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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`Besmertnik, Seth Jared (sbesmertnik@aol.com)
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`TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 78424946 - MINDMD - N/A
`
`1/6/05 7:05:53 PM
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`ECOM108@USPTO.GOV
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) SERIAL NO: 78/424946
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) APPLICANT:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Besmertnik, Seth Jared
`
`*78424946*
`
`RETURN ADDRESS:(cid:160)
`Commissioner for Trademarks
`P.O. Box 1451
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1451
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) Besmertnik, Seth Jared
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) 3rd Floor
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) 235 East 34th St
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) New York, NY 10016
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`MINDMD
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO :(cid:160)(cid:160) N/A
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT EMAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160)(cid:160) sbesmertnik@aol.com
`
`Please provide in all correspondence:
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`(cid:160)1
`
`.(cid:160) Filing date, serial number, mark and
`applicant's name.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`2.(cid:160) Date of this Office Action.
`3.(cid:160) Examining Attorney's name and
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) Law Office number.
`4. Your
`telephone number and e-mail
`address.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`OFFICE ACTION
`
`(cid:160)T
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`O AVOID ABANDONMENT, WE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS
`OF OUR MAILING OR E-MAILING DATE.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Serial Number 78/424946
`
`The examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and has determined the following.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`earch
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`(cid:160)T
`
`he examining attorney has searched the Office records and has found no similar registered or pending mark which would bar registration under
`Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(d).(cid:160) TMEP section 1105.01.
`
`(cid:160)P
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`roposed Mark is Descriptive
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`(cid:160) T
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`he examining attorney refuses registration on the Principal Register because the proposed mark is merely descriptive of the identified services. (cid:160)
`Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(e)(1); TMEP section 1209 et seq.(cid:160) The applicant’s proposed mark is the term
`“MINDMD” for the providing of health care information, healthcare information by telephone, telemedicine, psychological counseling, nutrition
`counseling, and medical counseling and managed health care services.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he applicant’s proposed mark is a telescoped term consisting of the terms “MIND” and “MD.” (cid:160) “Mind” is defined as the collective
`conscious and unconscious processes in a sentient organism that direct and influence mental and physical behavior and as the thought
`processes characteristic of a person or group; psychological makeup.[1](cid:160) “MD” is defined as a reference to “medical doctor.” [2](cid:160)(cid:160) Taken as a
`whole the proposed mark can be interpreted as a medical doctor for treating the collective consciousness that influences mental and physical
`behavior.(cid:160) This appears merely descriptive of the applicant’s provision of medical information and psychological counseling services.(cid:160)(cid:160) A mark
`is merely descriptive under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. 1052(e)(1), if it describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function,
`feature, purpose or use of the relevant services.(cid:160) In re Gyulay, 820 F.2d 1216, 3 USPQ2d 1009 (Fed. Cir. 1987);(cid:160) In re Bed & Breakfast Registry,
`
`(cid:160)
`

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`791 F.2d 157, 229 USPQ 818 (Fed. Cir. 1986); In re MetPath Inc., 223 USPQ 88 (TTAB 1984); In re Bright‑Crest,Ltd., 204 USPQ 591 (TTAB
`1979); TMEP section 1209.01(b).
`
`(cid:160)A
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`Lexis/Nexis search illustrates the descriptive nature of the proposed mark.(cid:160) A search of U.S. news articles for the term “mind md” or “mind
`doctor” found over six hundred stories.(cid:160) Articles found within this search illustrate the descriptive nature of the term as applied to the identified
`services (See attached for random examples).(cid:160) Based on the above, the mark can not be registered on the Principal Register.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he case at hand is similar to the issue faced in In re Gould Paper Corp., 5 USPQ2d 1110 (CA FC 1987).(cid:160) In Gould the Trademark Trial and
`Appeal Board’s decision to uphold the refusal of “SCREENWIPE” for television and computer screen cleaning wipes on the basis of
`descriptiveness was upheld.(cid:160) The court in Gould stated that it agreed with the Board’s conclusion that because Gould's wipes are used on
`television and computer screens, and the combination of "SCREEN" and "WIPE" does not render Gould's mark unique or incongruous, the
`common descriptive aspect of applicant's mark is not lost in the combined form (Id. at 1112).(cid:160) Based on the above, the mark can not be registered
`on the Principal Register.
