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    This is clearly a shot across the bow that they consider it generic.
    And maybe already have the evidence.<br>
    <br>
    "Even if it appears that the mark is generic, the proper basis for
    the initial refusal is §2(e)(1) descriptiveness. <b><i>If there is
        strong evidence that the proposed mark is generic, the examining
        attorney should include a statement that the subject matter
        appears to be a generic name</i></b> for the goods or services
    in conjunction with the refusal on the ground that the matter is
    merely descriptive. ... <i><b>If, on the other hand, the mark
        appears to be capable, the examining attorney should provide
        appropriate advice concerning a possible amendment to the
        Supplemental Register</b></i> or assertion of a claim of
    acquired distinctiveness. ... <i><b>If the record is unclear as to
        whether the designation is capable of functioning as a mark, the
        examining attorney must refrain from giving any advisory
        statement.</b></i>"<br>
    <br>
    TMEP 1209.02(a).<br>
    <br>
    Pam<br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-signature">Pamela S. Chestek<br>
      Chestek Legal<br>
      300 Fayetteville St.<br>
      Unit 2492<br>
      Raleigh, NC 27602<br>
      +1 919-800-8033<br>
      <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pamela@chesteklegal.com">pamela@chesteklegal.com</a><br>
      <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.chesteklegal.com">www.chesteklegal.com</a><br>
      <br>
      <br>
      <br>
    </div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/22/2024 11:09 AM, Edward
      Timberlake via E-trademarks wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CABNf9SVAxc7u5DCQh7U=Z15eWEG3=tLZrjQac=PdaTfkzkocAQ@mail.gmail.com">
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        <div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><font
            face="georgia, serif">There is another way to read the
            Trademark Examining Attorney stating that they \u201ccannot
            recommend that applicant amend the application to proceed \u2026
            on the Supplemental Register as possible response options to
            this refusal,\u201d and that is that amending to the Supplemental
            Register is only possible when the application for
            registration is currently based on use.</font></div>
        <div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><font
            face="georgia, serif"><br>
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        <div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><font
            face="georgia, serif">If no proof of use has been provided
            (and accepted), then the Supplemental Register is not
            currently an option.</font></div>
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            face="georgia, serif"><br>
          </font></div>
        <div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><font
            face="georgia, serif"><a
href="https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TMEP/current#/current/TMEP-800d1e2649.html"
              moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TMEP/current#/current/TMEP-800d1e2649.html</a><br>
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                                                      <div><font
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                                                      <div><font
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                                                          style="font-size:small"><font
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                                                          Timberlake  </font></div>
                                                        <div
                                                          style="font-size:small"><font
                                                          size="2"
                                                          face="georgia,
                                                          serif"><i><a
href="https://www.nclawspecialists.gov/for-the-public/find-a-board-certified-specialist/results/detail/?id=29473"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">Board Certified Specialist in
                                                          Trademark Law</a></i></font></div>
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                                                          <div
                                                          style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a
href="http://timberlakelaw.com/" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><b>Timberlake
                                                          Law</b></a></div>
                                                          <div
                                                          style="font-family:georgia,serif">Chapel
                                                          Hill, NC<br>
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                                                          style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a
href="https://clarity.fm/edtimberlake" target="_blank"
                                                          moz-do-not-send="true">Schedule
                                                          a call on
                                                          Clarity</a><br>
                                                          </div>
                                                          <div
                                                          style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a
href="mailto:ed@timberlakelaw.com" target="_blank"
                                                          moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">ed@timberlakelaw.com</a><br>
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                                                          <div
                                                          style="font-family:georgia,serif">919.960.1950<br>
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      <div class="gmail_quote">
        <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Oct 22, 2024 at
          10:52\u202fAM Laura Geyer &lt;<a
            href="mailto:lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com" moz-do-not-send="true"
            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com</a>&gt;
          wrote:<br>
        </div>
        <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px
          0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
          <div class="msg-5067408548694051991">
            <div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" lang="EN-US">
              <div class="m_-5067408548694051991WordSection1">
                <p class="MsoNormal">Dear Alex:</p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">Much appreciated! I wish I could
                  say I were a junior attorney first looking at this
                  issue from this angle, hechk, I\u2019ve even written an
                  article recently about the
                  <a
href="https://ndgallilaw.com/2024/08/27/supplemental-registration-whats-the-point/"
                    target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">
                    slightly pointless no-man's land that is the SR</a>
                  (\u201cSupplemental Registration: What\u2019s the Point?\u201d) .
                </p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">What threw me was something I
                  genuinely hadn\u2019t seen once in the 25 years of doing
                  this. Not just a genericy advisory (seen some of those
                  despite best efforts to get clients to
                  <i>pick actual trademarks please</i> for the love of
                  G-d) but a further \u201csort of\u201d pre-finding of genericy\u201d
                  in the \u201cdon\u2019t even try that\u201d about attempting
                  amendment to the SR. There\u2019s not really a different
                  way to read the Examiner\u2019s addition about how that
                  because of the genericy possibility, they \u201c<b>cannot
                    recommend that applicant amend the application to
                    proceed \u2026 on the Supplemental Register as possible
                    response options to this refusal\u201d.
                  </b>That is a backhanded warning that the genericy
                  issue has already been worked out when, as you say,
                  there\u2019s actually no reason to touch it substantively.<b>
                  </b></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">I will hypothetically advise the
                  client that this is officially a roll the dice
                  situation with possibly slightly weighted dice. It may
                  be that by the time the amendments are filed and the
                  dust settles, they may overcome that issue. Or they
                  may crap out with a 2.</p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">Kindly,</p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">Laura</p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                        style="color:rgb(23,78,134)">Laura Talley Geyer</span></b><span
                      style="color:rgb(51,51,51)"> |
                    </span><b><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102)">Of
                        Counsel</span></b><span style="color:black">
                    </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"></span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                        style="color:rgb(23,78,134)"> </span></b></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                        style="color:rgb(23,78,134)">ND Galli Law LLC</span></b><span
                      style="color:black"></span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>1200 G Street, N.W., Ste
                      800</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Washington, DC 20005</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Tel: (202) 599-9019
                      (direct)</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span><a
                        href="https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/"
                        target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                        class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/</a></span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span><a
                        href="https://ndgallilaw.com/" target="_blank"
                        moz-do-not-send="true"
                        class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://ndgallilaw.com/</a></span></p>
                </div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <div>
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style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt
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                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                          style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Alex Butterman
                        &lt;<a href="mailto:abutterman@dbllawyers.com"
                          target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">abutterman@dbllawyers.com</a>&gt;
                        <br>
                        <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 22, 2024 1:43 AM<br>
                        <b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is
                        not for laypersons to seek legal advice. &lt;<a
                          href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"
                          target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;<br>
                        <b>Cc:</b> Laura Geyer &lt;<a
                          href="mailto:lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com"
                          target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com</a>&gt;;
                        Edward Timberlake &lt;<a
                          href="mailto:ed@timberlakelaw.com"
                          target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">ed@timberlakelaw.com</a>&gt;<br>
                        <b>Subject:</b> RE: [EXT] [E-trademarks] Must a
                        genericy refusal be finalized?</span></p>
                  </div>
                </div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><b><span
                      style="color:rgb(204,0,0)">EXTERNAL EMAIL</span></b></p>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)">Laura:</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)">I
                      agree with you that this \u201cgenericy\u201d determination
                      is one of the most unintuitive, complicated
                      processes in application examination that I have
                      experienced, and I have regularly seen experienced
                      TM attorneys and inexperienced TM examiners
                      (including myself) get this wrong. I am not sure
                      how this process developed, i.e. if it is a matter
                      of statutory interpretation or based upon the
                      particular language of the Lanham Act, but the
                      TMEP explains the examination procedure at Section
                      1209.02(a) (\u201cThe examining attorney must not
                      initially issue a refusal in an application for
                      registration on the Principal Register on the
                      ground that a mark is a generic name for the goods
                      or services, <b><i>unless the applicant asserted
                          that the mark has acquired distinctiveness
                          under §2(f) in the application itself</i></b>.\u201d)</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)">Essentially,
                      the determination of the examiner as to whether or
                      not a mark is generic boils down to the
                      determination of whether or not
                      <b>the mark can acquire distinctiveness</b>. And
                      the definition of a mark on the Supplemental
                      Register is a mark \u201c<i>capable</i> of acquiring
                      distinctiveness.\u201d The Supplemental Register is
                      effectively a holding pattern for a mark in \u201cno
                      man\u2019s land\u201d because the mark is technically not
                      sufficiently distinctive to be considered an
                      enforceable mark, but the mark could be on its way
                      there. Consequently, a genericy determination
                      cannot be made until the applicant either requests
                      registration on the Supplemental Register or
                      claims 2(f). So as you note, this becomes
                      approximately a 4-plus step process if the
                      application is based upon ITU and a 3-step process
                      if based upon use: 1) descriptiveness refusal; 2)
                      allegation of use and SR registration amendment
                      (or just SR amendment if already in use); 3)
                      initial refusal of the SR amendment or 2(f) claim;
                      4) final refusal of the SR or 2(f) amendment. The
                      2(f) amending process can even extend across
                      several office actions if the refusals initially
                      argue the particular level of evidence required to
                      claim 2(f) for the particular mark. There may also
                      be times when this determination is made in the
                      ITU context, such as an application based upon
                      Section 44e which can also be amended to the SR.
                    </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)">Therefore,
                      the fastest way to force this issue in examination
                      is to seek SR registration or claim 2(f) and it
                      probably is most cost effective to do so with
                      minimal argument after the descriptiveness refusal
                      has initially been argued. Then, once the examiner
                      contends that SR and 2(f) registration are not
                      available because the mark is allegedly generic,
                      all resources can be devoted to arguing that the
                      mark is capable of or has actually acquired
                      distinctiveness. This is why this process is
                      probably better suited to marks which have been in
                      use and need to better protect the use rights that
                      have accrued. If the mark has not yet been in use,
                      the genericy determination seems less impactful
                      because the applicant has less invested in the
                      mark and may be content knowing that the applicant
                      cannot be prevented from using the term even
                      though it cannot be considered a mark and the
                      applicant cannot exclude others from use of the
                      term.
                    </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)">I
                      got this wrong in one of the first cases I
                      examined which I refused because of
                      descriptiveness and which ended up being the only
                      refusal I had to defend on appeal. My mistake was
                      initially issuing the genericy warning which set
                      the tone and substance of subsequent arguments to
                      be whether or not the mark was generic. Then, when
                      it came time to defend the refusal, my mentor had
                      explained that the genericy issue was not yet ripe
                      because the applicant had not sought an SR
                      registration. So the appeal proceeded with me
                      needing only to defend that the mark was merely
                      descriptive, which it clearly was. I keep seeing
                      examiners make this same error. This was the
                      reason why a couple of years ago, I prosecuted an
                      application that received about six office actions
                      arguing whether a 2(f) or SR registration could
                      issue and when the 4<sup>th</sup> OA was declared
                      \u201cfinal,\u201d it really was not. We finally registered
                      the mark with a lot of it being disclaimed and the
                      appeal we initiated was dropped by a new examiner
                      being reassigned to the case and reconsidering the
                      refusal.  </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)">I
                      guess this is a long non-answer and commiseration.
