Index to links for TMEP, TBMP & Statutes found on Not Just Patents web sites:

TMEP 602  http://stepstoatrademark.com/tmep602.html

TMEP 715 http://publishedforoppositiontrademark.com/tmep715.html

TMEP 806 http://stepstoatrademark.com/tmep806.html

TMEP 807  http://functionasamark.com/tmep807.html

TMEP 904  http://stepstoatrademark.com/tmep904.html

TMEP 906 http://stepstoatrademark.com/tmep906.html

TMEP 1202-1202.02(e)  http://functionasamark.com/tmep1202.html

TMEP 1202.03-1202.16 http://functionasamark.com/tmep1202.03.html

TMEP 1207  http://likelihoodofconfusiontrademark.com/tmep1207.html

TMEP 1209  http://merely-descriptive.com/tmep1209.html

TMEP 1212  http://merely-descriptive.com/tmep1212.html

TMEP 1213  http://merely-descriptive.com/tmep1213.html

TMEP 1301  http://functionasamark.com/tmep1301.html

TMEP 1401.02(a) &(b) http://trademarksteps.com/trademarkidmanual.html

TMEP 1715 http://publishedforoppositiontrademark.com/tmep1715.html

TBMP 309  http://stepstoatrademark.net/tbmp309.html

TBMP 311  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp311.html

TBMP 701  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp701tbmp702.html

TBMP 702  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp701tbmp702.html

TBMP 703  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp703.html

TBMP 704  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp704.html

TBMP 1215  http://merely-descriptive.com/tbmp1215.html

Latest Revision of TTAB Manual (TBMP) May 2011 is available at NoticeOfOpposition.com in text format for easy browser searching

CHAPTER 100 GENERAL INFORMATION

   CHAPTER 200 EXTENSIONS OF TIME TO OPPOSE

   CHAPTER 300 PLEADINGS

    CHAPTER 400 DISCOVERY

   CHAPTER 500 STIPULATIONS AND MOTIONS

   CHAPTER 600 WITHDRAWAL; SETTLEMENT

   CHAPTER 700 TRIAL PROCEDURE AND INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE

   CHAPTER 800 BRIEFS ON CASE, ORAL HEARING, FINAL DECISION

    CHAPTER 900 REVIEW OF DECISION OF BOARD

   CHAPTER 1000 INTERFERENCES

   CHAPTER 1100 CONCURRENT USE PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER 1200 EX PARTE APPEALS

Excerpts from Trademark Act of 1946, as Amended

PUBLIC LAW 79-489, CHAPTER 540, APPROVED JULY 5, 1946; 60 STAT. 427

(found at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/tmlaw2.pdf)

(Jan. 16, 2009 revision)

 

§ 1 (15 U.S.C. § 1051) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1051

§ 2 (15 U.S.C. § 1052) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1052

§ 3 (15 U.S.C. § 1053) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1053

§ 12 (15 U.S.C. § 1062) http://stepstoatrademark.com/publishedforopposition.html

§ 13 (15 U.S.C. § 1063) http://stepstoatrademark.com/publishedforopposition.html

§ 13 (15 U.S.C. § 1063) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1063

§ 14 (15 U.S.C. § 1064) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1064

§ 15 (15 U.S.C. § 1065) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1065

§ 23 (15 U.S.C. § 1091) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1091

§ 24 (15 U.S.C. § 1092) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1092

§ 25 (15 U.S.C. § 1093) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1093

§ 26 (15 U.S.C. § 1094) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1094

§ 27 (15 U.S.C. § 1095) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1095  

§ 28 (15 U.S.C. § 1096) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1096

§ 43 (15 U.S.C. § 1125) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1125

§ 45 (15 U.S.C. § 1127) http://functionasamark.com/15USC1051.html#1127

37 CFR § 2.101(b): 37 CFR § 2.104(a); 37 CFR § 2.112(a); 37 CFR § 2.133(b); 37 CFR § 2.133(c); 37 CFR § 2.99(h); 37 CFR § 2.133(c); 37 CFR § 2.111(b); 37 CFR § 2.119(e); 37 CFR § 2.116(c); 37 CFR § 2.126; 37 CFR § 2.99(h)   http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp309.html

