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TTAB Finds "ROC USA" to be Primarily Geographically Descriptive but Registrable Under Section 2(f)

In a real snoozer, the Board reversed two refusals to register the mark ROC USA in standard character form [USA disclaimed], finding it primarily geographically descriptive of Applicant's various services relating to resident-owned communities, but further finding the mark registrable in light of Applicant's evidence of acquired distinctiveness under Section 2(f). In re Roc USA, LLC , Serial No. 77044525 (December 10, 2010) [not precedential].There was no serious dispute that USA is geographically descriptive of the services. The Board "dismissed out of hand" Applicant's unsupported argument that USA is "too broad to convey an association between the services and the place named."As to the meaning of ROC, the Examining Attorney relied on acronym listings and website pages wherein ROC is used as shorthand for "resident-owned communities...continue to full post

Full post as published by The TTABlog on December 15, 2010 (boomark / email).