                    </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <div>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                          style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Alex
                          Butterman</span></b></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Partner<b>                  
                        </b></span><b><span
                          style="font-family:&quot;Avenir
                          Next&quot;;color:rgb(55,66,138)"></span></b></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                          style="font-family:&quot;Avenir
                          Next&quot;;color:rgb(55,66,138)">DUNLAP </span></b><b><span
                          style="font-family:&quot;Avenir
                          Next&quot;;color:rgb(97,106,115)">BENNETT </span></b><b><span
                          style="font-family:&quot;Avenir
                          Next&quot;;color:rgb(55,66,138)">&amp; LUDWIG</span></b><span
style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(21,96,130)"></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3pt"><i><span
style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">211 Church St., SE;
                          Leesburg, VA 20175</span></i></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span
                        style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">T:
                        703-777-7319</span><span
                        style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(21,96,130)">
                        \u2013
                      </span><span style="color:rgb(21,96,130)"><a
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                          target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><b><span
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                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,40,65)"> </span></p>
                  <div>
                    <div
style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt
                      solid rgb(225,225,225);padding:3pt 0in 0in">
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                            style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> E-trademarks &lt;<a
href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"
                            moz-do-not-send="true"
                            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;
                          <b>On Behalf Of </b>Laura Geyer via
                          E-trademarks<br>
                          <b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 21, 2024 12:34 PM<br>
                          <b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This
                          is not for laypersons to seek legal advice.
                          &lt;<a
                            href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"
                            target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;<br>
                          <b>Cc:</b> Laura Geyer &lt;<a
                            href="mailto:lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com"
                            target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com</a>&gt;<br>
                          <b>Subject:</b> [EXT] [E-trademarks] Must a
                          genericy refusal be finalized?</span></p>
                    </div>
                  </div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">Honored colleagues:</p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">So, let\u2019s say hypothetically one
                    had a final refusal to register based on mere
                    descriptiveness. However, that refusal also added a
                    genericy* \u201cadvisory\u201d concluding that \u201c\u2026 the
                    trademark examining attorney
                    <b>cannot recommend that applicant amend the
                      application to proceed \u2026 on the Supplemental
                      Register as possible response options to this
                      refusal</b>.\u201d</p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">Setting aside the mere
                    decriptiveness issue, it appears (based on the
                    hypothetical clarification that one might have
                    requested prior to throwing away client $$ on a
                    response, an AAU, and lawyer time for that stuff)
                    that although refusal based on genericy is one based
                    on overlapping but ultimately different grounds,
                    there is no need to make that determination final.
                    That builds a grenade into an OA -- the only way to
                    find out whether the mark will be ultimately refused
                    as generic is to pull the pin and file the AAU
                    (blowing the filing fee and lawyer time to do that)
                    and only at that point will the mystery be revealed
                    either in an approval or the kablooey of a new final
                    refusal. This seems absurd. Why is a genericy
                    refusal not (like any ground for refusal) one that
                    must be made final with other grounds for refusal in
                    such an OA, since there is no need for the evidence
                    of use to be examined in order to make that ruling?</p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">And if the grenade is indeed
                    correctly included, what\u2019s the betting on ultimate
                    chances of refusal? 95%? 85% 75%?
                  </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">*[I will persist in using this
                    term \u2013 with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan]
                  </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><i>\u201cGenericy, genericy\u201d</i></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><i>The OED cries \u201cheresy\u201d</i></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><i>But other terms are awkward,
                      see</i></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><i>So let\u2019s all use \u201cgenericy\u201d</i></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                  <div>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                          style="color:rgb(23,78,134)">Laura Talley
                          Geyer</span></b><span
                        style="color:rgb(51,51,51)"> |
                      </span><b><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102)">Of
                          Counsel</span></b><span style="color:black">
                      </span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black"></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                          style="color:rgb(23,78,134)"> </span></b></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
                          style="color:rgb(23,78,134)">ND Galli Law LLC</span></b><span
                        style="color:black"></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>1200 G Street, N.W., Ste
                        800</span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Washington, DC 20005</span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Tel: (202) 599-9019
                        (direct)</span></p>
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