To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`McCarthy, Nathan (mswyers@thetrademarkcompany.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86491495 - TAMALPAIS SURF CLUB THE TIME TUNNEL -
`N/A
`
`4/11/2015 7:27:34 PM
`
`ECOM117@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) 86491495
`
`(cid:160)M
`
`ARK: TAMALPAIS SURF CLUB THE TIME
`TUNNEL
`
`CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160) MATTHEW H SWYERS
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160) The Trademark Company
`(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) 344 Maple Ave W # 151
`(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160) (cid:160) Vienna, VA 22180-5612
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`APPLICANT: McCarthy, Nathan
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET
`
`(cid:160) N/A
`
`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) mswyers@thetrademarkcompany.com
`
`(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)
`
`*86491495*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS
`LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`VIEW YOUR APPLICATION FILE
`
`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.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 4/11/2015
`
`The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he trademark examining attorney has searched the USPTO’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no similar registered
`marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d).(cid:160) TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).(cid:160) However, a mark in a prior-filed
`pending application may present a bar to registration of applicant’s mark.
`
`The filing date of pending U.S. Application Serial No. 86458133 precedes applicant’s filing date.(cid:160) See attached referenced application.(cid:160) If the
`mark in the referenced application registers, applicant’s mark may be refused registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d) because of a
`likelihood of confusion between the two marks.(cid:160) See 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq.(cid:160) Therefore, upon receipt of
`applicant’s response to this Office action, action on this application may be suspended pending final disposition of the earlier-filed referenced
`application.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`n response to this Office action, applicant may present arguments in support of registration by addressing the issue of the potential conflict
`between applicant’s mark and the mark in the referenced application.(cid:160) Applicant’s election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits
`applicant’s right to address this issue later if a refusal under Section 2(d) issues.
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`Applicant must, however, respond timely and completely to the issue below.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711,
`718.03.
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`EQUEST TO CHANGE OWNER NAME DENIED – NO ASSIGNMENT FILED
`
`Applicant has requested that the owner name be amended; however, applicant has not provided a reason for this request, or provided or recorded
`ownership transfer documentation.(cid:160) The name of one of the original applicants is Nathan McCarthy DBA Proof Lab, a California partnership;
`applicant seeks to amend this to Proof Lab, a California corporation (with deletion of the other partner, William Hutchinson).(cid:160) The request to
`change the owner name raises a question regarding whether the proper party filed the original application.(cid:160) Indeed, if the name change is allowed
`as applicant has requested, the partnership with William Hutchinson ceases to exist, and any subsequent arrangement constitutes a new entity.(cid:160)
`See TMEP §803.03(b).
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`herefore, applicant must clarify whether the proper party filed the original application.(cid:160) In addition, the request to amend the owner name is
`denied until clear chain of title to the new party has been established.
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`n application is void if it was filed in the name of a party who did not own, or was not entitled to use, the applied-for mark on the application
`filing date.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.71(d); Huang v. Tzu Wei Chen Food Co., 849 F.2d 1458, 1459-60, 7 USPQ2d 1335, 1335-36 (Fed. Cir. 1988); TMEP
`§§803.06, 1201.02(b); see 15 U.S.C. §1051(a)(1).(cid:160) A void application cannot be cured by amendment or assignment.(cid:160) TMEP §§803.06,
`1201.02(b); see 37 C.F.R. §2.71(d).(cid:160) In these cases, the true owner must file a new application.(cid:160) TMEP §803.06.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f the application was filed by the owner and the original applicant has since changed its name or transferred ownership of the mark to another
`entity, the new owner must file documentation to establish its ownership of the application as follows:
`
`(1)(cid:160) The new owner must (a) record an assignment, name change, or other documentation affecting title with the USPTO’s Assignment
`Recordation Branch showing a clear chain of title to the mark in the new owner; and (b) promptly notify the trademark examining
`attorney that the documentation has been recorded.
`
`(2)(cid:160) The new owner must file either (a) a written statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20,
`explaining in detail the chain of title to the new owner; or (b) documentation showing transfer of title to the new owner.(cid:160) However, the
`registration will not issue in the name of the new owner without recording chain of title documentation with the USPTO and notifying the
`trademark examining attorney, as specified in (1) above.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`MEP §502.01; see 15 U.S.C. §1060; 37 C.F.R. §§2.193(e)(1), 3.73(b)(1); TMEP §502.02(a).
`
`(cid:160)A
`
`ssignments and other documents affecting title may be filed electronically at http://etas.uspto.gov/. (cid:160)There is a fee for recording ownership
`changes.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §§2.6(b)(6), 3.41(a); TMEP §503.03(d).(cid:160) Recording an assignment or other ownership transfer document does not constitute
`
`a response to an Office action.(cid:160) TMEP §503.01(d).(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`If the party applying to register the mark is in fact the owner of the mark, but there is a typographical error or other minor mistake in the manner
`the owner name is set forth in the application, the mistake may be corrected by amendment.(cid:160) U.S. Pioneer Elecs. Corp. v. Evans Mktg., Inc., 183
`USPQ 613, 614 (Comm’r Pats. 1974); TMEP §1201.02(c) (providing examples of correctable and non-correctable errors).
`
`(cid:160)R
`
`ESPONSE REQUIRED
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`or this application to proceed toward registration, applicant must explicitly address the name change issue raised in this Office action.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`TEAS PLUS APPLICANTS – TO MAINTAIN LOWER FEE, ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET, INCLUDING
`SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS ONLINE:(cid:160) Applicants who filed their application online using the lower-fee TEAS Plus application form must
`(1) file certain documents online using TEAS, including responses to Office actions (see TMEP §819.02(b) for a complete list of these
`documents); (2) maintain a valid e-mail correspondence address; and (3) agree to receive correspondence from the USPTO by e-mail throughout
`the prosecution of the application.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §§2.22(b), 2.23(b); TMEP §819.(cid:160) TEAS Plus applicants who do not meet these requirements
`must submit an additional processing fee of $50 per international class of goods.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(1)(v), 2.22(c), 2.23(c); TMEP §819.04.(cid:160)
`However, in certain situations, TEAS Plus applicants may respond to an Office action by authorizing an examiner’s amendment by telephone
`
`without incurring this additional fee.(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`/Andrew Leaser/
`Trademark Examining Attorney
`Law Office 117
`(571) 272-1911
`andrew.leaser@uspto.gov
`
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:(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. Instead, go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp to file a formal response. (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)(cid:160)
`For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) All informal 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 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
`
`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)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`