37 CFR § 2.126; 37 CFR § 2.106(b); 37 CFR § 2.114(b)  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp311.html

37 CFR § 2.116(b) http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp701tbmp702.html

37 CFR § 2.121 http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp701tbmp702.html

37 CFR § 2.123; 37 CFR § 2.124; 37 CFR § 2.125; 37 CFR § 2.126   http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp703.html

37 CFR § 2.120; 37 CFR 2.122  http://trademarkqq.com/tbmp704.html

Answering Office Actions

There are no canned answers on how to answer trademark refusals from office actions because there are many refusals that are not typical refusals. Registration of a mark is specific to the facts involved.  Some refusals are dependent not only on the trademark being proposed (very fact specific) but also on how the application is filled out, especially the specimens submitted.  (For instance, many specimens do NOT show the trademark Functioning As A Mark.). Sometimes just a better specimen is all it takes. Sometimes a better identification of goods and services. Sometimes parts of the trademark must be disclaimed. Sometimes the applicable law must be examined and arguments made that are very specific to the actual words and designs being proposed.  Sometimes the only choice is amending to the Supplemental Register. It depends on what is being rejected and why.

Not every office action has an answer, some proposed trademark applications just do not comply with U.S. Trademark Law (and do not qualify for common law protection) because they are either conflicting marks, lack distinctiveness, or lack acquired secondary meaning or the capability of acquiring secondary meaning. Sometimes a new application can solve the problem, sometimes the mark must be incorporated with other elements to add distinctiveness.

If your trademark has value and you want to preserve the trade identity rights that you have already invested and secure more rights through federal registration, it may be best to hire a legal representative to answer your office action as prescribed within the USPTO Trademark Rules and Procedures. The cost of having Not Just Patents ® Legal Services provide your Response to Office Action (ROA), Amendment to Allege Use (AAU), or Statement of Use (SOU) may be less than what you think and the time saved may be months or years. Call us at 1-651-500-7590 if you have received an office action and ask us what we can do to help.

For new potential trademarks, we suggest a Not Just Patents Five-Step Verification as part of a Plan for A Successful Trademark:

To Verify a potential trademark is strong, available to use, and ready to register, the process should be more than a direct hit federal search. To maximize the commercial strength and minimize the weaknesses of a trademark, we start with these steps:

1) Verify Inherent Strength,

2) Verify Right to Use,

3) Verify Right to Register,

 4) Verify the potential mark (as currently used) Functions As A Mark, and

5) Verify that the Goods and Services ID is both the correct and the maximum claim that are user can make and verify that the Goods and Services ID meets USPTO requirements before filing.

*We don’t stop here but this is a great start!

We can provide a quick and economical Response to Office Action (ROA). See Why Should I Have A Trademark Attorney Answer My Office Action if you have already applied and been refused. If someone is using your trademark in a way that harms you, we may be able to stop them through an opposition or a cancellation proceeding. If you are being opposed or are threatened with cancellation, we may be able to help as well. Timing is very important for a bunch of reasons: Opposition times are very short, times to answer Petitions to Cancel are only 40 days from when the petitions are filed, times to answer Oppositions can be very short, and sitting on your rights in general can cause problems. Don’t delay calling. We can help.

©2008-2012 All Rights Reserved. Not Just Patents LLC, PO Box 18716, Minneapolis, MN 55418.

Call: 1-651-500-7590 or email: info@notjustpatents.com. This web site is for informational purposes only and is provided without warranties, express or implied, regarding the information's accuracy, timeliness, or completeness and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney/client relationship exists without a written contract between Not Just Patents LLC and its client.  Privacy Policy Contact Us             See us at NotJustPatents.com

Not Just

Patents®

Legal Services

StrongTrademark.com

A strong trademark is distinguishable from others and identifies a UNIQUE source of a product or service

PO Box 18716, Minneapolis, MN 55418  

1-651-500-7590  

info@notjustpatents.com

Search Not Just Patents® sites: