UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
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`79085340
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`*79085340*
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`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm
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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)
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`RU-117556 Moscow
`RUSSIAN FED.
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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)
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`(cid:160) Obschestvo s ogranichennoi
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`(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: THEORY(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160) (cid:160)
`Alexander P. Dvornikov(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`P.O. Box 33(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(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)
`otvetstvennos ETC.(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)(cid:160)
`N/A(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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`OFFICE ACTION
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`STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER(cid:160)
`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:
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`(cid:160)I
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`NTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION NO. 1045759
`This is a PROVISIONAL PARTIAL REFUSAL of the trademark and/or service mark in the above-referenced U.S. application that applies to
`only the following goods and classes in the application: (cid:160) International Class 35; confectionery; ices; preparations made from cereal;
`sauces(condiments).(cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §1141h(c).
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`(cid:160)W
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`HO IS PERMITTED TO RESPOND TO THIS PROVISIONAL PARTIAL REFUSAL:
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`(cid:160)A
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`pplicant may respond directly to this provisional refusal Office action if applicant is not represented by an authorized attorney.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R.
`(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(i).(cid:160) However, the
`§2.193(e)(2)(ii).(cid:160) Otherwise, applicant’s authorized attorney must respond on applicant’s behalf.
`only attorneys who are authorized to sign responses and practice before the USPTO in trademark matters are as follows:
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`(1)(cid:160) Attorneys in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other
`federal territories and possessions of the United States; and
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`(2)(cid:160) Canadian agents/attorneys who represent applicants located in Canada and (a) are registered with the USPTO and in good standing
`as patent agents or (b) have been granted reciprocal recognition by the USPTO.
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`(cid:160)S
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`ee 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(e), 2.62(b), 11.1, 11.5(b)(2), 11.14(a), (c); TMEP §§602, 712.03.
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`(cid:160)F
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`oreign attorneys, other than authorized Canadian attorneys, are not permitted to represent applicants before the USPTO.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R.
`§§2.17(e), 11.14(c), (e); TMEP §602.03-.03(b).(cid:160) That is, foreign attorneys may not file written communications, authorize an amendment to an
`application, or submit legal arguments in response to a requirement or refusal, among other things.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §11.5(b)(2); TMEP
`§§602.03(c), 608.01.(cid:160) If applicant is represented by such a foreign attorney, applicant must respond directly to this provisional refusal Office
`action.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii).
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`(cid:160)T
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`HE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY PARTIALLY REFUSED AS FOLLOWS:
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`(cid:160)T
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`his is a partial refusal Office action; the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) apply only to specified (cid:160)(cid:160) goods and services in the U.S. application.
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`SECTION 2(d) REFUSAL – LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION
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`(cid:160)
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`(cid:160)R
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`egistration of the applied-for mark is refused because of a likelihood of confusion with the mark in U.S. Registration No. 3466280.(cid:160) Trademark
`Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); see TMEP §§1207.01 et seq.(cid:160) See the enclosed registration.
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`(cid:160)T
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`rademark Act Section 2(d) bars registration of an applied-for mark that so resembles a registered mark that it is likely that a potential consumer
`would be confused or mistaken or deceived as to the source of the goods and/or services of the applicant and registrant.(cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).(cid:160)
`The court in In re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563 (C.C.P.A. 1973) listed the principal factors to be considered
`when determining whether there is a likelihood of confusion under Section 2(d).(cid:160) See TMEP §1207.01.(cid:160) However, not all of the factors are
`necessarily relevant or of equal weight, and any one factor may be dominant in a given case, depending upon the evidence of record.(cid:160) In re
`Majestic Distilling Co., 315 F.3d 1311, 1315, 65 USPQ2d 1201, 1204 (Fed. Cir. 2003); see In re E. I. du Pont, 476 F.2d at 1361-62, 177 USPQ at
`567.
