To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (pctrademarks@perkinscoie.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 88205500 - NSV CONNECT - 118383-4159
`
`12/17/2018 2:34:27 PM
`
`ECOM112@USPTO.GOV
`
`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`*88205500*
`
`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.   88205500
`
`           
`
`MARK: NSV CONNECT
`
`CORRESPONDENT
`ADDRESS:
`  
`       ALEXANDER J.A.
`GARCIA, THOMAS L. HOLT
`AN
`
`  
`
`       PERKINS COIE LLP
`
`         1201 THIRD AVENUE,
`SUITE 4900
`
`           SEATTLE, WA 98101
`
`    
`
`   
`
`APPLICANT: Panasonic
`Corporation of North America
`
`    
`
`CORRESPONDENT’S
`REFERENCE/DOCKET
`
`   
`
`NO:       
`MAIL ADDRESS:       
`
`  118383-4159
`
`CORRESPONDENT E-
`
`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: 12/17/2018
`
` 
` 
` 
` 
` 
` 
` 
`  
` 
`

`

`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.
`
`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).
`
`SUMMARY OF ISSUES:
`1.     Disclaimer.
`2.     Significance of the mark.
`
`INFORMALITIES
`
`DISCLAIMER REQUIRED
`
`Applicant must provide a disclaimer of the unregistrable part(s) of the applied-for mark even though the mark as a whole appears to be
`registrable.  See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).  A disclaimer of an unregistrable part of a mark will not affect the mark’s
`appearance.  See Schwarzkopf v. John H. Breck, Inc., 340 F.2d 978, 979-80, 144 USPQ 433, 433 (C.C.P.A. 1965).
`
`In this case, applicant must disclaim the wording “CONNECT” because it is not inherently distinctive.  These unregistrable term(s) at best are
`merely descriptive of an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of applicant’s goods and/or services.  See 15 U.S.C.
`§1052(e)(1); DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., 695 F.3d 1247, 1251, 103 USPQ2d 1753, 1755 (Fed. Cir. 2012); TMEP
`
`§§1213, 1213.03(a).  
`
`The applicant’s mark NSV CONNECT is used for “Computer software, namely, software applications for establishing and performing phone
`calls, video conferencing and virtual video conferencing over a variety of networks in the nature of the internet; downloadable software for use
`with telecommunications devices to provide transmission of e-mail, text, music, video, voice, still images, information, data, video conferencing,
`virtual video conferencing and other content via the internet and local area network devices; telecommunications routers; computer hardware and
`communications software for use in connecting telecommunications equipment, telephones, computers, and wireless computer networks;
`computer software and hardware for providing transmission and exchange of voice, video, data,
`images and graphics in the fields of
`telecommunications, video conferencing and virtual video conferencing; hardware for telecommunications for connecting devices to access
`networks, namely, computer routers designed to provide voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communications; virtual PBX communication
`systems consisting of computer hardware and software designed to provide telephone, facsimile, voicemail, call processing, call waiting, internet
`telephony, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services,” “Telephony communications services;
`teleconferencing services; video
`conferencing and virtual video conferencing services; electronic transmission of data, voice, video, audio, facsimile and images; hosted off-site
`and virtual PBX telephone services; telephone voice messaging services; voice mail services; call forwarding services; caller ID services;
`telephone conferencing services; telephony call routing services; providing access to a telecommunications network; prepaid minute programs for
`international telephony communication services; telecommunications network datacenter services, namely, cloud based e-mail communication
`services and providing user access to cloud based virtual hardware computer programs in data networks,” and “Unified communications as a
`Service (UCaaS) services featuring software platforms for providing telephony and telecommunications services; providing temporary use of
`online non-downloadable middleware for software application integration; telecommunications network datacenter services, namely, backup
`services for computer hard drive data, electronic data storage, electronic storage of documents and archived e-mails, electronic storage of
`electronic media, namely, images, text and audio data, electronic storage of files and documents, electronic storage services for archiving
`databases, images and other electronic data, electronic storage services for archiving electronic data, off-site data backup, off-site data backup
`provided via the cloud, temporary electronic storage of information and data and temporary subscription based provision of virtual hardware that
`is provided remotely in the cloud for the use by business and enterprise customers for backup of files and data, providing temporary use of virtual
`desktop infrastructure software that allows end users to store multiple endpoint device data, documents and archived e-mails via virtual desktop
`that is hosted on remote hardware.”
`
`The attached evidence from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language shows CONNECT means “To join to or by means of a
`communications circuit: Please connect me to the number in San Diego. Her computer is connected to the internet.”   Thus, the wording merely
`describes applicant’s goods and/or services because describes telecommunication features of the applicant’s software, telecommunications
`services, and telecommunications software as a service.
`
`  
` 
` 
` 
`  
`  
` 
` 
` 
` 
`

