To:
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`Subject:
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`Sent:
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`Sent As:
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`Attachments:
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`Panasonic Corporation (trademark@hsml.com)
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`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87798979 - AUDIO CENTER - 20651.51US01
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`4/3/2018 8:59:55 PM
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`ECOM102@USPTO.GOV
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`*87798979*
`
`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.   87798979
`
`           
`
`MARK: AUDIO
`CENTER
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`ADDRESS:
`  
`       SARAH G.
`VOELLER
`
`       HAMRE,
`  
`SCHUMANN,
`MUELLER & LARSON,
`P.C.
`
`         45 SOUTH
`SEVENTH STREET,
`SUITE 2700
`
`           MINNEAPOLIS, MN
`55402
`
`    
`
`   
`
`APPLICANT: Panasonic
`Corporation
`
`    
`
`CORRESPONDENT’S
`REFERENCE/DOCKET
`
`NO:       
`
`  20651.51US01
`
`   
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`
`E-MAIL ADDRESS:   
`
`trademark@hsml.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.
`
`ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 4/3/2018
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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.
`
`Summary of Issues
`
`1)     Identification of Goods
`2)     Disclaimer
`3)     Foreign Registration/Option to Delete Filing Basis
`
`Search of Office Database
`
`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).
`
`Identification of Goods
`
`The identification for software in International Class 9 is indefinite and must be clarified by amending to specify the purpose or function of the
`software.   See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §1402.03(d).   If the software is content- or field-specific, applicant must also specify its content or
`field of use.  See TMEP §1402.03(d).  The USPTO requires such specificity in identifying computer software in order for a trademark examining
`attorney to examine the application properly and make appropriate decisions concerning possible conflicts between the applicant’s mark and
`other marks.   See In re N.A.D. Inc., 57 USPQ2d 1872, 1874 (TTAB 2000); TMEP §1402.03(d).
`
`The following are examples of acceptable identifications for software in International Class 9:   “ downloadable mobile applications for
`managing bank accounts,” “ desktop publishing software,” “ tax preparation software.”
`
`Applicant may adopt the following wording, if accurate:  
`
`“Downloadable application software for audio apparatus for {indicate function of software}” in International Class 9.
`
`Applicant may amend the identification to clarify or limit the goods, but not to broaden or expand the goods beyond those in the original
`application or as acceptably amended.   See 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06.   Generally, any deleted goods may not later be reinserted.   See
`TMEP §1402.07(e).   Additionally, for U.S. applications filed under Trademark Act Section 44(e), the scope of the identification for purposes of
`permissible amendments may not exceed the scope of the goods identified in the foreign registration.  37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); Marmark, Ltd. v.
`Nutrexpa, S.A., 12 USPQ2d 1843, 1845 (TTAB 1989) (citing In re Löwenbräu München, 175 USPQ 178, 181 (TTAB 1972)); TMEP §§1012,
`1402.01(b).
`
`Disclaimer
`
`Applicant must disclaim the wording “ AUDIO” because it merely describes a characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of applicant’s
`goods, and thus is an unregistrable component of the mark.  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
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`USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004)); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).  
`
`Applicant’s goods are “ Downloadable application software for audio apparatus.” Because the software is specifically for audio apparatus, the
`wording AUDIO merely describes a characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of applicant’s goods and must be disclaimed.
`
`An applicant may not claim exclusive rights to terms that others may need to use to describe their goods and/or services in the marketplace.  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).  A disclaimer of unregistrable matter does not affect the appearance of the mark; that is, a disclaimer does not physically remove
`the disclaimed matter from the mark.  See Schwarzkopf v. John H. Breck, Inc., 340 F.2d 978, 978, 144 USPQ 433, 433 (C.C.P.A. 1965); TMEP
`
`§1213.  
`
`If applicant does not provide the required disclaimer, the USPTO may refuse to register the entire mark.  See In re Stereotaxis Inc., 429 F.3d
`1039, 1040-41, 77 USPQ2d 1087, 1088-89 (Fed. Cir. 2005); TMEP §1213.01(b).
`
`Applicant should submit a disclaimer in the following standardized format:
`
`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “AUDIO” apart from the mark as shown.
`
`For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this disclaimer requirement online using the Trademark Electronic Application
`System (TEAS) form, please go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/law/disclaimer.jsp.
`
`Foreign Registration/Option to Delete Filing Basis
`
`The application specifies both an intent to use basis under Trademark Act Section 1(b) and reliance on a foreign registration(s) under Section
`44(e).  See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(b), 1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(2)-(3).  However, the foreign registration alone may serve as a basis for obtaining a
`U.S. registration.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(3); TMEP §806.01(d).  If applicant wants to rely on the foreign registration under Section 44(e) as the
`
`sole basis, applicant can request deletion of the Section 1(b) basis.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.35(b)(1); TMEP §806.04.  
`
`Alternatively, as applicant has not yet submitted the foreign registration or otherwise perfected the Section 44(e) basis, applicant can amend the
`application to rely solely on the Section 1 basis and request deletion of the Section 44(e) basis.
`
`Unless applicant indicates otherwise, the USPTO will presume that applicant is relying on both Sections 1(b) and 44(e).  Thus, although the mark
`may be approved for publication, it will not register until an acceptable allegation of use has been filed for the goods and/or services based on
`Section 1(b).
`
`  A
`
` prompt response to this Office action will expedite prosecution.
`
`/Aisha Y. Salem/
`
`Aisha Y. Salem
`
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`
`Law Office 102
`
`571-272-8492
`
`Aisha.Salem@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
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`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.
`
`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.  
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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/.
`
`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 (trademark@hsml.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87798979 - AUDIO CENTER - 20651.51US01
`
`4/3/2018 8:59:56 PM
`
`ECOM102@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 4/3/2018 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 87798979
`
`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 4/3/2018 (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
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`“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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