UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANTS TRADEMARK APPLICATION

U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 85780375 MARK: IPAD MINI CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: THOMAS R. LA PERLE APPLE INC. 1 INFINITE LOOP CUPERTINO, CA 95014-2083 APPLICANT: Apple Inc. CORRESPONDENTS REFERENCE/DOCKET NO : N/A CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS:

*85780375*

CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LET

http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_form

OFFICE ACTION STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER

TO AVOID ABANDONMENT OF APPLICANTS TRADEMARK APPLICATION, THE USPTO MUST RECEIVE APPLICANTS COMPLETE RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE BELOW. ISSUE/MAILING DATE: The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below. 15 U.S.C. 1062(b); 37 C.F.R. 2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP 711, 718.03. SUMMARY OF ISSUES that applicant must address: Section 2(e)(1) descriptiveness refusal Specimen refusal SEARCH OF OFFICES DATABASE OF MARKS The trademark examining attorney has searched the Offices database of registered and pending marks and has found no similar registered mark that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). TMEP 704.02; see 15 U.S.C. 1052(d). However, marks in prior-filed pending applications may present a bar to registration of applicants mark. ADVISORY: PRIOR-FILED APPLICATIONS The filing dates of pending U.S. Application Serial Nos. 77913563, 77927446, 77932051, 77932073, 77982320, 77982321, 85014225 and 85014233, precede applicants filing date. See attached referenced

applications. If the marks in the referenced applications register, applicants mark may be refused registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d) because of a likelihood of confusion between these marks. See 15 U.S.C. 1052(d); 37 C.F.R. 2.83; TMEP 1208 et seq. Therefore, upon receipt of applicants response to this Office action, action on this application may be suspended pending final disposition of the earlier-filed referenced applications. In response to this Office action, applicant may present arguments in support of registration by addressing the issue of the potential conflict between applicants mark and the marks in the referenced applications. Applicants election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits applicants right to address this issue later if a refusal under Section 2(d) issues. Applicant must respond to the following: SECTION 2(e)(1) REFUSAL - MERELY DESCRIPTIVE Registration is refused because the applied-for mark merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicants goods. Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. 1052(e)(1); see TMEP 1209.01(b), 1209.03 et seq. A mark is merely descriptive if it describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of an applicants goods and/or services. 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, 1009-10 (Fed. Cir. 1987). Applicant has applied to register the mark IPAD MINI for handheld mobile digital electronic device comprising a tablet computer, electronic book and periodical reader, digital audio and video player, camera, electronic personal organizer, personal digital assistant, electronic calendar, and mapping and global positioning system (GPS) device, and capable of providing access to the Internet and sending, receiving, and storing messages and other data. The term IPAD is descriptive when applied to applicants goods because the prefix I denotes internet. According to the attached evidence, the letter i or I used as a prefix and would be understood by the purchasing public to refer to the Internet when used in relation to Internet-related products or services. Applicants goods are identified as capable of providing access to the Internet. When a mark consists of this prefix coupled with a descriptive word or term for Internet-related goods and/or services, then the entire mark may be considered merely descriptive. See In re Zanova, Inc., 59 USPQ2d 1300, 1304 (TTAB 2000) (holding ITOOL merely descriptive of computer software for use in creating web pages, and custom designing websites for others); TMEP 1209.03(d). The term PAD is also descriptive of the applied for goods. The term pad refers to a pad computer or internet pad device, terms used synonymously to refer to tablet computers, or a complete computer contained in a touch screen. Please see the attached dictionary definition. In addition, the attached excerpts from third party websites show descriptive use of the term pad in connection with tablet computers. This marketplace evidence shows that the term pad would be perceived by consumers as descriptive of pad computers with internet and interactive capability. Applicants goods are identified as a handheld digital mobile electronic device comprising tablet computer. The determination of whether a mark is merely descriptive is made in relation to an applicants goods and/or services, not in the abstract. DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., ___ F.3d ___,