`

`Applicant may respond to this issue by submitting a disclaimer in the following format:  
`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “CONNECT” apart from the mark as shown.   
`
`For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this issue using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), see the
`Disclaimer webpage.
`
`EXPLANATION OF MARK’S SIGNIFICANCE REQUIRED
`
`To permit proper examination of the application, applicant must provide all the following information:
`
`(1)  Explain whether the wording in the mark “NSV” has any meaning or significance in the trade or industry in which applicant’s goods
`and/or services are manufactured or provided, any meaning or significance as applied to applicant’s goods and/or services, or if such
`
`wording is a term of art within applicant’s industry.   
`(2)  Explain whether the wording in the mark “NSV” identifies a geographic place.    
`See 37 C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §814.  
`
`Failure to comply with a request for information is grounds for refusing registration.  In re Harley, 119 USPQ2d 1755, 1757-58 (TTAB 2016);
`TMEP §814.
`
`The USPTO applies the following legal authority to a trademark application:
`•   The Trademark Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. §§1051 et seq.)
`•   The Trademark Rules of Practice (37 C.F.R. pts. 2, 3, 6, 7, 11)
`•   Precedential court and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) decisions
`•   The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP)
`•   The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure (TBMP)
`
`Applicant should include the following information on all correspondence with the Office:  (1) the name and law office number of the trademark
`examining attorney, (2) the serial number and filing date of the application, (3) the date of issuance of this Office action, (4) applicant’s name,
`address, telephone number and e-mail address (if applicable), and (5) the mark.  37 C.F.R. §2.194(b)(1); TMEP §302.03(a).
`
`Please call or email the assigned trademark examining attorney with questions about this Office action.  Although the trademark examining
`attorney cannot provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights, the trademark examining attorney can provide applicant with
`additional explanation about the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) in this Office action.  See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.  Although the USPTO does
`not accept emails as responses to Office actions, emails can be used for informal communications and will be included in the application record. 
`See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05.
`
`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.
`
`/Warren L. Olandria/
`
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`
`U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
`
`Law Office 112
`
`Phone: 571-272-9718
`
`  
` 
` 
`  
` 
` 
` 
` 
`

`

`Warren.Olandria@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.
`
` 
` 
` 
` 
`  
`

