To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Midy, Olivier Joel (fterranella@lawabel.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86481412 - EAZY BBQ - 877430
`
`3/27/2015 10:21:23 PM
`
`ECOM101@USPTO.GOV
`
`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`Attachment - 2
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. (cid:160) 86481412
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160)M
`
`ARK: EAZY BBQ
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`CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160) LAWRENCE E. ABELMAN
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160) ABELMAN FRAYNE & SCHWAB
`(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) 666 THIRD AVENUE
`(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160) 10TH FLOOR
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160) (cid:160) NEW YORK, NY 10017
`APPLICANT: Midy, Olivier Joel
`
`*86481412*
`
`(cid:160)C
`
`LICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`VIEW YOUR APPLICATION FILE
`
`(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)
`CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160) 877430
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`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`fterranella@lawabel.com
`
`OFFICE ACTION
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`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
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 3/27/2015
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`(cid:160)T
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`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.
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION 2(d) REFUSAL – LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION
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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. (cid:160) 3295871 .(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.(cid:160) Please note that the prior
`registration is on the Supplemental Register.
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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 a potential consumer
`would be confused, 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)
`A determination of likelihood of confusion under Section 2(d) is made on a case-by case basis and the factors set forth in In re E. I. du Pont de
`Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563 (C.C.P.A. 1973) aid in this determination.(cid:160) Citigroup Inc. v. Capital City Bank Grp., Inc., 637
`F.3d 1344, 1349, 98 USPQ2d 1253, 1256 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing On-Line Careline, Inc. v. Am. Online, Inc., 229 F.3d 1080, 1085, 56 USPQ2d
`1471, 1474 (Fed. Cir. 2000)).(cid:160) Not all the du Pont factors, however, are necessarily relevant or of equal weight, and any one of the factors may
`control in a given case, depending upon the evidence of record.(cid:160) Citigroup Inc. v. Capital City Bank Grp., Inc., 637 F.3d at 1355, 98 USPQ2d at
`1260; In re Majestic Distilling Co., 315 F.3d 1311, 1315, 65 USPQ2d 1201, 1204 (Fed. Cir. 2003); see In re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476
`F.2d at 1361-62, 177 USPQ at 567.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`n this case, the following factors are the most relevant:(cid:160) similarity of the marks, similarity and nature of the goods and/or services, and similarity
`of the trade channels of the goods and/or services.(cid:160) See In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 1361-62, 101 USPQ2d 1905, 1908 (Fed. Cir. 2012); In
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`re Dakin’s Miniatures Inc., 59 USPQ2d 1593, 1595-96 (TTAB 1999); TMEP §§1207.01 et seq.
`
`(cid:160)I
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`n any likelihood of confusion determination, two key considerations are similarity of the marks and similarity or relatedness of the goods and/or
`services.(cid:160) See Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co., 544 F.2d 1098, 1103, 192 USPQ 24, 29 (C.C.P.A. 1976); In re Iolo Techs., LLC,
`95 USPQ2d 1498, 1499 (TTAB 2010); TMEP §1207.01; see also In re Dixie Rests. Inc., 105 F.3d 1405, 1406-07, 41 USPQ2d 1531, 1533 (Fed.
`Cir. 1997).(cid:160) That is, the marks are compared in their entireties for similarities in appearance, sound, connotation, and commercial impression.(cid:160) In
`re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 1362, 101 USPQ2d 1905, 1908 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (quoting In re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357,
`1361, 177 USPQ 563, 567 (C.C.P.A. 1973)); TMEP §1207.01(b)-(b)(v).(cid:160) Additionally, the goods and/or services are compared to determine
`whether they are similar or commercially related or travel in the same trade channels.(cid:160) See Coach Servs., Inc. v. Triumph Learning LLC, 668
`F.3d 1356, 1369-71, 101 USPQ2d 1713, 1722-23 (Fed. Cir. 2012); Herbko Int’l, Inc. v. Kappa Books, Inc., 308 F.3d 1156, 1165, 64 USPQ2d
`1375, 1381 (Fed. Cir. 2002); TMEP §1207.01, (a)(vi).
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION 2(e)(1) REFUSAL – MERELY DESCRIPTIVE
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`(cid:160)R
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`egistration is refused because the applied-for mark merely describes the purpose and function 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) The purpose and function of the goods is to make the EASY
`BBQ—make BBQ an easy thing.
`
`(cid:160)A
`
` mark is merely descriptive if it describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose or use of the specified goods and/or
`services.(cid:160) TMEP §1209.01(b); see In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005); In re Gyulay, 820
`F.2d 1216, 1217-18, 3 USPQ2d 1009, 1010 (Fed. Cir. 1987).(cid:160) Moreover, a mark that identifies a group of users to whom an applicant directs its
`goods and/or services is also merely descriptive.(cid:160) TMEP §1209.03(i); see In re Planalytics, Inc., 70 USPQ2d 1453, 1454 (TTAB 2004).
`
`(cid:160)T
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`wo major reasons for not protecting descriptive marks are (1) to prevent the owner of a descriptive mark from inhibiting competition in the
`marketplace and (2) to avoid the possibility of costly infringement suits brought by the trademark or service mark owner.(cid:160) In re Abcor Dev.
`Corp., 588 F.2d 811, 813, 200 USPQ 215, 217 (C.C.P.A. 1978); TMEP §1209.(cid:160) Businesses and competitors should be free to use descriptive
`language when describing their own goods and/or services to the public in advertising and marketing materials.(cid:160) See In re Styleclick.com Inc., 58
`USPQ2d 1523, 1527 (TTAB 2001).
`
`(cid:160)I
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`n re Franklin Cnty. Historical Soc’y , 104 USPQ2d 1085, 1086 (TTAB 2012) (holding CENTER OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY merely
`descriptive of operating a museum and conducting workshops, programs, and demonstrations in the field of science); In re Phoseon Tech., Inc.,
`103 USPQ2d 1822, 1823 (TTAB 2012) (holding SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT MATRIX merely descriptive of light and UV curing systems
`composed primarily of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for industrial and commercial applications); In re Putman Publ’g Co., 39 USPQ2d 2021,
`2021-22 (TTAB 1996) (holding FOOD & BEVERAGE ON-LINE merely descriptive of news and information service for the food processing
`industry); In re Copytele, Inc., 31 USPQ2d 1540, 1541-42 (TTAB 1994) (holding SCREEN FAX PHONE merely descriptive of facsimile
`terminals employing electrophoretic displays).
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) All relevant e-
`mail communications will be placed in the official application record; however, an e-mail communication will not be accepted as a response to
`this Office action and will not extend the deadline for filing a proper response.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-
`.05.(cid:160) Further, although the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) in
`this Office action, the trademark examining attorney may not provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights.(cid:160) See TMEP §§705.02,
`709.06.
`
`Although 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)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`/Jacqueline W. Abrams/
`Examining Attorney
`Law Office 101
`571-272-9185
`jacky.abrams@uspto.gov INFORMAL only
`
`(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)
`