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`(cid:160)I
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`n this case, the following factors are the most relevant:(cid:160) similarity of the marks, similarity of the goods and/or services, and similarity of trade
`channels of the goods and/or services.(cid:160) See In re Opus One, Inc., 60 USPQ2d 1812 (TTAB 2001); In re Dakin’s Miniatures Inc. , 59 USPQ2d
`1593 (TTAB 1999); In re Azteca Rest. Enters., Inc., 50 USPQ2d 1209 (TTAB 1999); TMEP §§1207.01 et seq.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he applicant’s mark THEORY and the mark in the cited registration THEORY GROUP are confusingly similar because they create the same
`commercial impression. The presentation of the registrant’s mark shows that THEORY is the dominant term in the mark. The applicant has
`listed “advertising” as one of the services in International Class 35. The registrant also provides an advertising service under its mark. The
`purchasing public would be likely to believe that these two similar marks, used with almost identical services, emanate from the same source.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he stated refusal refers to International Class 35 only and does not bar registration in the other classes.
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`(cid:160)I
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`(cid:160)I
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`DENTIFICATION OF GOODS
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`nternational Class 30:
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`(cid:160)T
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`he wording “preparations made from cereals” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified because the type of preparation
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`is not set forth.(cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) The wording “confectionery” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified. (cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160) Applicant may substitute
`(cid:160)(cid:160) The wording “ices” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified. (cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160) Applicant may substitute the
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`the following wording, if accurate:(cid:160) “frozen confectionery” or “confectionery made of sugar.”
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`following wording, if accurate:(cid:160) “fruit ices” or “flavored ices”.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he wording “sauces (condiments)” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified. (cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160) Applicant may
`amend to the following if accurate:(cid:160) “condiments namely sauces.”
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`(cid:160)I
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`nternational Class 35:
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`(cid:160)T
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`he applicant should amend the identification of services to clarify that the applicant is performing an activity for others.. The applicant may
`amend “office functions” to “providing office functions”.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he wording “advertising” in the identification of services is indefinite and must be clarified because this includes a wide variety of activities. (cid:160)
`See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160) Applicant must amend this wording to specify the common commercial or generic name for the services.(cid:160) If there is no
`common commercial or generic name for the services, then applicant must describe the nature of the services as well as their main purpose,
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`channels of trade, and the intended consumer(s).(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`The wording “business administration” in the identification of services is indefinite and must be clarified because the activity performed by the
`applicant is not set forth.(cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01.(cid:160) Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate:(cid:160) “business administration
`consultation” or “business administration assistance.
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`(cid:160)P
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`ARTIAL ABANDONMENT ADVISORY
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`(cid:160)I
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`f applicant does not respond to this Office action within the six-month period for response, then the following goods and/or services will be
`deleted from the application:(cid:160) International Class 35; confectionery; ices; preparations made from cereal; sauces(condiments).(cid:160) The
`application will then proceed with the remaining goods and services.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.65(a).
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`/Teresa Rupp/
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`
`Trademark Senior Attorney
`Law Office 106
`Phone - 571-272-9329
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: (cid:160) Use the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) response form at
`http://teasroa.uspto.gov/roa/.(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.
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`(cid:160)W
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`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
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`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/.
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`(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.
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`Print: Aug 3|}, 2010
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`772fl?5?fi
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`DESIGN MARK
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`Serial Number
`11281516
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`Status
`REGISTERED
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`Word Marl:
`THEORY GROUP
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`Standard Character Mark
`No
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`Registration NI.II"I'IhBf
`3466280
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`Date Registered
`2008fO1fl5
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`Type of Mark
`sERvIc::E MARI-C
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`Register
`PRINCIPAL
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`Mark Drawing Code
`[3] DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS ANDJOR NUMBERS
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`U'WI1Bf
`Theory Group LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY CALIFORNIA I292 Deerfield Place
`Diamond Bar CALIFORNIA 91165
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`Goodslse-wines
`G & S: Advertising
`100 I01 102.
`US
`IC 035.
`Class Status —— ACTIVE.
`services, namely, creating corporate and brand identity for others;
`organizing exhibitions for commercial or advertising purposes;
`layout
`services for advertising purposes. First Use: 2001/Olf22. First Use
`In Commerce: 2001!Ol!22.
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`Description of Mark
`The mark consists of the words "THEORY GROUP"
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`in stylized text.
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`Colors Claimed
`Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark.
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`Filing Date
`ZOUTHOSHZ4
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`Examining Attorney
`POWERS, ALEXANDER L.
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`

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`T“ H" E" U" R” Y”