J
`’
`/W’?
`CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
`I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS
`BEING DEPOSITED WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
`SERVICE WITH SUFFICIENT POSTAGE AS FIRST CLASS
`MAIL IN AN ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO BOX TTAB, NO
`FEE, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRADEMARKS,
`2900 CRYSTAL DRIVE, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22202-
`3513, ON JANUARY 13, 2003.
`
`NAME: Nancy L. T lor
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEM
`
` SIGNATURE:
`
`
`OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`
`O1_15_2003
`U.S. Patent & TMOfclTM Mail Rcpt Dt. #72
`
`E;
`9,
`Li
`
`3--
`
`In the Matter of
`Serial No:
`‘
`
`78/131,833
`
`Publication in the
`Official Gazette:
`
`TM 269
`
`Publication Date:
`
`December 31, 2002
`
`
`RE-LEVE
`
` Mark:
`
`Box TTAB, NO FEE
`Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks
`
`'
`2900 Crystal Drive
`Arlington, Virginia 22202-3 5 13
`
`REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION AND EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE NOTICE
`OF OPPOSITION DUE TO FILING OF LETTER OF PROTEST
`
`Sir or Madam:
`
`_
`
`Bayer-Roche L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company having its principal
`
`,
`
`;
`
`place of business at 36 Columbia Road, Morristown, New Jersey 07962,pby and through
`
`its attorneys, hereby requests that the Board s the time to file a Notice of
`
`Opposition in the above—identified matter pursuant to TBMP § 215. Potential opposer
`
`Bayer-Roche L.L.C. filed a letter of protest with the PTO on November 5, 2002 (see
`
`
`
`

`
`attached copy), well over a month before publication of the aboVe—identified mark on
`
`December 31, 2002. Under TBMP § 215:
`
`If a potential opposer indicates, in a first or a subsequent request for an
`_ extension of time to oppose, that potential opposer filed a letter of protest
`(not yet determined by the Director) with respect to the subject mark within
`thirty days after publication, the Board will grant the extension request, if
`otherwise appropriate, and then suspend the running of the extension period
`pending determination of the letter of protest.
`1
`
`Potential opposer is not aware at this date of any determination by the PTO on the letter
`
`of protest, so the Board should suspend the period in which to oppose the above-
`
`identified application pending determination of the letter of protest.
`
`In furtherance of this request, Bayer-Roche L.L.C., by and through its attorneys,
`
`hereby requests that the Board grant a sixty (60) day extension of time to file a Noticeof
`
`Opposition, through March 31, 2003, in the above-identified matter.
`
`This request is being submitted in triplicate as required by 37 C.F.RL § 2.102(d).
`
`Dated: January 13, 2003
`
`.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & McAULIFFE LLP
`
` Bet M. Gold
`
`n
`
`Todd E. Adler
`
`333 Bush Street
`
`San Francisco, California 94104-2878
`
`(415) 772-6881
`
`
`
`

