To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`The Parody Store, LLC (info@theparodystore.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 85721882 - THE PARODY STORE - N/A
`
`1/11/2013 1:30:51 PM
`
`ECOM117@USPTO.GOV
`
`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`Attachment - 2
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`85721882
`
`*85721882*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK: THE PARODY STORE
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) APPLICANT: The Parody Store, LLC
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(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
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`NO:(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 E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) THE PARODY STORE, LLC
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) 2300 5TH AVE N
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) ST PETERSBURG, FL 33713-7006
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160) N/A
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160) info@theparodystore.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.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 1/11/2013
`
`TEAS PLUS APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY OR SUBMIT FEE:(cid:160) Applicants who filed their
`application online using the reduced-fee TEAS Plus application must continue to submit certain documents online using TEAS, including
`responses to Office actions.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.23(a)(1).(cid:160) For a complete list of these documents, see TMEP §819.02(b).(cid:160) In addition, such
`applicants must accept correspondence from the Office via e-mail throughout the examination process and must maintain a valid e-mail address.(cid:160)
`37 C.F.R. §2.23(a)(2); TMEP §§819, 819.02(a).(cid:160) TEAS Plus applicants who do not meet these requirements must submit an additional fee of
`$50 per international class of goods and/or services.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(iv); TMEP §819.04.(cid:160) In appropriate situations and where all issues can
`be resolved by amendment, responding by telephone to authorize an examiner’s amendment will not incur this additional fee.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) Applicant must respond timely and completely to
`the issue(s) below.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
`
`(cid:160)S
`
`EARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
`
`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).(cid:160) TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
`
`SECTION 2(e)(1) REFUSAL - MERELY DESCRIPTIVE
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`Registration is refused because the applied-for mark merely describes the provider/source of applicant’s goods. (cid:160) Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1),
`15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); see TMEP §§1209.01(b), 1209.03 et seq.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`erms that describe the provider of a product or service may also be merely descriptive of the product and/or service.(cid:160) See In re Major League
`Umpires, 60 USPQ2d 1059, 1060 (TTAB 2001) (holding MAJOR LEAGUE UMPIRE merely descriptive of clothing, face masks, chest
`protectors and shin guards); In re The Phone Co., 218 USPQ 1027, 1028 (TTAB 1983) (holding THE PHONE COMPANY merely descriptive of
`telephones and telephone instruments); TMEP §1209.03(q).
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he determination of whether a mark is merely descriptive is made in relation to an applicant’s goods and/or services, not in the abstract. (cid:160)
`DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., 695 F.3d 1247, 1254, 103 USPQ2d 1753, 1757 (Fed. Cir. 2012); In re The Chamber of
`Commerce of the U.S., 675 F.3d 1297, 1300, 102 USPQ2d 1217, 1219 (Fed. Cir. 2012); TMEP §1209.01(b); see, e.g., In re Polo Int’l Inc. , 51
`USPQ2d 1061, 1062-63 (TTAB 1999) (finding DOC in DOC-CONTROL would refer to the “documents” managed by applicant’s software
`rather than the term “doctor” shown in a dictionary definition); In re Digital Research Inc., 4 USPQ2d 1242, 1243-44 (TTAB 1987) (finding
`CONCURRENT PC-DOS and CONCURRENT DOS merely descriptive of “computer programs recorded on disk” where the relevant trade
`
`used the denomination “concurrent” as a descriptor of a particular type of operating system). (cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`“Whether consumers could guess what the product [or service] is from consideration of the mark alone is not the test.” (cid:160) In re Am. Greetings
`Corp., 226 USPQ 365, 366 (TTAB 1985).
`
`(cid:160)“
`
`(cid:160) In re
`A mark may be merely descriptive even if it does not describe the ‘full scope and extent’ of the applicant’s goods or services.”
`Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d 1171, 1173, 71 USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (citing In re Dial-A-Mattress Operating Corp., 240 F.3d
`1341, 1346, 57 USPQ2d 1807, 1812 (Fed. Cir. 2001)); TMEP §1209.01(b).(cid:160) It is enough if a mark describes only one significant function,
`attribute, or property.(cid:160) In re The Chamber of Commerce of the U.S., 675 F.3d 1297, 1300, 102 USPQ2d 1217, 1219 (Fed. Cir. 2012); TMEP
`§1209.01(b); see In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d at 1173, 71 USPQ2d at 1371.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`t is not necessary that a term or phrase describe every quality, purpose, function, characteristic, or feature, of the goods/services to be merely
`descriptive; rather, it is sufficient for the purpose if the proposed mark describes a single significant quality, feature, function, etc. about the
`goods/services.(cid:160) See In re Patent and Trademark Services, 49 USPQ2d 1537, 1539 (TTAB 1998); (cid:160) In re Venture Lending Associates, 226 USPQ
`285 (TTAB 1985); In re H.U.D.D.L.E., 216 USPQ 358 (TTAB 1982); In re MBAssociates, 180 USPQ 338 (TTAB 1973).
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`pplicant has applied for the mark “THE PARODY STORE” for “Digital media, namely, downloadable audio files featuring parodies”. The
`term STORE is defined in the attached as “a place that sells goods”. The goods in this case are “audio files featuring parodies”. The phrase
`
`PARODY STORE is merely descriptive of the source/provider of applicant’s goods, which are parodies. (cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`Lastly, adding the term THE to a descriptive or generic term generally does not add any source-indicating significance or otherwise affect the
`term’s descriptiveness or genericness.(cid:160) See In re The Place Inc., 76 USPQ2d 1467, 1468 (TTAB 2005) (holding THE GREATEST BAR merely
`descriptive of restaurant and bar services; “the definite article THE . . . add[s] no source-indicating significance to the mark as a whole”); Conde
`Nast Publ’ns Inc. v. Redbook Publ’g Co., 217 USPQ 356, 357, 360 (TTAB 1983) (holding THE MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG WOMEN a
`“common descriptive or ‘generic’ name of a class or type of magazine” and incapable of indicating source; “[t]he fact that the slogan also
`includes the article ‘The’ is insignificant.
`(cid:160) This word cannot serve as an indication of origin, even if applicant’s magazine were the only
`magazine for young women.”); In re The Computer Store, Inc., 211 USPQ 72, 74-75 (TTAB 1981) (holding THE COMPUTER STORE merely
`descriptive of, and the common descriptive name for, computer-related services); see also In re G. D. Searle & Co., 143 USPQ 220 (TTAB
`1964), aff’d , 360 F.2d 1966, 149 USPQ 619 (C.C.P.A. 1966) (holding “THE PILL” a common descriptive name for pharmaceutical
`preparations in tablet form, and thus does not serve as an indicator of source or origin in applicant).
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`ccordingly, the mark is refused registration on the Principal Register under Section 2(e)(1).
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`lthough applicant’s mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal(s) by submitting evidence and arguments in
`support of registration.
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`RO SE APPLICANT MAY WISH TO SEEK TRADEMARK COUNSEL
`
`(cid:160)B
`
`ecause of the legal technicalities and strict deadlines involved in the USPTO application process, applicant may wish to hire a private
`attorney specializing in trademark matters to represent applicant in this process and provide legal advice.(cid:160) Although the undersigned trademark
`examining attorney is permitted to help an applicant understand the contents of an Office action as well as the application process in general, no
`
`USPTO attorney or staff is permitted to give an applicant legal advice or statements about an applicant’s legal rights. (cid:160) TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`For attorney referral information, applicant may consult the American Bar Association’s Consumers’ Guide to Legal Help at
`http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm, an attorney referral service of a state or local bar association, or a local telephone
`directory.(cid:160) The USPTO may not assist an applicant in the selection of a private attorney.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.11.
`
`(cid:160)
`