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`(cid:160)O
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`ther Considerations
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`(cid:160) A
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`lthough the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and
`arguments in support of registration.(cid:160) If applicant chooses to respond to the refusal to register, the following issue must also be addressed.
`
`The Recitation of Services is Indefinite
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`(cid:160)T
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`he wording used as the recitation of services is unacceptable as indefinite.(cid:160) It is unclear from the current wording exactly what services are used
`in conjunction with the mark.(cid:160) The applicant may amend this wording to, if accurate:
`
`Providing of health care information, providing health care information by telephone, telemedicine, psychological counseling,
`nutrition counseling, and medical counseling and managed health care services in Class 44.(cid:160) TMEP Section 1402.01 and
`1402.03(a).(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Please note that, while an application may be amended to clarify or limit the identification, additions to the identification are not permitted.(cid:160) 37
`C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06.(cid:160) Therefore, the applicant may not amend to include any goods or services that are not within the scope of the
`goods and services recited in the present identification.(cid:160)
`If the applicant fails to respond to this issue the application may proceed with the
`wording in non-italicized print only.
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`Trademark Office Relocation/Change In USPTO Trademark Contact Information
`
`(cid:160)U
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`SPTO Trademark Operations will be moving to the new Alexandria, Virginia campus in October and November 2004.(cid:160) During that time, you
`are strongly encouraged to communicate with the USPTO through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) which can be found at
`www.uspto.gov .
`
`(cid:160)E
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`ffective October 4, 2004, all Trademark-related paper mail must be sent to:
`
`Commissioner for Trademarks
`P.O. Box 1451
`Alexandria, VA(cid:160) 22313-1451
`
`he undersigned examining attorney’s Law Office will move on (cid:160) November 2, 2004.(cid:160) To reach the undersigned examining attorney by phone
`
`after that date call (571) 272-9353.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`To submit a fax response to this Office action after that date, send your response to the Law Office fax number, namely (571) 273-9108.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f the applicant has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.
`
`/Jason F. Turner/
`Examining Attorney
`Law Office 108
`(571) 272-9353
`(571) 273-9108 (Fax)
`(703) 305-8747 (Status)
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`
`How to respond to this Office Action:
`
`(cid:160)Y
`
`ou may respond formally using the Office's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Office Action form (visit
`http://eteas.uspto.gov/V2.0/oa242/WIZARD.htm and follow the instructions therein, but you must wait until at least 72 hours after receipt if the
`office action issued via e-mail).(cid:160) PLEASE NOTE: Responses to Office Actions on applications filed under the Madrid Protocol (Section 66(a))
`CANNOT currently be filed via TEAS.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`o respond formally via regular mail, your response should be sent to the mailing Return Address listed above and include the serial number, law
`office and examining attorney’s name on the upper right corner of each page of your response.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`o check the status of your application at any time, visit the Office’s Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) system at
`http://tarr.uspto.gov/
`
`about
`
`trademarks,
`
`you
`
`are
`
`encouraged
`
`to
`
`visit
`
`the Office’s web
`
`site
`
`at
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`information
`useful
`other
`and
`general
`or
`http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`OR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED EXAMINING
`ATTORNEY.
