To:
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`Subject:
`
`Sent:
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`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
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`Panasonic Corporation (troymailroom@hdp.com)
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`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87599279 - HUGPATHY - 9432-200584
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`12/12/2017 4:04:08 PM
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`ECOM105@USPTO.GOV
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`*87599279*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS
`LETTER:
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`VIEW YOUR APPLICATION FILE
`
`U.S. APPLICATION
`SERIAL NO.   87599279
`
`           
`
`MARK: HUGPATHY
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`ADDRESS:
`  
`       GEOFFREY D.
`AURINI
`
`       HARNESS, DICKEY
`  
`& PIERCE, P.L.C.
`
`         5445 CORPORATE
`DRIVE
`
`           SUITE 200
`
`    
`
`    TROY, MI 48098
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`APPLICANT: Panasonic
`Corporation
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`    
`
`CORRESPONDENT’S
`REFERENCE/DOCKET
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`   
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`NO:       
`E-MAIL ADDRESS:       
`
`  9432-200584
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`
`troymailroom@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.   A RESPONSE
`TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE TRADEMARK ELECTRONIC APPLICATION SYSTEM (TEAS) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE
`MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME OF THE LAST DAY OF THE RESPONSE PERIOD.
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`ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 12/12/2017
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`TEAS PLUS OR TEAS REDUCED FEE (TEAS RF) APPLICANTS – TO MAINTAIN LOWER FEE, ADDITIONAL
`REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET, INCLUDING SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS ONLINE:  Applicants who filed their application
`online using the lower-fee TEAS Plus or TEAS RF application form must (1) file certain documents online using TEAS, including responses to
`Office actions (see TMEP §§819.02(b), 820.02(b) for a complete list of these documents); (2) maintain a valid e-mail correspondence address;
`and (3) agree to receive correspondence from the USPTO by e-mail throughout the prosecution of the application.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.22(b),
`2.23(b); TMEP §§819, 820.  TEAS Plus or TEAS RF applicants who do not meet these requirements must submit an additional processing fee of
`$125 per class of goods and/or services.  37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(1)(v), 2.22(c), 2.23(c); TMEP §§819.04, 820.04.  However, in certain situations,
`TEAS Plus or TEAS RF applicants may respond to an Office action by authorizing an examiner’s amendment by telephone or e-mail without
`
`incurring this additional fee.   
`
`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.
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`SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
`
`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).
`
`FOREIGN REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE REQUIRED
`
`The application specifies Trademark Act Section 44(d) as the sole filing basis.  See 15 U.S.C. §1126(d).  Although the application does not
`include a copy of a foreign registration or a statement that applicant intends to rely on Section 44(e) as a basis for registration, the USPTO
`presumes applicant is asserting Section 44(e) because Section 44(d) is a filing basis only and not a basis for registration.  TMEP §§806.01(c),
`
`1003.04(a); see 15 U.S.C. §1126(d)-(e); 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(4)(iii).  
`
`An application with a Section 44(e) basis must include a true copy, photocopy, certification, or certified copy of a foreign registration from an
`applicant’s country of origin.  15 U.S.C. §1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(3)(ii); TMEP §§1004, 1004.01, 1016. 
`In addition, the applicant’s
`country of origin must be a party to a convention or treaty relating to trademarks to which the United States is also a party, or must extend
`reciprocal registration rights to nationals of the United States by law.  15 U.S.C. §1126(b); TMEP §§1002.01, 1004.
`
`Therefore, applicant must provide a copy of the foreign registration from applicant’s country of origin when it becomes available.  TMEP
`§1003.04(a).  A copy of a foreign registration must consist of a document issued to an applicant by, or certified by, the intellectual property
`office in applicant’s country of origin.  TMEP §1004.01. 
`If applicant’s country of origin does not issue registrations or Madrid Protocol
`certificates of extension of protection, the applicant may submit a copy of the Madrid Protocol international registration that shows that
`protection of the international registration has been extended to applicant’s country of origin.  TMEP §1016.  In addition, applicant must also
`provide an English translation if the foreign registration is not written in English.  37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(3)(ii); TMEP §1004.01(a)-(b).  The
`translation should be signed by the translator.  TMEP §1004.01(b).
`
`If the foreign registration is not yet available, applicant should inform the trademark examining attorney that the foreign application is still
`pending and request that the U.S. application be suspended until a copy of the foreign registration is available.  TMEP §§716.02(b), 1003.04(a).
`
`If applicant cannot satisfy the requirements of the Section 44(e) basis, applicant may amend the basis to Section 1(a) or 1(b), if applicant can
`satisfy the requirements for the new basis.  See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a)-(b), 1126(e); TMEP §806.03.  Please note that, if the U.S. application
`satisfied the requirements of Section 44(d) as of the U.S. application filing date, applicant may retain the priority filing date under Section 44(d)
`without perfecting the Section 44(e) basis, provided there is a continuing valid basis for registration.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.35(b)(3)-(4); TMEP
`
`§§806.02(f), 806.03(h).    