103 USPQ2d 1753, 1757 (Fed. Cir. 2012); In re The Chamber of Commerce of the U.S., 675 F.3d 1297, 1300, 102 USPQ2d 1217, 1219 (Fed. Cir. 2012); TMEP 1209.01(b); see, e.g., In re Polo Intl Inc. , 51 USPQ2d 1061, 1062-63 (TTAB 1999) (finding DOC in DOC-CONTROL would refer to the documents managed by applicants software rather than the term doctor shown in a dictionary definition); In re Digital Research Inc., 4 USPQ2d 1242, 1243-44 (TTAB 1987) (finding CONCURRENT PC-DOS and CONCURRENT DOS merely descriptive of computer programs recorded on disk where the relevant trade used the denomination concurrent as a descriptor of a particular type of operating system). Whether consumers could guess what the product [or service] is from consideration of the mark alone is not the test. In re Am. Greetings Corp., 226 USPQ 365, 366 (TTAB 1985). The term MINI in the applied for mark is also descriptive of a feature of applicants product. Specifically, the attached evidence shows this wording means something that is distinctively smaller than other members of its type or class. See attached definition. The word mini has been held merely descriptive of goods that are produced and sold in miniature form. See Gen. Mills, Inc. v. K-Mar Foods, Inc., 207 USPQ 510 (TTAB 1980) (holding MINI MEAL merely descriptive of concentrated nutritionallycomplete food bars); In re Occidental Petroleum Corp., 193 USPQ 732 (TTAB 1977) (holding MINI PELLETS merely descriptive of pelleted fertilizer). The examining attorney has also attached evidence from an internet search showing third party descriptive use of the term mini to describe the small size of various handheld digital devices. See attached evidence. Therefore, the wording merely describes a feature of applicants goods, namely, a small sized handheld tablet computer. As demonstrated, applicants mark comprises a combination of descriptive terms. Generally, if the individual components of a mark retain their descriptive meaning in relation to the goods and/or services, the combination results in a composite mark that is itself descriptive and not registrable. In re Phoseon Tech., Inc., 103 USPQ2d 1822, 1823 (TTAB 2012); TMEP 1209.03(d); see, e.g., In re King Koil Licensing Co., 79 USPQ2d 1048, 1052 (TTAB 2006) (holding THE BREATHABLE MATTRESS merely descriptive of beds, mattresses, box springs, and pillows where the evidence showed that the term BREATHABLE retained its ordinary dictionary meaning when combined with the term MATTRESS and the resulting combination was used in the relevant industry in a descriptive sense); In re Associated Theatre Clubs Co., 9 USPQ2d 1660, 1663 (TTAB 1988) (holding GROUP SALES BOX OFFICE merely descriptive of theater ticket sales services because such wording is nothing more than a combination of the two common descriptive terms most applicable to applicants services which in combination achieve no different status but remain a common descriptive compound expression). Only where the combination of descriptive terms creates a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods and/or services is the combined mark registrable. See In re Colonial Stores, Inc., 394 F.2d 549, 551, 157 USPQ 382, 384 (C.C.P.A. 1968). In this case, both the individual components and the composite result are descriptive of applicants goods and do not create a unique, incongruous, or non-descriptive meaning in relation to the goods being small handheld mobile devices comprising tablet computers capable of providing internet access. Therefore, the mark is merely descriptive of a feature or characteristic of the goods and registration is refused under Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act. SECTION 2(f) IN PART

If applicant believes that a portion of the mark has acquired distinctiveness, applicant may amend the application to add a claim of acquired distinctiveness as to that portion under Trademark Act Section 2(f). See 15 U.S.C. 1052(f); TMEP 1212.02(f)(i). Evidence in support of this claim may consist of a claim of ownership of one or more prior registrations on the Principal Register of that portion of the mark for goods and/or services that are the same as or related to those named in the pending application. TMEP 1212.02(f)(i); see 37 C.F.R. 2.41(b). To do so, applicant must submit the following statement, if accurate: The wording IPAD in the mark has become distinctive of the goods as evidenced by ownership of U.S. Registration No. 3776575 on the Principal Register for the same mark for related goods. TMEP 1212.04(e). ADVISORY: DISCLAIMER REQUIRED Applicant is advised that, if the application is amended to seek registration on the Principal Register under Trademark Act Section 2(f) in part, applicant must disclaim the descriptive wording MINI apart from the mark as shown because it merely describes a characteristic or feature of applicants goods. See 15 U.S.C. 1052(e)(1), 1056(a); DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., ___ F.3d ___, 103 USPQ2d 1753, 1755 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (quoting In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d 1171, 1173, 71 USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004)); In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005). If applicant is relying on ownership of U.S. Registration No. 3776575 on the Principal Register for the same mark for related goods as the basis of a Section 2(f) in part claim, please note that the registration does not include the term MINI, and therefore, this term must still be disclaimed as being merely descriptive of a feature of the goods. An applicant may not claim exclusive rights to terms or designs that others may need to use to describe or show their goods or services in the marketplace. See Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Intl, Inc. , 950 F.2d 1555, 1560, 21 USPQ2d 1047, 1051 (Fed. Cir. 1991); In re Aug. Storck KG, 218 USPQ 823, 825 (TTAB 1983). A disclaimer does not affect the appearance of the mark; that is, a disclaimer does not physically remove the disclaimed matter from the mark. TMEP 1213, 1213.10. If applicant does not provide a required disclaimer, the USPTO may refuse to register the entire mark. See In re Stereotaxis Inc., 429 F.3d 1039, 1041, 77 USPQ2d 1087, 1089 (Fed. Cir. 2005); TMEP 1213.01(b). Applicant should submit a disclaimer in the following standardized format: No claim is made to the exclusive right to use MINI apart from the mark as shown. For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this disclaimer requirement using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, please go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/law/disclaimer.jsp. Please note the additional ground of refusal: SPECIMEN REFUSAL The web catalog or web page specimen is not acceptable to show trademark use as a display associated with the goods because it fails to include a picture or a sufficient textual description of the goods in sufficiently close proximity to the necessary ordering information/a weblink for ordering the goods, and

