<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">Hmm...That response to Comment 40 is interesting, "</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><i><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span>If the initial application includes a translation or
transliteration, the surcharge will not apply for later amendment of the
translation or transliteration.</i><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">" Does that mean, then, that we should always be in the habit of checking the 'The mark has no meaning in a foreign language' box if we don't have a translation to provide? Would that qualify as having included a translation? </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"> <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span>O<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">r would the PTO somehow wiggle out of it with the statement that "</span>The surcharge will apply if the translation or
transliteration comprises or contains inappropriate material.<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">" Not sure what exactly "inappropriate material" would mean in this case.<div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Cheers,</span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16px"> </span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);font-size:12pt">Sam<span> Castree, III</span></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);font-size:12pt"><br></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:medium"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);font-size:12pt"><span><i>Sam Castree Law, LLC</i></span></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0)"><span><span style="font-size:12pt"><i>3421 W. Elm St.</i></span></span></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0)"><span><span style="font-size:12pt"><i>McHenry, IL 60050</i></span></span></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0)"><span><span style="font-size:12pt"><i>(815) 344-6300</i></span></span></span></font></div></div></div></div></span><br></span></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 12:11\u202fPM Tim Ackermann via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> 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 dir="ltr"><div>Oh boy. These three are going to be 'fun' w/r/t the *per class* $100 insufficient information fee. </div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div>\u2022 If the mark includes color, a statement naming the color(s) and describing
where the color(s) appears on the mark, and a claim that the color(s) is a
feature of the mark; </div><div>\u2022 If the mark is not in standard characters, a description of the mark; </div><div>\u2022 If the mark includes non-English wording, an English translation of that
wording; </div></blockquote><div> The Office appears to be taking the position that getting the color statement or description of the mark "wrong" -- per the Examining Attorney's subjective opinion -- subjects Applicant to the $100 <u>per-class</u> fee. The asserted 'remedy' is that Applicant can complain that the Office is not being consistent. Which, of course, is not actually the problem at hand. The non-standard text marks are, in general, different, and will have different descriptions. So consistency is not the issue -- it's imposing unpredictable fees based on a difference of opinion. [Comment 36 below.]</div><div> And the Office does take the position that Applicant must search for, and provide, any possible (if remote / random / irrelevant) non-English meaning. This applies even if it's a language that no one in the process has ever heard of. Failing that -- the $100/class fee applies. [Comment 40 below]</div><div> How many translations might there be? Who knows! Take the word 'casette' -- it translates from Italian as "little houses" -- which is the one you get if you tell Google Translate "detect language. Same for Catalan. But if you happen to know it's also a word in Spanish, it's "cassette" (same for many languages). Or maybe if you search Romanian, it's "tapes." Or in Breton & Dari, it's "box." </div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div> Comment 36: Commenters, including the SBA, expressed concern regarding the
difficulty of anticipating whether the insufficient information fee [e.g. $100/class] will apply for an
applicant, given that many of the requirements are subjective to the examining attorney\u2019s
opinions and discretion, rather than objective factual standards. Commenters included
color claim, description of a mark, identification of form of applicant, and translation of a
mark as examples of subjective determinations where a fee could be imposed later in
examination. Commenters suggested these questions will lead to accounting disputes,
thus inhibiting the quality and timeliness of prosecution progress. </div><div> Response: The USPTO acknowledges the commenters\u2019 concerns and offers assurance
that the agency strives to ensure consistent examination. An applicant may request that
the USPTO review situations where, in their opinion, the agency has acted inconsistently
in its treatment of their pending application(s) or recent registration(s). Applicants also
may submit a request for review when a substantive or procedural issue has been
addressed in a significantly different manner in different cases, subject to requirements
on the Consistency Initiative page on the USPTO website at
<a href="https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/trademark-updates-and-announcements/consistencyinitiative" target="_blank">https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/trademark-updates-and-announcements/consistencyinitiative</a>. If the applicant believes that the agency incorrectly imposed an insufficient
information fee and has discussed the issue with the examining attorney, they may also
contact the managing or senior attorney in the examining attorney\u2019s law office </div><div><br></div><div> Comment 40: One commenter suggested that the USPTO consider whether the
insufficient information fee is appropriate in instances where an applicant makes a good faith effort to supply required information, such as when they have no knowledge of a
term\u2019s non-English meaning.</div><div> Response: Requiring the fee is appropriate in the situation described in the comment
because § 2.32(a)(9) requires an applicant to research a mark that is comprised of or
includes non-English wording to determine whether there is a transliteration or
translation of the wording. If there is, and the applicant omits the translation or
transliteration, the examining attorney will issue an Office action requiring the
insufficient information surcharge and submission of the translation and/or transliteration,
as appropriate. If the initial application includes a translation or transliteration, the
surcharge will not apply for later amendment of the translation or transliteration. The
surcharge will apply if the translation or transliteration comprises or contains
inappropriate material. </div></blockquote><div><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small">Tim Ackermann</div><div style="font-size:small">The Ackermann Law Firm</div><p><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">E: <a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a></span><br><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">P: 817.305.0690</span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">F: 214.453.0810</span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">W: <a href="http://ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">ackermannlaw.com</a></span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100</span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"> Grapevine TX 76051</span></font></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 11:12\u202fAM Thilo C. Agthe via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> 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>
<div lang="EN-US">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Available here: <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-26644.pdf" target="_blank">
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-26644.pdf</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Enjoy! ;-)<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">WUERSCH
</span><span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">&</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> GERING</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)">Thilo C. Agthe, Partner</span><span lang="DE-CH" style="font-size:11pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)">Wuersch & Gering LLP | 100 Wall Street, 10th Fl. | New York, NY 10005
<br>
212-509-4714 (direct) | 212-509-5050 (firm) <br>
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| <a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.wg-law.com&c=E,1,CWoeRVQhtGs121LAVIh7zU1-dx3iVrghVXYSNSKabu2gys3XF-T4ZebqmeopXQ1xZCNj4u5_DxhXvfueoeFMVmprC0L4rGxGcSgyirWqdfa_AwkM&typo=1&ancr_add=1" target="_blank">
<span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">www.wg-law.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:navy"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">
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</span><span lang="DE" style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:gray">Thank you.</span><span lang="DE-CH"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(38,38,38)"> </span><span lang="DE-CH"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)">Diese Nachricht und etwaige Anhänge enthalten vertrauliche Informationen und Daten, die Gegenstand des Anwaltsgeheimnisses sein
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</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)">Danke.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green">P</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:navy">
</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:green">Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail!</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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