Applicant claimed that its specimen of use (shown above) was “the first page of a 103 page pdf instruction manual for the User First platform.” The Board acknowledged that an instruction manual may be an appropriate specimen of use under Rule 2.56(b)(1).
The examining attorney, however, refused to accept the specimen because “the cover page is not clearly an instruction manual for downloadable software.” He contended that the text on the page creates ambiguity as to the nature of the specimen. “[T]he specimen appears to be training materials for a class or training program and not an instruction manual provided with the goods such that it functions as a part of the goods.” The Board agreed with the examining attorney.
We are not persuaded by Applicant’s contention that use of the wording “Certification Training Lab,” as opposed to “instruction manual” or “user manual,” does not substantially change the specimen’s purpose as a manual for the goods. While we accept that an instruction manual may be called different things, it is doubtful that materials associated with the terminology “Certification Training Lab” would be recognized by consumers as manuals containing instructions on how to create mobile internet applications or client interfaces using software development tools such as provided by Applicant. Moreover, the record is devoid of evidence showing that Applicant’s cover page specimen is from a manual provided contemporaneously with, and that functions as part of, the identified software goods.
Concluding that the specimen of use is “unlikely to be recognized as a cover to an instruction manual” for the identified goods, the Board deemed the specimen inadequate and it affirmed the refusal.
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TTABlog comment: During prosecution, applicant submitted two other specimens, but both were rejected. What can you say?
Text Copyright John L. Welch 2019.