`

`2:12:26 PM 12172018
`
`
`y" the
`771:?
`AMERICAN
`English
`HERITAGE'
`Language
`
`'I'
`
`I
`
`
`|
`l-
`
`
`
`? HO'WTO USETHE
`= DICTIONARY
`
`To look up an entry in The
`American Heme Dramaryof
`the English Language: me lhe
`resu ,
`er yprng In
`wo ,
`warfggmoramuegeuw:
`clickonthe‘Seamh" button
`.
`dofusingfl‘le‘enher‘loey
`-
`' 5‘33
`Some compound words (like has
`rapid-transit, dogwhrsfle, ”r
`rdenfrl’y "Ir-317) dtln [appear On
`"‘9 “WHEN“ "5" “he“ W”
`type them In the search bar, For
`bat resulis with compound
`words‘ place a quola‘lron mark
`before the compound word In
`the search window.
`Gmemmnlmumm'
`
`THE USAGE PANEL
`
`
`The Usage Panel rs a group or
`creative Miners. journalists.
`n$t1y 20D prominentscholarsr
`diplomats, and others :n
`occupalions requiring master}! or
`language. Annual surveys have
`gauged the acceptability of
`particular usages and
`Bmmma‘ma' “"5"“E‘im
`TEE PANELIS‘I‘S ’
`
`FEED HELP SDLVING
`A CROSSWORD
`PUZZLE?
`
`60‘” 011' 5mm PUZZ'e
`30W and We I" the lenm
`lhalyouknuw‘ 3"“ ”“3 SEW
`will produce a list of possible
`solutions
`
`
`
`
`
`COI'I'I'IEC'I “15'
`
`(kg—nah
`
`)
`
`_
`v. connected, oon-neci-Ing, oon-necls
`v.11.
`
`_ I Tweet
`Sh“-
`
`1. Tojoinmfisienmgomer. abridge that cormeclsflleislamiwimthemairfland.
`2. To associate of oonsider as refined: no reason to normed lhe two evems. See
`gym atjoin,
`.
`.
`.
`.
`lTojointanhymmsofammmmumfimsmmitPlnasecmmEdmetoflm
`numberuiSmDiequercompumensemmemedtoflLemtenmL
`iToplugm(aneJr-dm'zlcmrlmdenne)tnmmm
`
`vm.
`
`
`
`1. To homejuined OI unimd: two streams connecting to from a river.
`2. Tobeschodnlod so asmprm'idc cumming savior: ashetwomajlplanfiorbuscs.
`1 To ”It“ a rappnri arreiatimslup'; relate: The cal-ldjdatE faflfld to connect with
`hm
`_
`_
`4. Sports To hr! mphyahallmpnck successfully: Thewmger ommefiedfortwo
`goals.
`Moll]:
`named the dots
`1.Todtawoonmcfiog1m:sbetovmnasoflninglyrminmmmgunmlufmmhaeddm
`so as (to produce 2 mm or datgu.
`2.To
`. [.5
`.
`i
`“.5
`. m
`I'
`plowmuslyhrddcnmnnknom
`
`mmmmLafinm,mmre:cG,m-,m-+m,m
`bind;5eened-inllreAppemlixof1ndo—Emopeanmms.]
`_
`_
`
`”“1190 tall OOI'I'HSC‘ Bf n.
`cull-fled I-Ille, eon-m a'hlead}.
`The American Heritage® Dictionary oflhe English language, Fiflh Ediiim copyright mots by
`Honghlon Mjflljn Emmi Flushing szpany, Ali rights 15mm
`
`
`lndo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
`Twas Diem ll tin dictionary includeWE matinee mei origm backio
`locum-fled prohhngragzs, You can ubia'n more 'llfonnafim aball these hm; 'n our
`onine appendices:
`
`mm“, m m
`_
`_
`5mm
`
`The imo—Erlopean appendix covers nearly mrronne Inch-European rootsmar have Ieflmeir
`ll'BI‘IE on Engish words, A true mmphie mm or InmEumpa. roots and the English
`wordsderived Ilomlhernisavailabie in oLrDiflimlzryofIndo—Eoropeanlmo‘li
`
`
`? AMERICAN HERITAGE
`DICTIONARYAPP
`
`a
`
`The new American Heritage
`DEWEY! 390 is “W available
`for iOS and Android,
`
`THE AMERICAN
`WAGE
`[ICTIONARY BLOG
`The arlicles in our blog examine
`new words, revised oefinmons.
`interesllng images {rum lite fifijr
`edition. discussions of £5899
`and more.
`
`a
`
`THE 100WORDS
`Seeworolisisfromthebesi-
`selling 100 Words Serles!
`’
`
`moo-runner
`
`r
`a MERE-“ED if;
`=
`urcnorrAanS.
`,
`Check out thepacuonary Society
`“f “PH" ”11?"? at
`m“ '
`‘
`'mmmswmm
`
`
`
`This wensiie Is best viewed in Chrome, Hrefmr, Microsoft Edge, or Satan same characters in pronunciations and einnologies cannot be displayed properly ln lniemel Explorer.
`
`Home lAhoutUs If‘areers |Canl3ctUs IFAQE
`‘1. mm ”memoirs;
`Ila-gm"
`MiHIin
`ThleYouAre Yerwdswurdchndganuatmismlmgun—ihbla.
`Hamurl
`Wtamfi Hanghton Mi'Eflin Hamfl.Allri5his "jawed.
`
`illipsflahtfidimrycormwordiswdrqumm
`
`

`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (pctrademarks@perkinscoie.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 88205500 - NSV CONNECT - 118383-4159
`
`12/17/2018 2:34:29 PM
`
`ECOM112@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 12/17/2018 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 88205500
`
`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 12/17/2018 (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.
`
`  
`