`

`/Ernest Shosho/
`Attorney
`Law Office 117
`(571) 272-9705
`ernest.shosho@uspto.gov
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`O RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: (cid:160) Go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. (cid:160) 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.(cid:160)
`For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.(cid:160) For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned
`trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to
`this Office action by e-mail.
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`ll informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
`
`(cid:160)W
`
`HO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE:(cid:160) 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).(cid:160) If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the
`
`response.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION: (cid:160) 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/. (cid:160) Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen. (cid:160) 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. (cid:160) For more information on
`checking status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`O UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160) Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`

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`
`Your No. 1 source for oniine parodies
`e Download of select parodies now available!
`
`A.-.-. 5... .-..., =-r.-....g...-.¢,
`
`Parody Pricing
`
`Parody pricing is:
`
`a Two (2) Parodies or less: $100 each
`ai:h
`a Three (3) - Eight (8) Parod 5: $75
`- Monthly Pas : $£lD0_.’n1onth, up to 8 p.arodies ($50 E-EICi'l:|
`
`To receive the monthly pass discount, please re
`
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`
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`
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`
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`

`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`The Parody Store, LLC (info@theparodystore.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 85721882 - THE PARODY STORE - N/A
`
`1/11/2013 1:30:51 PM
`
`ECOM117@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 1/11/2013 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 85721882
`
`Your trademark application has been reviewed.(cid:160) The trademark examining attorney assigned by the USPTO to your application has written an
`official letter to which you must respond.(cid:160) Please follow these steps:
`
`(cid:160)(
`
`1)(cid:160) READ THE LETTER by clicking on this link or going to http://tsdr.uspto.gov/, entering your U.S. application serial number, and clicking
`on “Documents.”
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he 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.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(2)(cid:160) RESPOND WITHIN 6 MONTHS (or sooner if specified in the Office action), calculated from 1/11/2013, using the Trademark Electronic
`Application System (TEAS) response form located at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`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.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(3)(cid:160) QUESTIONS about the contents of the Office action itself should be directed to the trademark examining attorney who reviewed your
`application, identified below.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`/Ernest Shosho/
`Attorney
`Law Office 117
`(571) 272-9705
`ernest.shosho@uspto.gov
`
`WARNING
`
`Failure to file the required response by the applicable response deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.(cid:160) For
`
`more information regarding abandonment, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/abandon.jsp.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`PRIVATE COMPANY SOLICITATIONS REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION:(cid:160) Private companies not associated with the USPTO are
`using information provided in trademark applications to mail or e-mail trademark-related solicitations.(cid:160) These companies often use names that
`closely resemble the USPTO and their solicitations may look like an official government document.(cid:160) Many solicitations require that you pay
`
`“fees.” (cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`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.(cid:160) 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.” (cid:160) For more information on how to handle
`private company solicitations, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/solicitation_warnings.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`