`
`108B8C
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Print Request:(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Selected Document(s): 45,90,91,98
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`Time of Request: January 06, 2005(cid:160) 06:26 PM EST
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`(cid:160) N
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`umber of Lines: 89
`Job Number:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`1862:26307075
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`(cid:160) C
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`lient ID/Project Name:(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Research Information:
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`(cid:160)(cid:160) US Newspapers
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`"mind md" or "mind doctor"
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

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`Send to:(cid:160) TURNER, JASON
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`TRADEMARK LAW LIBRARY
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`2101 CRYSTAL PLAZA ARC
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`MAILBOX 314
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`ARLINGTON, VA 22202-4600
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

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`45 of 621 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2004 The News-Press (Fort Myers, FL)
`All Rights Reserved(cid:160)
`The News-Press (Fort Myers, FL)
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`May 9, 2004 Sunday
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`SECTION: TRAVEL LEISURE; Pg. 8E
`
`(cid:160)L
`
`ENGTH: 934 words
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`(cid:160)H
`
`EADLINE: Author explores dark side of immense wealth
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`(cid:160)B
`
`YLINE: Jay MacDonald, Freelance OK
`
`(cid:160)B
`
`ODY:
`...Novelists have largely abandoned working people, but I think that's generally the academic influence," he says. "I was talking to my mind
`doctor up in New York and at one point he asked me, 'What do you think it's like to treat people who have absolutely ...
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
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`90 of 621 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2003 The Marshfield News (Marshfield, WI)
`All Rights Reserved(cid:160)
`The Marshfield News (Marshfield, WI)
`
`June 24, 2003 Tuesday
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`SECTION: OPINION; Pg. 5A
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`(cid:160)L
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`ENGTH: 202 words
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`(cid:160)H
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`EADLINE: Renewal is what heals
`
`(cid:160)B
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`YLINE: Readers, Readers
`
`(cid:160)B
`
`ODY:
`...cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:19).
`In the final analysis, the sinner who talks openly to a mind doctor is bound to reveal, i.e., confess, some past sins. Even though not all sin
`gets confessed to the mind doctor, confession is what the spirit of Jesus Christ works through to renew our bond with God. That renewal, "God's
`renewal," is what heals the troubled soul and ...
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

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`91 of 621 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2003 Ventura County Star(cid:160)
`Ventura County Star (California)
`
`June 13, 2003 Friday
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`SECTION: News; Pg. B01
`
`(cid:160)L
`
`ENGTH: 688 words
`
`(cid:160)H
`
`EADLINE: Cason: Oil painting finds canvas on sea water
`
`(cid:160)B
`
`(cid:160)B
`
`YLINE: Colleen Cason
`
`ODY:
`Mind doctors use Rorschach tests to analyze a patient's mental state. During this now familiar, often parodied examination, the subject ...
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`
`98 of 621 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2003 The Charlotte Observer
`All Rights Reserved(cid:160)
`Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)
`
`April 19, 2003 Saturday ONE TWO THREE REP EDITION
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`SECTION: SPORTS; RON GREEN JR. - GOLF; Pg. 3C
`
`(cid:160)L
`
`ENGTH: 550 words
`
`(cid:160)H
`
`EADLINE: CINK NOT LETTING GOLF GET IN THE WAY
`
`(cid:160)B
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`YLINE: RON GREEN Jr., Staff Writer
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`ATELINE: HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.
`
`(cid:160)B
`
`ODY:
`...want to feel that way and, to this sun-splashed day, still isn't sure where it came from. He's exploring that with the help of a couple of mind
`doctors, but he's made enough progress to understand there are worse things in life than shooting 73.
`
`"I realize now that it's ...
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
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`(cid:160)
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`**********(cid:160) Print Completed(cid:160) **********
`
`108B8C
`
`(cid:160)T
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`ime of Request:(cid:160)(cid:160) January 06, 2005(cid:160) 06:26 PM EST
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`1862:26307075
`rint Number:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`Number of Lines:(cid:160)(cid:160) 89
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`Number of Pages:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Send To:(cid:160) TURNER, JASON
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`TRADEMARK LAW LIBRARY
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`2101 CRYSTAL PLAZA ARC
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MAILBOX 314
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`ARLINGTON, VA 22202-4600
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)
`
`[1]The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed
`from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.
`
`[2]The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed
`from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.