To:
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`Subject:
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`Sent:
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`Sent As:
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`Panasonic Corporation (docketingtm@hdp.com)
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`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 85657739 - AG CLEAN - 9432-200514
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`9/6/2012 2:50:47 PM
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`ECOM106@USPTO.GOV
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`Attachments:
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`Attachment - 1
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
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`85657739
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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)
`
`GEOFFREY D. AURINI(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)
`HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.(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)
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`*85657739*
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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: AG CLEAN(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)(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) (cid:160)
`Panasonic Corporation(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) 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)
`9432-200514(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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`5445 CORPORATE DR STE 200
`TROY, MI 48098-2683
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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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`docketingtm@hdp.com
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`OFFICE ACTION
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`(cid:160) S
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`TRICT 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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`(cid:160)I
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 9/6/2012
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`(cid:160)T
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`he 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(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
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`(cid:160)S
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`EARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
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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).(cid:160) TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
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`(cid:160)D
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`ISCLAIMER REQUIRED
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant must disclaim the descriptive wording “Clean” apart from the mark as shown because it merely describes an ingredient, quality,
`characteristic, function, feature, purpose or use of applicant’s goods and/or services, to wit, the refrigerator is intended to keep the foods in the
`refrigerator “clean.”(cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(e)(1), 1056(a); In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir.
`2005); In re Gyulay, 820 F.2d 1216, 1217-18, 3 USPQ2d 1009, 1010 (Fed. Cir. 1987); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).(cid:160) See attachment.(cid:160) Material
`obtained from the Internet is generally accepted as competent evidence.(cid:160) See In re Davey Prods. Pty Ltd., 92 USPQ2d 1198, 1202-03 (TTAB
`2009) (accepting Internet evidence to show relatedness of goods in a likelihood of confusion determination); In re Rodale Inc., 80 USPQ2d 1696,
`1700 (TTAB 2006) (accepting Internet evidence to show genericness); In re White, 80 USPQ2d 1654, 1662 (TTAB 2006) (accepting Internet
`evidence to show false suggestion of a connection); In re Joint-Stock Co. “Baik” , 80 USPQ2d 1305, 1308-09 (TTAB 2006) (accepting Internet
`evidence to show geographic significance); In re Consol. Specialty Rests. Inc., 71 USPQ2d 1921, 1927-29 (TTAB 2004) (accepting Internet
`evidence to show geographic location is well-known for particular goods); In re Gregory, 70 USPQ2d 1792, 1793, 1795 (TTAB 2004) (accepting
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`(cid:160)
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`Internet evidence to show surname significance); In re Fitch IBCA Inc., 64 USPQ2d 1058, 1060-61 (TTAB 2002) (accepting Internet evidence to
`show descriptiveness); TBMP §1208.03; TMEP §710.01(b).
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant may submit the following standardized format for a disclaimer:
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`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “Clean” apart from the mark as shown.
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`(cid:160)T
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`MEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
`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. (cid:160)TMEP §§1213, 1213.10.
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`(cid:160)E
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`XPLANATION OF MARK’S SIGNIFICANCE REQUIRED
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant must specify whether the letters “AG” have any significance in the relevant trade or industry, that is, the refrigeration industry or as
`applied to the goods/services described in the application, or if such letters represent a “term of art” within applicant’s industry.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R.
`§2.61(b); TMEP §§808.01(a), 814.
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`(cid:160)F
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`ailure to respond to a request for information is an additional ground for refusing registration.(cid:160) See In re Cheezwhse.com, Inc., 85 USPQ2d
`1917, 1919 (TTAB 2008); In re DTI P’ship LLP , 67 USPQ2d 1699, 1701 (TTAB 2003); TMEP §814.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he USPTO applies the following legal authorities when processing a trademark and service mark application:(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`The Trademark Act of 1946
`The Trademark Rules of Practice
`Precedential court and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decisions
`USPTO’s Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) (8th ed. Oct. 2011)
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`USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure (TBMP) (3d ed. May 2011)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`15 U.S.C. §§1051 et seq.; 37 C.F.R. pts. 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11; see TMEP intro., §§101, 107, 110.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Official USPTO letters and notices sent to applicants generally refer to one or more of these legal resources.(cid:160) Both the Trademark Act and the
`Trademark Rules of Practice can be viewed online at the Trademarks’ Home Page at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp by clicking on
`“Laws & Regulations” on the left side of the screen.(cid:160) The TMEP is also available via the Home Page by clicking on “Manuals, Guides, Official
`Gazette” on the left side of the screen.(cid:160) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decisions and the TBMP can be found at their website located at
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/appeal/index.jsp.
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`TEAS PLUS APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY OR SUBMIT FEE:(cid:160) Applicants who filed their
`application online using the reduced-fee TEAS Plus application must continue to submit certain documents online using TEAS, including
`responses to Office actions.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.23(a)(1).(cid:160) For a complete list of these documents, see TMEP §819.02(b).(cid:160)
`In addition, such
`applicants must accept correspondence from the Office via e-mail throughout the examination process and must maintain a valid e-mail address.(cid:160)
`37 C.F.R. §2.23(a)(2); TMEP §§819, 819.02(a).(cid:160) TEAS Plus applicants who do not meet these requirements must submit an additional fee of $50
`per international class of goods and/or services.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(iv); TMEP §819.04.(cid:160) In appropriate situations and where all issues can be
`resolved by amendment, responding by telephone to authorize an examiner’s amendment will not incur this additional fee.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`/Edward Nelson/
`Edward Nelson
`Trademark Attorney
`Law Office 106
`(571) 272-9202
`Edward.Nelson@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
`
`(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)
`

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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)
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`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation (docketingtm@hdp.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 85657739 - AG CLEAN - 9432-200514
`
`9/6/2012 2:50:48 PM
`
`ECOM106@USPTO.GOV
`
`IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR
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`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`(cid:160) U
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`(cid:160)P
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`SPTO OFFICE ACTION HAS ISSUED ON 9/6/2012 FOR
`SERIAL NO. 85657739
`
`lease follow the instructions below to continue the prosecution of your application:
`
`TO READ OFFICE ACTION: Click on this link or go to http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow and enter the application serial
`number to access the Office action.
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`LEASE NOTE: The Office action may not be immediately available but will be viewable within 24 hours of this e-mail notification.
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`(cid:160)R
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`ESPONSE(cid:160)IS REQUIRED: You should carefully review the Office action to determine (1) how to respond; and (2) the applicable response
`time period. Your response deadline will be calculated from 9/6/2012 (or sooner if specified in the office action).
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`(cid:160)D
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`o NOT hit “Reply” to this e-mail notification, or otherwise attempt to e-mail your response, as the USPTO does NOT accept e-mailed
`responses.(cid:160) Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System Response
`Form.
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`(cid:160)H
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`ELP: For technical assistance in accessing the Office action, please e-mail
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`TDR@uspto.gov.(cid:160) Please contact the assigned examining attorney with questions about the Office action.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) WARNING
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`(cid:160)F
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`ailure to file the required response by the applicable deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your
`application.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`