`
`IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
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`As identified below, some of the wording in the identification of goods and services must be clarified to identify the common commercial name
`of the product associated with the mark. See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.01.
`
`An applicant may only amend an identification to clarify or limit the goods and services, but not to add to or broaden the scope of the goods and
`services. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07.
`
`The USPTO has the discretion to determine the degree of particularity needed to clearly identify goods and/or services covered by a mark. In re
`Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corp. Commc’ns S.p.A, 109 USPQ2d 1593, 1597 (TTAB 2014) (citing In re Omega SA, 494 F.3d 1362, 1365, 83 USPQ2d
`1541, 1543-44 (Fed. Cir. 2007)). Accordingly, the USPTO requires the description of goods and/or services in a U.S. application to be specific,
`definite, clear, accurate, and concise. TMEP §1402.01; see In re Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corp. Commc’ns S.p.A, 109 USPQ2d at 1597-98; Cal.
`Spray-Chem. Corp. v. Osmose Wood Pres. Co. of Am., 102 USPQ 321, 322 (Comm’r Pats. 1954).
`
`The purpose of the identification of goods and/or services is to provide the general population, including consumers and members of the relevant
`industry, with an understandable description of the goods and services, which is done by using the common commercial name for the goods
`and/or services. In re Gulf Coast Nutritionals, Inc., 106 USPQ2d 1243, 1247 (TTAB 2013) (citing In re Sones, 590 F.3d 1282, 1289, 93 USPQ2d
`1118, 1124 (Fed. Cir. 2009)). If there is no common, ordinary name for the goods and/or services, applicant should describe the goods and/or
`services using wording that would be generally understood by the average person. See Schenley Indus., Inc. v. Battistoni, 112 USPQ 485, 486
`(Comm’r Pats. 1957); Cal. Spray-Chem. Corp. v. Osmose Wood Pres. Co. of Am., 102 USPQ 321, 322 (Comm’r Pats. 1954); TMEP §1402.01.
`
`An in depth knowledge of the relevant field should not be necessary for understanding a description of the goods and/or services. TMEP
`§1402.01. “[T]echnical, high-sounding verbiage” should be avoided. Cal. Spray-Chem. Corp. v. Osmose Wood Pres. Co. of Am., 102 USPQ at
`322.
`
`Applicant must address the following issues and may adopt the suggested language, if accurate:
`
`Please note that the suggested language is underlined.
`
`International Class 9 - Portable telecommunication devices that enables communication of data through human touch, namely ___________
`(Applicant must identify the common commercial name of the devices, e.g. smartphones.)
`
`International Class 41 - Conducting live entertainment in the nature of games namely ___________ (Applicant must identify the type of games,
`e.g. live poker games, online computer games) featuring portable telecommunication devices that enables communication of data through human
`touch
`
`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 at http://tess2.uspto.gov/netahtml/tidm.html. See TMEP §1402.04.
`
`ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
`
`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 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.  See TMEP §§705.02,
`709.06.
`
`Response Guidelines
`
`To expedite prosecution of the application, applicant is encouraged to file its response to this Office action online via the Trademark Electronic
`Application System (TEAS), which is available at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/index.jsp.  If applicant has technical questions about the
`TEAS
`response
`to Office
`action
`form,
`applicant
`can
`review the
`electronic
`filing
`tips
`available
`online
`at
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/e_filing_tips.jsp and e-mail technical questions to TEAS@uspto.gov.
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`/Alain J. Lapter/
`
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`
`Law Office 105
`
`500 Dulany Ave.
`
`Alexandria, VA 22316
`
`(571) 272-3162
`
`alain.lapter@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.
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`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation (troymailroom@hdp.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87599279 - HUGPATHY - 9432-200584
`
`12/12/2017 4:04:09 PM
`
`ECOM105@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 12/12/2017 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 87599279
`
`Please follow the instructions below:
`
`(1)  TO READ THE LETTER:  Click on this link or go to http://tsdr.uspto.gov, enter the U.S. application serial number, and click on
`“Documents.”
`
`The 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.
`
`(2)  TIMELY RESPONSE IS REQUIRED:  Please 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 12/12/2017 (or sooner if specified in the Office action).  A response
`transmitted through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) must be received before midnight Eastern Time of the last day of the
`response period.   For information regarding response time periods, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/responsetime.jsp.
`
`Do 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. 
`Instead,
`the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the TEAS response form located at
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.
`
`(3)  QUESTIONS:  For questions about the contents of the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.  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
`
`Failure to file the required response by the applicable response deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.  For
`more information regarding abandonment, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/abandon.jsp.
`
`PRIVATE COMPANY SOLICITATIONS REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION:  Private companies not associated with the USPTO are
`using information provided in trademark applications to mail or e-mail trademark-related solicitations.  These companies often use names that
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`closely resemble the USPTO and their solicitations may look like an official government document.  Many solicitations require that you pay
`
`“fees.”   
`
`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.  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.”   For more information on how to handle
`private company solicitations, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/solicitation_warnings.jsp.
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