To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Panasonic Corporation (docketingtm@hdp.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86153090 - INFO BAR - 9432-200548
`
`1/31/2014 11:00:05 AM
`
`ECOM104@USPTO.GOV
`
`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`Attachment - 2
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`86153090
`
`*86153090*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) U.S. APPLICATION 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)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK: INFO BAR
`(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: Panasonic Corporation
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`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) 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) 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) HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) 5445 CORPORATE DR STE 200
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) TROY, MI 48098-2683
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160) 9432-200548
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160) docketingtm@hdp.com
`
`OFFICE ACTION
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 1/31/2014
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`LEASE NOTE - Applicant is encouraged to telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney to resolve the issues raised in this
`Office action by examiner’s amendment. (cid:160) Although a formal response may never be submitted by e-mail, an applicant may communicate
`informally by phone or e-mail with the trademark examining attorney to agree to a proposed amendment to the application that will immediately
`place the application in condition for publication for opposition.(cid:160) See TMEP §707.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) Applicant must respond timely and completely to
`the issues below.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
`
`(cid:160)N
`
`O LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION FOUND
`
`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).
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`ISCLAIMER
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`pplicant must disclaim the descriptive wording “INFO BAR” apart from the mark as shown because it merely describes a feature of
`applicant’s goods.(cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(e)(1), 1056(a); DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., 695 F.3d 1247, 1251, 103
`USPQ2d 1753, 1755 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (quoting In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d 1171, 1173, 71 USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004)); In
`
`re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`Specifically, applicant’s own identification of goods describes the goods as “display[ ing] an information bar on screen,” making the wording
`“INFO BAR” highly descriptive of applicant’s goods.(cid:160) (Emphasis added.)(cid:160) Specifically, the term “INFO” is a widely-used abbreviation for
`“information.” (cid:160) See attached dictionary evidence.
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`“disclaimer” is a statement in the application record that applicant does not claim exclusive rights to an unregistrable component of a mark; a
`disclaimer of unregistrable matter does not affect the appearance of the mark or physically remove disclaimed matter from the mark.(cid:160) See
`Schwarzkopf v. John H. Breck, Inc., 340 F.2d 978, 978, 144 USPQ 433, 433 (C.C.P.A. 1965); TMEP §1213.(cid:160) An unregistrable component of a
`mark includes wording and designs that are merely descriptive or generic of an applicant’s goods.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1052(e); see TMEP §§1209.03(f),
`1213.03 et seq.(cid:160) Such words need to be freely available for other businesses to market comparable goods or services and should not become the
`proprietary domain of any one party.(cid:160) See Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Int’l, Inc., 950 F.2d 1555, 1560, 21 USPQ2d 1047, 1051 (Fed. Cir. 1991); In
`re Aug. Storck KG, 218 USPQ 823, 825 (TTAB 1983).
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f applicant does not provide the required disclaimer, the USPTO may refuse to register the entire mark.(cid:160) See In re Stereotaxis Inc., 429 F.3d
`1039, 1041, 77 USPQ2d 1087, 1089 (Fed. Cir. 2005); TMEP §1213.01(b).
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`pplicant may submit the following standardized format for a disclaimer:
`
`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “INFO BAR” apart from the mark as shown.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`MEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
`
`(cid:160)C
`
`OLOR DESCRIPTION DOES NOT DESCRIBE ALL ELEMENTS
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`pplicant must provide a complete mark description because the mark description in the application does not attribute color to all elements
`shown in the mark.(cid:160) A complete mark description for a mark depicted in color must identify all the literal and design elements in the mark and
`specify where the colors appear in those elements.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §§2.37, 2.52(b)(1); TMEP §807.07(a)-(a)(ii).
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f black, white, and/or gray are not being claimed as a color feature of the mark, applicant must exclude them from the color claim and include in
`the mark description a statement that the colors black, white, and/or gray represent background, outlining, shading, and/or transparent areas and
`are not part of the mark.(cid:160) See TMEP §807.07(d).
