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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`Home Box Office, Inc. (trademarks@hbo.com)
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`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77756225 - GAME OF THRONES - GAME OF THRO
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`7/25/2011 4:04:45 PM
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`ECOM115@USPTO.GOV
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`77756225
`
`(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)
`
`*77756225*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) APPLICATION SERIAL NO.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK: GAME OF THRONES(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(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) Home Box Office, Inc.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(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)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`GAME OF THRO(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)
`
`JUDITH MCCOOL(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`HOME BOX OFFICE, INC.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`NEW YORK, NY 10036-6712(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`1100 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
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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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`trademarks@hbo.com
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`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.
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`(cid:160)I
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 7/25/2011
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`(cid:160)T
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`his application has been reassigned to the undersigned examining attorney.(cid:160) The assigned examining attorney reviewed the Statement of Use
`and determined the following:
`
`(cid:160)S
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`pecimen Unacceptable
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`(cid:160)T
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`he current specimen of record comprises a web page printout and is unacceptable as evidence of actual trademark use because it does not show
`use of the mark on or in connection with the goods or packaging for the goods.(cid:160) A statement of use must include a specimen showing the
`applied-for mark in use in commerce for each class of goods specified in the statement of use.(cid:160) Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C.
`§§1051 and 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.56(a) and 2.88(b)(2); TMEP §§904 and 1109.09(b).(cid:160) Examples of acceptable specimens for goods are tags,
`labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the goods or packaging, or displays associated with the goods at their
`point of sale.(cid:160) TMEP §§904.03 et seq.
`
`(cid:160)S
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`pecifically, the specimen of use is illegible.(cid:160) Even upon maximum zoom, the images on the printouts are far too small and not legible.(cid:160) Thus,
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`the specimen of use fails to show proper use on the goods or on packaging of the goods.(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Instead of submitting a long web page as a single attachment, the applicant should simply attach the actual one or two images that it is relying
`upon as its specimen for its statement of use. (cid:160) If those individual pages are also long, then the applicant must break it up into several attachments
`such that the text and images are clearly legible without alteration.(cid:160) T
`
`(cid:160)A
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`dditionally, if multiple images are attached, then the images that are the applicant’s specimen ( i.e., that show the mark on the goods) must be
`clearly indicated as such.(cid:160) It is unreasonable to expect the examining attorney to hunt through scores of miniscule images for an array of goods to
`perhaps find a photograph of a shirt bearing the applied-for mark.
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`Thus, the applicant must submit (1) a substitute specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for each class of goods specified in the statement
`of use; and (2) the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:(cid:160) “ The substitute specimen was
`in use in commerce prior to the expiration of the deadline for filing the statement of use.” (cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.59(b)(2); TMEP §904.05; see 37
`C.F.R. §2.193(e)(1).(cid:160) If submitting a substitute specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, the applicant must also verify the amended
`dates.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.71(c); TMEP §904.05.(cid:160) The following is a properly worded declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:
`
`The undersigned, being hereby warned that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment,
`or both, under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and that such willful false statements and the like may jeopardize the validity of the application
`or document or any resulting registration, declares that the facts set forth in this application are true; all statements made of his/her
`own knowledge are true; and all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`____________________________
`(Signature)
`____________________________
`(Print or Type Name and Position)
`____________________________
`(Date)
`
`(cid:160)P
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`ending receipt of a proper response, registration is refused because the specimen does not show the applied-for mark in use in commerce as a
`trademark.(cid:160) Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051 and 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.56(a) and 2.88(b)(2); TMEP §§904 and 904.07(a).
`
`(cid:160)T
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`he applicant may not withdraw the statement of use.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.88(g); TMEP §1109.17.
`
`/LeighLowry/
`Leigh A. Lowry
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`leigh.lowry@uspto.gov (informal only)
`Law Office 115
`(571) 272-9725
`
`(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 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(cid:160)questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160)(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(cid:160)an individual applicant or(cid:160)someone with legal authority to bind an
`applicant (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint applicants).(cid:160)(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 Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) at
`http://tarr.uspto.gov/. (cid:160) Please keep a copy of the complete TARR screen. (cid:160) If TARR shows no change for more than six months, call
`1-800-786-9199. (cid:160) For more information on checking status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/.
`
`(cid:160)T
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`O UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160) Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageE.htm.
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Home Box Office, Inc. (trademarks@hbo.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77756225 - GAME OF THRONES - GAME OF THRO
`
`7/25/2011 4:04:57 PM
`
`ECOM115@USPTO.GOV
`
`IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`USPTO OFFICE ACTION HAS ISSUED ON 7/25/2011 FOR
`SERIAL NO. 77756225
`
`lease follow the instructions below to continue the prosecution of your application:
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`TO READ OFFICE ACTION: Click on this link or go to http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow and enter the application serial
`number to access the Office action.
`
`(cid:160)P
`
`LEASE NOTE: The Office action may not be immediately available but will be viewable within 24 hours of this e-mail notification.
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`ESPONSE(cid:160)IS REQUIRED: You should carefully review the Office action to determine (1) how to respond; and (2) the applicable response
`time period. Your response deadline will be calculated from 7/25/2011 (or sooner if specified in the office action).
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)H
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`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
`
`(cid:160)F
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`ailure to file the required response by the applicable deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your
`application.
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`