`
`0 HellerEhrman
`
`ATTORNEYS
`
`Novernber 5,
`.
`- .
`Vza Express Mail
`
`,
`
`_
`
`.
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks
`
`2900 Crystal Drive
`Arlington, Virginia 22202-3514
`Attention: Ms. Jessie Marshall
`
`‘
`
`_
`
`_
`
`‘
`
`C
`
`Beth M. Goldman
`bgoldman@hewm.com
`(415) 772-6881
`Main (415) 772_6000
`Fax (415) 772-6268
`
`24l72~0036
`
`Re:
`
`Letter of ProtestRegarding Serial No. 78/131,833 for RE-LEVE
`
`Dear Ms. Marshall:
`
`We write on behalf of our client Bayer-Roche L.L.C. (“Bayer-Roche”) to protest
`trademark Application Serial Number 78/13 1 ,833 for RE-LEVE filedon May 29, 2002 in
`Class 5 for “analgesic topical gel for medical use.” (Please see the enclosed print-out from
`the PTO Web site for further information on the application).
`‘
`
`The proposed mark RE-LEVE is merely a misspelling ofthe word “relieve” — a word
`which is descriptive of the specified goods. Applicant’s goods are an analgesic topical gel,
`i.e., a gel that “relieves pain.” See attached definition of “analgesic,” Webster’s II New
`College Dictionary (1995). The specimen ofuse submitted with the application makes clear
`the descriptive nature of the mark. The specimen is a container bearing the RE-LEVE device
`and the legend “A Topical Pain Relieving Gel” (see copy of specimen from application file).
`The term RE-LEVE is thus used here to denote a product that “relieves” pain. The deliberate
`misspelling “re—leve” does not change the descriptive character of the term.‘
`
`In addition, the proposed mark RE-LEVE is likely to be confused with Bayer-Roche’s
`ALEVE mark, registered in Class 5 for “anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic
`pharmaceutical preparations” (Reg. No. 1,536,042). The proposed mark‘RE-LEVE
`
`
`‘ See 2 McCarthy on Trademarks § 11:31 (“If the misspelling is so phonetically identical to the
`original descriptive term that buyers will recognize it as descriptive, then the misspelled mark is still
`‘descriptive.’”); citing, inter alia, Andrew J. McPartland, Inc. v. Montgomery Ward ;& Co., 164 F.2d 603
`(C.C.P.A. 1947).(K
`A -TART held descriptive as phonetic equivalent of “quick start”); A. & H. Transp.,
`Inc. v. Save Way Stations, Inc., 214 Md. 325 (1957) (SAVON GAS held equivalent of descriptive “save on
`gas”); No~D-Ka Dentifiice Co. v. S. S. Kresge Co., 24 F.2d 726 (D.Mass. 1928) (NO-D-KA held equivalent of
`descriptive “no decay”); Steem—Electric Corp. v. Herzfeld-Phillipson Co., 118 F.2d (122 (7“' Cir. 1940)
`(STEEM held the equivalent of the descriptive “steam”).
`
`,
`
`Date of Mailing: November 5, 20oz
`’
`EU570993474US
`Express Mail Article Number:
`Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP 333 Bush Street San Francisco. CA 94104-2878 www.hewm.com ‘
`
`San Francisco Silicon Valley Los Angeles San Diego Seattle Portland Anchorage New York Washington D.C. Hong Kong Singapore
`Affiliated Camelutti Offices: Milan Rome Paris Padua Naples
`
`
`
`

`
`Hel1erEhrrnan
`ATTORNEYS
`
`4”
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks
`Novemberwoz
`Page2
`
`incorporates the last four letters of the ALEVE mark and sets the “LEVE” suffix apart from
`the rest of the mark with a dash, making the marks visually similar. The marks also sound-
`similar. Finally, the goods for both marks are analgesics and so are nearly identical.
`
`Because the proposed mark is descriptive -under 15 U.S.C. § 1052(e) and so resembles
`the ALEVE mark as to be likely to cause confusion under 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d), we urge you
`to grant this letter of protest and recommend refusal of App. Ser. No. 78/131,833 for both the
`Principal and Supplemental Registers.
`
`Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
`
`Very truly yours,
`
`Heller Ehrm White & McAuliffe LLP
`
`
`
`Attachments
`
`cc:
`
`Fred Carl
`
`675473 v0l.SF (#1-{750l !.DOC)
`
`Heller Ehrman White & McAulifie LLP
`
`
`
`

`
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`
`

`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`In the Matter of
`
`Serial No:
`
`78/131,833
`
`Publication in the
`
`Official Gazette:
`
`TM 269
`
`Publication Date:
`
`December 31, 2002
`
`
`Mark:
`RE-LEVE
`
`Box TTAB, NO FEE
`Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks
`2900 Crystal Drive
`Arlington, Virginia 22202-3513
`
`Dear Sir or Madam:
`
`TRANSMITTAL LETTER
`
`K».
`
`‘
`
`We are attorneys representing Bayer-Roche, L.L.C. Enclosed are an original and
`two copies of a Request For Suspension And Extension Of Time To File Notice Of
`Opposition Due To Filing Of Letter Of Protest, filed by Bayer-Roche, L.L.C.
`
`Please address all correspondence to me at the address below. Please stamp the
`enclosed postcard to evidence your receipt of this document.
`
`Dated: January 13, 2003
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & CAULIFFE LLP
`
` Beth
`. Goldman
`Todd E. Adler
`
`333 Bush Street
`
`San Francisco, California 94104-2878
`
`(415) 772-6881
`
`I