`

`(cid:160)A
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`ll informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
`
`(cid:160)W
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`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
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`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)
`

`

`Print: Mar 27, 2015
`
`TT11D43D
`
`DESIGN MARK
`
`Serial Number
`11110430
`
`Status
`SECTICN e—ACCERTED
`
`Word Mark
`EZBBQ
`
`Standard Character Mark
`Yes
`
`Registration Number
`3295871
`
`Date Registered
`2DD7xDSx1e
`
`Type of Marin
`TRADEMARK
`
`Register
`SUPPLEMENTAL
`
`Mark Drawing Code
`[4]
`STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
`
`Owner
`ESSAY GROUP LLC LIMITED LIABILITY CCNRANY NEW JERSEY 352 LAKEYIEW
`DRIVE WYCKOFF NEW JERSEY [H4181
`
`Goodsfserviees
`Class Status -- ACTIVE.
`
`IC 004.
`
`US
`
`U01 U06 015.
`
`G & S: Charcoal;
`
`Charcoal briquettes. First Use: ZOOEKOOKOO. First Use In Commerce:
`2007/OZHUU.
`
`Filing Date
`2007/02/19
`
`Amended Register Date
`2DD7xD7x17
`
`Examining Attorney
`DEN, LINDSEY
`
`Attorney of Record
`RICHARD L MCRRIS JR ESQ
`
`

`

`EZBBQ
`
`

`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`Midy, Olivier Joel (fterranella@lawabel.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86481412 - EAZY BBQ - 877430
`
`3/27/2015 10:21:24 PM
`
`ECOM101@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 3/27/2015 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86481412
`
`Please follow the instructions below:
`
`(cid:160)(
`
`1)(cid:160) TO READ THE LETTER:(cid:160) Click on this link or go to http://tsdr.uspto.gov, enter the U.S. application serial number, and click 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)(
`
`2)(cid:160) TIMELY RESPONSE IS REQUIRED:(cid:160) Please carefully review the Office action to determine (1) how to respond, and (2) the applicable
`response time period.(cid:160) Your response deadline will be calculated from 3/27/2015 (or sooner if specified in the Office action).(cid:160) For information
`regarding response time periods, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/responsetime.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)D
`
`o 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)
`Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System
`(TEAS) response form located at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.
`
`(cid:160)(
`
`3)(cid:160) QUESTIONS:(cid:160) For questions about the contents of the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) For
`technical assistance in accessing or viewing the Office action in the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system, please e-mail
`TSDR@uspto.gov.
`
`WARNING
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`ailure 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.
`
`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)
`