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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`Hansen Beverage Company (efiling@kmob.com)
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`TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77276979 - MONSTER ENERGY - HANBEV.338T
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`7/29/2008 7:31:57 PM
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`ECOM108@USPTO.GOV
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) 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) MARK: MONSTER ENERGY(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`STEVEN J NATAUPSKY(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`IRVINE CA 92614(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(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) Hansen Beverage Company(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)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`HANBEV.338T(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)
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`efiling@kmob.com
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`NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
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`(cid:160)I
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 7/29/2008
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`SUSPENSION PROCEDURE: This suspension notice serves to suspend action on the application for the reason(s) specified below.(cid:160) No
`response is needed.(cid:160) However, if you wish to respond to this notice, you should use the “Response to Letter of Suspension” form found at
`http://teasroa.uspto.gov/rsi/rsi.(cid:160) The Office will conduct periodic status checks to determine if suspension remains appropriate.
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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)
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`Action on this application is suspended pending the disposition of:
`
`- Opposition No(s). 91172330 and 91175473
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`(cid:160)T
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`he proceeding(s) above pertains to one or more of the following:(cid:160) (1) a registration cited as a bar to applicant's registration under Section 2(d)
`of the Trademark Act, (2) a pending application(s) that could present a future bar to registration under Section 2(d) if it matured into a
`registration, and/or (3) the registrability of applicant's mark.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1052.(cid:160) Therefore, action is suspended pending the final disposition of
`this proceeding(s).(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§716.02(a), (c) and (d), 1208 et seq.(cid:160) Any refusal(s) made under Section 2 is herein maintained.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he following refusal(s)/requirement(s) is/are continued and maintained, or withdrawn:
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`(cid:160)-
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`(cid:160)-
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`(cid:160)-
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`- The potential likelihood of confusion refusals concerning App. Nos. 77200650 and 77263917 are withdrawn.
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`- The likelihood of confusion refusals concerning Reg. Nos. 1970362, 2809183 and 2904119 are maintained.
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`- The requirement for a disclaimer of “ENERGY” is maintained.
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant must disclaim the descriptive wording “ENERGY” apart from the mark as shown. (cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP §§1213,
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`77/276979
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`(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)
`
`2040 MAIN STREET 14TH FLOOR
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`*77276979*
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`GENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION:
`http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm
`
`

`
`1213.03(a).
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`(cid:160)A
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`s discussed in the first Office Action, The term “ENERGY” means “ the capacity for work or vigorous activity.” (cid:160) See the dictionary definition
`enclosed with the first Office Action.(cid:160) The term “ENERGY” is merely descriptive of a purpose of applicant’s nutritional supplements, namely,
`to give the consumer more capacity for work or vigorous activity.
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`(cid:160)I
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`n response to the disclaimer requirement the applicant has attempted to seek acquired distinctiveness under Section 2(f) as to the term
`“ENERGY”. (cid:160) As evidence of acquired distinctiveness the applicant states that it owns prior Reg. Nos. 3044314, 3044315, 3057061, 3134841
`and 3134842 with the term “ENERGY”. (cid:160) However, in all of these prior registrations the term “ENERGY” is disclaimed.
