[E-trademarks] Mark Significance?

[Carl Oppedahl]

So far as geography and foreign language are concerned, I feel pretty 
strongly that I cannot say categorically it has no foreign language 
equivalent or geographic meaning.  Seems to me you could string any 
twelve characters together it by chance it might turn out to be the name 
of an intermittent stream in Siberia, or it might turn out to mean 
something in some language that I do not know about.  Seems to me I 
would be lying to say that I actually know the answer to be "no".

So what I always say is "applicant is unaware of" any geographical or 
foreign language significance.

As to industry significance, I typically say "yes of course the wording 
such-and-so has /*enormous*/ significance in the relevant industry, 
namely as an indicator of the origin of the applicant's goods.  
Applicant is unaware of any other significance."  I often put "enormous" 
in bold and italics.

On 2/12/2025 1:42 PM, carla calcagno via E-trademarks wrote:
> If it is an unusual word and the Examiner can't find any meaning in 
> the numerous resources available to them, I have seen them issue this 
> inquiry just to ensure that they haven't missed anything. A simple 
> response that the term has no industry, geographical,or foreign 
> language significance in relation to the goods suffices.
>
> Regards
>
> Carla
>
> On Wed, Feb 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM Eran Kahana via E-trademarks 
> <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>
>     I received an office action with a “Mark Significance” requirement
>     asking for industry, geographical, and foreign language
>     significance. I am trying to determine what triggered it. An
>     application for a nearly identical name (for different goods)
>     sailed through without triggering it. The office action don’t cite
>     the TMEP for this and I wasn’t able to find TMEP instructions on
>     point. Does the examiner do any sort of research that causes this?
>
>     Thanks!
>
>     *Eran Kahana*
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