thus, appears to be mere advertising material. See In re Sones, 590 F.3d 1282, 1286-89, 93 USPQ2d 1118, 1122-24 (Fed. Cir. 2009); In re Azteca Sys., Inc., 102 USPQ2d 1955, 1957 (TTAB 2012); In re Genitope Corp., 78 USPQ2d 1819, 1822 (TTAB 2006); TMEP 904.03(h), (i); cf. Lands End, Inc. v. Manbeck, 797 F. Supp. 511, 513-14, 24 USPQ2d 1314, 1316 (E.D. Va. 1992). The mark and picture of the goods on the specimen are not sufficiently proximate to the buy now tab, and it is thus unclear what consumers would be purchasing by clicking on this tab. Advertising material, which merely tells prospective purchasers about the goods or promotes the sale of the goods, is generally not acceptable as a specimen to show trademark use in connection with goods. See In re Genitope Corp., 78 USPQ2d at 1822; In re MediaShare Corp., 43 USPQ2d 1304, 1307 (TTAB 1997); TMEP 904.04(b), (c). However, a web catalog, web page, or similar specimen, which is otherwise a form of advertising, is acceptable to show trademark use as a display associated with the goods if it includes (1) a picture of the relevant goods or a textual description that identifies the actual features or inherent characteristics of the goods such that the goods are recognizable, (2) the mark appearing sufficiently near the picture or textual description of the goods so as to associate the mark with the goods, and (3) information necessary to order the goods (e.g., an order form or offer to accept orders via phone or e-mail) or a visible weblink to order the goods. See In re Sones, 590 F.3d at 1286-89, 93 USPQ2d at 1122-24; In re Genitope Corp., 78 USPQ2d at 1822; TMEP 904.03(h), (i); cf. Lands End, Inc. v. Manbeck, 797 F. Supp. at 513-14, 24 USPQ2d at 1316. Without this information, the specimen is mere advertising and is not acceptable to show use in commerce for goods. See, e.g., In re Osterberg, 83 USPQ2d 1220, 1222-24 (TTAB 2007); In re Genitope Corp., 78 USPQ2d at 1822. An application based on Trademark Act Section 1(a) must include a specimen showing the applied-for mark in use in commerce for each class of goods. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. 1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. 2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP 904, 904.07(a). Section 45 requires use of the mark on the goods or their containers or the displays associated therewith or on the tags or labels affixed thereto. 15 U.S.C. 1127; see 37 C.F.R. 2.56(b)(1); TMEP 904.03, 904.04(b), (c). Therefore, applicant must submit the following: (1) A substitute specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for each class of goods specified in the application. (2) The following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. 2.20: The substitute specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application. 37 C.F.R. 2.59(a); TMEP 904.05; see 37 C.F.R. 2.193(e)(1). If submitting a substitute specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates. 37 C.F.R. 2.71(c); TMEP 904.05. Examples of specimens for goods are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, or photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging. See TMEP 904.03 et seq. If applicant cannot satisfy the above requirements, applicant may amend the application from a use in commerce basis under Section 1(a) to an intent to use basis under Section 1(b), for which no specimen is required. See TMEP 806.03(c). However, if applicant amends the basis to Section 1(b), registration will not be granted until applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen. See 15 U.S.C. 1051(c), (d); 37 C.F.R. 2.76, 2.88; TMEP

1103. To amend to Section 1(b), applicant must submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. 2.20: Applicant has had a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods listed in the application as of the filing date of the application. 37 C.F.R. 2.34(a)(2); TMEP 806.01(b); see 15 U.S.C. 1051(b); 37 C.F.R. 2.35(b)(1), 2.193(e)(1). Pending 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. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. 1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. 2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP 904, 904.07(a). Although applicants mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusals by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration. DECLARATION FOR SPECIMEN To submit a verified substitute specimen online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), applicant should do the following: (1) answer yes to the TEAS response form wizard question to submit a new or substitute specimen; (2) attach a jpg or pdf file of the substitute specimen; (3) select the statement that The substitute specimen(s) was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application.; and (4) sign personally or enter personally his/her electronic signature, name in printed or typed form, and date after the declaration at the end of the TEAS response form. See 37 C.F.R. 2.59(a), 2.193(a), (c)-(d), (e)(1); TMEP 611.01(c), 804.01(b). Please note that these steps appear on different pages of the TEAS response form. If applicant experiences difficulty in submitting the required substitute specimen, supporting statement and/or declaration, please e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov for technical assistance regarding the TEAS response form.

If applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney. 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. See 37 C.F.R. 2.191; TMEP 304.01-.02, 709.04-.05. 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 applicants rights. See TMEP 705.02, 709.06. /Lee-Anne Berns/ Examining Attorney Law Office 105 571-272-8982 lee-anne.berns@uspto.gov TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: Go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. 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. For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov. For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned

trademark examining attorney. E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to this Office action by e-mail. All informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record. WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE: 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). If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response. PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION: 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/. Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen. 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 1-800-7869199. For more information on checking status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/. TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS: Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.