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he following mark description is suggested, if accurate:
`
`The mark consists a black rectangle with curved corners, outlined with a line that is black at the bottom, but fades to blue-gray
`at the top.(cid:160) “INFO BAR” appears in white in the upper center of the black rectangle.(cid:160) Below the text is a blue-gray line that
`forms a three-sided rectangle that does not have a bottom.(cid:160) Inside of that rectangle are three designs.(cid:160) The left design is the white
`outline of a clock with white hands, and a black face.(cid:160) The middle design is a white sun design behind the white outline of a cloud
`that is black inside.(cid:160) The right design is a white horizontal bar, which is above a white square with four white bars to the right of
`the square.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f 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 §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05.(cid:160) 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. (cid:160) See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
`
`/Jason Paul Blair/
`Examining Attorney
`Law Office 104
`Phone - (571) 272-8856
`Fax - (571) 273-8856
`jason.blair@uspto.gov
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`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 the Trademark Electronic Application System (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 questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned
`trademark examining attorney.(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.
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`ll informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
`
`(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)W
`
`HO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE:(cid:160) 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).(cid:160) If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the
`
`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 the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system at
`http://tsdr.uspto.gov/. (cid:160) Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen. (cid:160) 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. (cid:160) For more information on checking
`status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`O UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160) Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)
`

`

`http:ffdiotionary_reference. oomfbrowsefinfo?s=t
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`D1.f31f2D1111D:tl9:r11 J-W1
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`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation (docketingtm@hdp.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86153090 - INFO BAR - 9432-200548
`
`1/31/2014 11:00:06 AM
`
`ECOM104@USPTO.GOV
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`
`IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`USPTO OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) HAS ISSUED
`ON 1/31/2014 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86153090
`
`Please follow the instructions below:
`
`(cid:160)(
`
`1)(cid:160) TO READ THE LETTER:(cid:160) Click on this link or go to http://tsdr.uspto.gov, enter the U.S. application serial number, and click on
`“Documents.”
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he Office action may not be immediately viewable, to allow for necessary system updates of the application, but will be available within 24
`hours of this e-mail notification.
`
`(cid:160)(
`
`2)(cid:160) TIMELY RESPONSE IS REQUIRED:(cid:160) Please carefully review the Office action to determine (1) how to respond, and (2) the applicable
`response time period.(cid:160) Your response deadline will be calculated from 1/31/2014 (or sooner if specified in the Office action).(cid:160) For information
`regarding response time periods, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/responsetime.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`o NOT hit “Reply” to this e-mail notification, or otherwise e-mail your response because the USPTO does NOT accept e-mails as
`responses to Office actions.(cid:160)
`Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System
`(TEAS) response form located at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)(
`
`3)(cid:160) QUESTIONS:(cid:160) For questions about the contents of the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) For
`technical assistance in accessing or viewing the Office action in the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system, please e-mail
`TSDR@uspto.gov.
`
`WARNING
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`ailure to file the required response by the applicable response deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.(cid:160) For
`more information regarding abandonment, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/abandon.jsp.
`
`PRIVATE COMPANY SOLICITATIONS REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION:(cid:160) Private companies not associated with the USPTO are
`using information provided in trademark applications to mail or e-mail trademark-related solicitations.(cid:160) These companies often use names that
`closely resemble the USPTO and their solicitations may look like an official government document.(cid:160) Many solicitations require that you pay
`
`“fees.” (cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Please carefully review all correspondence you receive regarding this application to make sure that you are responding to an official document
`from the USPTO rather than a private company solicitation.(cid:160) All official USPTO correspondence will be mailed only from the “United States
`Patent and Trademark Office” in Alexandria, VA; or sent by e-mail from the domain “@uspto.gov.” (cid:160) For more information on how to handle
`private company solicitations, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/solicitation_warnings.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`