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`(cid:160)T
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`hird-party registrations featuring the same or similar goods and/or services as applicant’s goods and/or services are probative evidence on the
`issue of descriptiveness where the relevant word or term is disclaimed, registered under Trademark Act Section 2(f) based on a showing of
`acquired distinctiveness, or registered on the Supplemental Register.(cid:160) See Sweats Fashions, Inc. v. Pannill Knitting Co., 833 F.2d 1560, 1564-65,
`4 USPQ2d 1793, 1797 (Fed. Cir. 1987); In re Box Solutions Corp., 79 USPQ2d 1953, 1955 (TTAB 2006); In re Finisar Corp., 78 USPQ2d
`1618, 1621 (TTAB 2006).(cid:160) Therefore, in this case, applicant’s prior registrations are not proof of distinctiveness of the term “ENERGY”, but
`rather proof of the highly descriptive nature of the term “ENERGY”.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he prior registrations are insufficient evidence of acquired distinctiveness.(cid:160) Please note, the burden of proving that a term has acquired
`distinctiveness is on the applicant.(cid:160) Yamaha Int’l Corp. v. Yoshino Gakki Co. , 840 F.2d 1572, 6 USPQ2d 1001, 1004 (Fed. Cir. 1988); In re
`Meyer & Wenthe, Inc., 267 F.2d 945, 122 USPQ 372 (C.C.P.A. 1959); TMEP §1212.01.(cid:160) An applicant must establish that the purchasing public
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`has come to view the proposed mark as an indicator of origin.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Allegations of sales and advertising expenditures cannot per se establish that a term has acquired significance as a mark.(cid:160) It is necessary to
`examine the advertising material to determine how the term is used, the commercial impression created by such use, and the significance the
`term would have to prospective purchasers.(cid:160) TMEP §1212.06(b); see In re Boston Beer Co., 198 F.3d 1370, 53 USPQ2d 1056 (Fed. Cir. 1999);
`In re Packaging Specialists, Inc., 221 USPQ 917, 920 (TTAB 1984).
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`(cid:160)T
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`he ultimate test in determining acquisition of distinctiveness under Trademark Act Section 2(f) is not applicant’s efforts, but applicant’s
`success in educating the public to associate the claimed mark with a single source.(cid:160) TMEP §1212.06(b); see In re Packaging Specialists, 221
`USPQ at 920; In re Redken Labs., Inc., 170 USPQ 526 (TTAB 1971).
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`(cid:160)T
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`he computerized printing format for the Office’s Trademark Official Gazette requires a standardized format for a disclaimer.(cid:160) TMEP
`§1213.08(a)(i).(cid:160) The following is the standard format used by the Office:
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`No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “ENERGY” apart from the mark as shown.
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`MEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
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`(cid:160)T
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`/Michael A. Wiener/
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`Law Office 108
`Phone: (571) 272-8836
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`STATUS CHECK: Check the status of the application at least once every six months from the initial filing date using the USPTO Trademark
`Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) online system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.(cid:160) When conducting an online status check, print and
`maintain a copy of the complete TARR screen.(cid:160) If the status of your application has not changed for more than six months, please contact the
`assigned examining attorney.
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`
`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Hansen Beverage Company (efiling@kmob.com)
`
`TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77276979 - MONSTER ENERGY - HANBEV.338T
`
`7/29/2008 7:31:58 PM
`
`ECOM108@USPTO.GOV
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(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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`(cid:160)P
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`IMPORTANT NOTICE
`USPTO OFFICE ACTION HAS ISSUED ON 7/29/2008 FOR
`APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 77276979
`
`lease follow the instructions below to continue the prosecution of your application:
`
`ACTION:
`OFFICE
`VIEW
`link
`this
`on
`Click
`http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow?DDA=Y&serial_number=77276979&doc_type=SUL&mail_date=20080729 (or copy and
`paste this URL into the address field of your browser), or visit http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow and enter the application
`serial number to access the Office action.
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`LEASE NOTE: The(cid:160)Office action may not be(cid:160)immediately available but will be(cid:160)viewable within(cid:160)24 hours of this notification.
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`ESPONSE(cid:160)MAY BE REQUIRED: You should carefully review the Office action to determine (1) if a response is required; (2) how to
`respond; and (3) the applicable response time period. Your response deadline will be calculated from 7/29/2008.
`
`(cid:160)D
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`o NOT hit “Reply” to this e-mail notification, or otherwise attempt to e-mail your response, as the USPTO does NOT accept e-mailed
`responses.(cid:160) Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System response form
`at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm.
`
`(cid:160)H
`
`ELP: For technical assistance in accessing the Office action, please e-mail
`
`TDR@uspto.gov.(cid:160) Please contact the assigned examining attorney with questions about the Office action.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) WARNING
`
`1. The USPTO will NOT send a separate e-mail with the Office action attached.
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`(cid:160)2
`
`. Failure to file any required response by the applicable deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your
`application.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)