`Print: Apr 11, 2015
`
`BB4-58133
`
`DESIGN MARK
`
`Serial Number
`86458133
`
`Status
`NCN—EINAL ACTICN — MAILED
`
`Word Mark
`TANALRAIE INDIANS
`
`Standard Character Mark
`Yes
`
`Type Bf Marl:
`TRADEMARK
`
`Register
`PRINCIPAL
`
`Mark Drawing Code
`[4]
`STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
`
`Owner
`Eeeson, Todd INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES #33 1004 Green Oak Drive Novato
`CALIFORNIA 94949
`
`IC 025.
`
`US
`
`U22 039.
`
`G & S: Clothing,
`
`Goodsfservices
`
`Class Status —— ACTIVE.
`namely,
`t—shirts.
`
`Filing Date
`20I4H11H18
`
`Examining Attorney
`DE JONGE, KATHY
`
`

`

`Tamalpais Indians
`
`

`

`To:
`
`Subject:
`
`Sent:
`
`Sent As:
`
`Attachments:
`
`McCarthy, Nathan (mswyers@thetrademarkcompany.com)
`
`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86491495 - TAMALPAIS SURF CLUB THE TIME TUNNEL -
`N/A
`
`4/11/2015 7:27:36 PM
`
`ECOM117@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 4/11/2015 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86491495
`
`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 4/11/2015 (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)
`