To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
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`Sent As:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (pctrademarks@perkinscoie.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87808257 - WHISPER CHOICE AUTO - 118383-4000
`
`4/9/2018 4:44:46 PM
`
`ECOM115@USPTO.GOV
`
`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`Attachment - 2
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`U.S. APPLICATION
`SERIAL NO. 87808257
`
`           
`
`MARK: WHISPER CHOICE
`AUTO
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`ADDRESS:
`  
`       THOMAS L. HOLT
`  
`       PERKINS COIE LLP
`         1201 THIRD AVENUE,
`SUITE 4900
`           SEATTLE, WA 98101
`    
`   
`APPLICANT: Panasonic
`Corporation of North America
`
`    
`
`*87808257*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS
`LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`VIEW YOUR APPLICATION FILE
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO:
`118383-4000
`
`   
`
`CORRESPONDENT E-
`
`MAIL ADDRESS:       
`
`pctrademarks@perkinscoie.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: 4/9/2018
`
`The undersigned trademark examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the
`issue below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
`
`The Office records have been searched, and no similar registered or pending mark has been found that would bar registration under Trademark
`Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.
`
`Applicant Must Submit A Disclaimer
`
`Applicant must disclaim the descriptive word “AUTO” 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. 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). 
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` A
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` “disclaimer” is a statement in the application record that an applicant does not claim exclusive rights to an unregistrable component of the
`mark; a disclaimer of unregistrable matter does not affect the appearance of the mark or physically remove 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. An unregistrable component of a
`mark includes wording and designs that are merely descriptive of an applicant’s goods and/or services. 15 U.S.C. §1052(e); see TMEP
`§§1209.03(f), 1213.03 et seq. Such words or designs 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. 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).
`
`Auto means having a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism. See attached dictionary definitions. This describes a characteristic of applicant’s
`goods.
`
`Applicant must submit the following standardized format for a disclaimer:
`
`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “AUTO” apart from the mark as shown.
`
`TMEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493, 494 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
`
`TEAS RF Application Requirements
`
`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 email correspondence address;
`and (3) agree to receive correspondence from the USPTO by email 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 email without
`incurring this additional fee.
`
`Applicant Is Encouraged To Authorize The Amendment By Telephone Or Email
`
`Applicant is encouraged to call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney to resolve the issues raised in this Office action by
`examiner’s amendment. Although a formal response may not be submitted by email, an applicant may communicate informally by phone or
`email 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, issuance of a registration, or suspension. See TMEP §707.
`
`/Katherine S. Chang/
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`Law Office 115
`571-270-1528
`katherine.chang@uspto.gov
`
`TO RESPOND: Go to response forms and choose option #1. 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 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
`
` 
`   
`

`

`443:12 PM 41912018
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`,4t (u) Auto|Defini|ion ofAutc
`x
`
`C‘ 0 i Secure l https:[/www.merriamiwebster.com/dictionarylauto
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`DlETIONARV
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`THESAURUS
`
`auto
`auto-
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`9®©®®®
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`zauto
`adjective
`
`Defini ion of AUTO
`2 AUTO MATlC
`
`@ Dram-nadir
`Instant Grammar Checker
`
`
`
`
`
`@
`
`Recent Examples of AUTO from the Web
`Those in the coldest climates may want to purchase a battery warmer.
`available at most auto parts stores or online.
`—David Muller. Car and Driver, "How Severe Cold Affects Your Car (and
`What to Do about It),” 5 Jan. 2018
`Records also showed Harris had calied a handful of auto glass repair shops
`and had searched online for car covers. according to the complaint
`iAshley Lulhern, Milwaukeejoumal Sentinel, "Man charged in hiteandirun
`crash that killed beloved Milwaukee crossing guard Andrew Tyler," 21
`Dec. 2017
`
`Auto critic Mark Phelan contributed to this report.
`iEric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, "View from a tireeburning, 8407
`horsepower Dodge Demon gives a taste of Roadkill Nights." 11 Aug.
`2017
`
`These exampfs Santa-Its: are Salutsd uutumarimfly[mm venous anime new: inurrei m reflerr current 4mg! n] My word '5m v
`Views expressed :11 m earn-miles m: not ”Drew"! the amnion a] MerrianWenszeror n; Edimrs. Send us Leanna.
`
`TEST YOUR VOCABULARY
`
`Name that Thing: Toys and
`Games Edition
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`W Name that thing:
`
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`\
`
`1
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`Test your vocabulary
`with our 1Urquestmn
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`TAKE THE QUIZ >
`Test Your Knowledge 7
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`Eircf llnnuun I Ilsa nF nlrrn
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`
`

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`4 43:31 PM 41902018
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`‘ Automatic | Definition or X
`i Secure l https://www.merriamiwebster.com/dicl:ionarylautomatic
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`Instant Grammar Checker
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`X
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`ORD OF THE DAY
`
`N W
`
`automatic «
`adjective
`| automatic |
`\lé-ts-‘ma-tiM
`
`Popularity, Bottom 50% of wards
`
`l Updated on: 8 Apr 2018
`
`hammowow oligarch
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`glib deoose omnibus
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`acrimonv SEEALL
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`Tip: Synonym Guide v
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`Examples: AumMAllEil'l a Sentence v
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`THESAURUS
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`9®©®®®
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`
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`Defini ion of AUTOMATIC
`1
`
`a : largely or wholly involuntary; espedally: REFLEX 5 - automatic blinking
`of the eyelids
`b : acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously . the automatic
`applause of the audience
`c : done or produced as if by machine : ME(HANi(AL - the answers were
`automatic
`
`maladroit w
`lacking skill in handling
`situations
`
`Get Word of the Day daily
`emaill
`
`Your email addr SUl'ziSCRIBE
`
`: having a selfeacting or selferegulaling mechanism - an automatic
`transmission
`
`ofafirearm: firing repeatedly until the trigger is released
`
`—aulomaticaily ‘0
`
`\-ti-k(a-]Ié\ adverb
`
`—automaticity W \imai'tisaité, *ma\ noun
`
`
`
`G gram-um
`Instant Grammar Checker
`X
`
`My
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`
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`TRENDING NOW
`See automatic defined for English-language learners
`
`
`

`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (pctrademarks@perkinscoie.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 87808257 - WHISPER CHOICE AUTO - 118383-4000
`
`4/9/2018 4:44:49 PM
`
`ECOM115@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 4/9/2018 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 87808257
`
`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 4/9/2018 (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
`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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