 7, applicant must list particular types of construction machines and apparatus, lifting apparatus and machines, transporting apparatus and
`machines, and elevating apparatus and clarify the nature of its robotic machines for use in lifting, loading and transporting, robotic machines for
`lifting and loading for use in fishery, and robotic machines for lifting and loading containers for use in fishery.
`
`In Class 10, applicant must list particular medical apparatus and instruments, medical apparatus for nursing care, robotic machines for use in
`nursing care, medical robots, medical robots for use in nursing care, medical diagnostic apparatus and instruments, medical therapy apparatus and
`instruments, medical apparatus and instruments for hospital use, dental apparatus and instruments, veterinary apparatus and instruments, and
`auxiliary medical devices.
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`In Class 35, applicant must specify the type of retail and wholesale services offered.
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`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, any modification to this wording must identify goods and/or services in International
`Classes 7, 10, and 35 only, the classes specified in the application for these goods and services.  See TMEP §1904.02(c), (c)(ii).
`
`Applicant may adopt the following wording, if accurate:  
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`“Construction machines and apparatus, namely, [ applicant must specify, e.g., concrete construction machines, bulldozers, etc.]; robotic machines
`for use in construction; loading and unloading machines and apparatus; lifting apparatus and machines, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g.,
`power-operated lifting machines for moving drilling rigs, lifting installations for the transport of persons and goods, etc.]; transporting apparatus
`and machines, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., conveyors, lifting installations for the transport of persons and goods, etc.]; cargo handling
`apparatus and machines; industrial robotic machines for use in lifting, loading and transporting; industrial robots for lifting and loading for use in
`construction; industrial robots for lifting and loading for use in nuclear power plants; industrial robots for transporting for use in agriculture;
`industrial robotic machines for lifting and loading for use in fishery; industrial robotic machines for lifting and loading containers for use in
`fishery; cranes; self-propelled cranes; elevating apparatus, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., elevating work platforms]; elevators; power
`jacks” in International Class 7
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`“Medical apparatus and instruments, namely, [ applicant must specify, e.g., orthopedic apparatus and instruments, surgical apparatus and
`instruments, etc.]; medical apparatus for nursing care, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., orthopedic apparatus and instruments, blood
`pressure monitors, etc.]; invalid lifts; robotic machines for use in nursing care, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., medical robots for use in
`cognitive therapy for children]; medical robots, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., surgical robots]; medical robots for use in nursing care,
`namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., medical robots with attached spoons for assisting physically disabled persons with eating]; medical
`diagnostic apparatus and instruments, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., ultrasound diagnostic apparatus]; surgical apparatus and
`instruments; medical therapy apparatus and instruments, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., apparatus for acupuncture therapy]; medical
`apparatus and instruments for hospital use, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., heart monitors, injection syringes, etc.]; dental apparatus and
`instruments, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., dental drills]; veterinary apparatus and instruments, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g.,
`electrocardiographs for veterinary purposes]; auxiliary medical devices, namely, [applicant must specify, e.g., defibrillators, infusion sets, etc.];
`orthodontic apparatus and appliances” in International Class 10
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`“Retail and wholesale store services featuring electrical machinery and apparatus; retail and wholesale store services featuring batteries; retail
`and wholesale store services featuring computer software; retail and wholesale store services featuring downloadable computer software” in
`International Class 35
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`Identifications 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.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07(a), 1904.02(b).  In addition, for applications filed under Trademark
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`Act Section 66(a), amendments to the identification are limited to goods and/or services in the international classes designated in the application
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`as filed.  See TMEP §§1402.03(d), 1402.07(a).  
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`Thus, applicant can only amend the identification to include goods and/or services that are (1) within the scope of the identification in the
`application as filed, and (2) classified in an international class designated in the application as filed.
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`For assistance with identifying and classifying goods and services in trademark applications, please see the USPTO’s online searchable U.S.
`Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual.  See TMEP §1402.04.
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`Please note that the identification of services in Classes 37, 39, and 44 is acceptable as written.
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`EXPLANATION OF MARK’S SIGNIFICANCE REQUIRED
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`Applicant must specify whether “ATOUN ” in the mark has any meaning in a foreign language.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(9), 2.61(b); TMEP
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`§§809, 814.  An applicant must submit an English translation of all foreign wording in a mark.  37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(9), 2.61(b); TMEP §809.  
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`Accordingly, if the wording has meaning in a foreign language, applicant should provide the following translation statement:
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`The English translation of the word “ ATOUN” in the mark is “ [applicant must provide translation]”.   
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`TMEP §809.03.
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`Alternatively, if the wording does not have meaning in a foreign language, applicant should provide the following statement:  
`The wording “ATOUN” has no meaning in a foreign language.  
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`Id.
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`RESPONSE GUIDELINES
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`For this application to proceed further, applicant must explicitly address each requirement raised in this Office action.  To respond to
`requirements, applicant should set forth in writing the required changes or statements.  For more information and general tips on responding to
`USPTO Office actions, response options, and how to file a response online, see “ Responding to Office Actions” on the USPTO’s website.
`
`If applicant does not respond to this Office action within six months of the issue/mailing date, or responds by expressly abandoning the
`application, the application process will end and the trademark will fail to register.  See 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.65(a), 2.68(a); TMEP
`§§718.01, 718.02.  Additionally, the USPTO will not refund the application filing fee, which is a required processing fee.  See 37 C.F.R.
`§§2.6(a)(1)(i)-(iv), 2.209(a); TMEP §405.04.
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`When an application has abandoned for failure to respond to an Office action, an applicant may timely file a petition to revive the application,
`which, if granted, would allow the application to return to active status.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.66; TMEP §1714.  The petition must be filed within
`two months of the date of issuance of the notice of abandonment and may be filed online via the Trademark Electronic Application System
`(TEAS) with a $100 fee.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(15)(ii), 2.66(a)(1), (b)(1).
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`If applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney.  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.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05. 
`Further, although the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the requirements in this Office action, the
`trademark examining attorney may not provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights.   See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
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`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.
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`§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).
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`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-
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`.03(b), 608.01.  
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`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
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`C.F.R. §2.24(a)(1)-(2).  Such designations may be filed online at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.   
`
`/Kristina Morris/
`Examining Attorney
`Law Office 116
`571-272-5895
`kristina.morris@uspto.gov (informal queries only)
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`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.
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`All informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
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`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
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`response.  
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`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/.
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`TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:  Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
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