Source: http://stepstoatrademark.com/contentproviders.html
Timestamp: 2018-01-17 19:35:47
Document Index: 704448828

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1402', '§ 1402', '§1051', '§2', '§1403', '§ 1301', '§ 1402']

﻿ Content Providers
Brief Guide from the TMEP (Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure) on
How to Pick a Proper Identification of Goods and Services
(if you are a Content Provider) and How to Select A Specimen
(Are you a Content Provider?)
TMEP 1402.11(a)(ii) Content Providers
The service of providing information via the Internet is classified in the class of the information subject. Entities that provide these services by computer are considered to be "content providers," that is, they provide the informational or substantive content of a website and/or home page. If an entity provides information in a wide variety of fields, the applicant must select the subject matter to be protected and classify the services accordingly (e.g., business information in Class 35, banking information in Class 36, home repair information in Class 37). See TMEP §1402.11(b) regarding information services.
"Providing a website featuring information in the field of banking, in Class 36." This is purely an information provision service and should be treated accordingly. The website is the means and not itself a classifiable service.
Businesses and individuals commonly provide content services in addition to other types of services. For example, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often provide online content as well as Class 38 internet access services. For information about identifying telecommunications services provided by ISPs, see TMEP § 1402.11(a)(iii). Online audiovisual content providers may similarly offer both video-streaming services in Class 38 and online non-downloadable videos in Class 41. Content providers also may provide a variety of technological services, such as website hosting, in Class 42. Each service on or in connection with which the applicant uses, or has a bona fide intention to use, the mark in commerce should be set forth in the application. 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a)(2) and 1051(b)(2); 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6). For multiple-class application requirements, see TMEP §1403.01.
TMEP 1301.04(h)(iv)(C) Webpages
Webpages from an applicant’s or a third-party’s website are routinely submitted as advertising and are acceptable if they show the mark used as a service mark, explicitly/textually reference the identified services, and associate the mark with those services.
Webpages lacking a reference to the services may be acceptable if they show use of the mark in rendering the services. See TMEP § 1301.04(i), Example 14 (OUTERNAUTS).
Webpages from social-networking websites should be scrutinized to ensure that the mark is properly associated with the identified services. Some applicants may mistakenly mischaracterize their services as "social networking" because they assume that advertising or promoting their non-social-networking services via a social-networking website means they are providing social-networking services. For instance, an applicant may mistakenly file an application for "online social-networking services" and provide a Facebook® webpage as a specimen when, in fact, they operate a pet store and are only using the Facebook® website to advertise the pet store and communicate information to and messages with actual and potential customers. Such a specimen is not acceptable for the social-networking services since it does not demonstrate that the applicant is providing these services. (Emphasis added)
TMEP 1402.11(a)(iii) Provision of Telecommunications Connections to the Internet
Telecommunication connections, such as those provided by AT&T® and Verizon®, are the wired, or wireless, electronic means by which one telecommunications-enabled device, such as a telephone, smartphone, or computer, communicates with another telecommunications-enabled device. The Class 38 activities of a telecommunications connection provider do NOT include providing the computer hardware or software that enables the electronic transmission of the data. These telecommunications services connect the user’s device to the internet via wired or wireless means.
Just because an applicant is conducting an internet-based activity or rendering a service that involves electronic transmission of data, the applicant’s service is not automatically considered a telecommunications service in Class 38. For example, an applicant who merely provides a website featuring sports information is not providing "electronic transmission of messages and data in the field of sports," in Class 38. The telecommunications services providers, such as AT&T® and Verizon®, are providing the Internet connections for the actual transmissions; the applicant is merely making the information available.
"Online bulletin boards" and "chat rooms" are classified in Class 38 regardless of the content or subject matter. The rationale for this stems from the fact that these services allow individuals to communicate with each other, like other Class 38 services.
"Providing multiple-user access to the Internet," is classified in Class 38. Note: This identification covers those services provided by Internet Service Providers ("ISPs"), such as Cox®, AOL®, Comcast®, Verizon®, and AT&T®. ISPs provide the computer connection (often using the Class 38 telecommunications services of other entities) that enables a computer user to access the databases and websites of others via the Internet. These entities are considered "access providers" in that they provide the computer connection needed for a computer user to access a content provider. The word "access" should be limited to these services and should not be used in describing the services of a content provider.
"Providing telecommunications connections to the Internet or databases, in Class 38."
"Transmission of electronic mail, in International Class 38."
"Broadcasting of video and audio programs over the Internet, in Class 38."
"Webcasting services, in Class 38."
"Web conferencing services, in Class 38."
"Providing online chat rooms for transmission of messages among computer users concerning topics of interest to teens in Class 38."
"Providing multiple-user access to the Internet in Class 38." Many ISPs have expanded their services to encompass content-based services for their subscribers. The "providing multiple-user access" identification only covers the ISP services. If the applicant wishes to protect its "content-based" services, it must identify those services with specificity and pay any additional fees, as appropriate. For information on identifying and classifying content-provider services, see TMEP § 1402.11(a)(ii).
SPECIMENS: Webpages
TMEP 1301.04(h)(iii) Specimens for Technology-Related Services
Proper specimen analysis requires consideration of the nature of the identified services. Modern computer and technology-related services present special challenges because these services, and the terminology used to describe them, are continually evolving. In addition, any online activity entails the use of computer software, making it difficult to differentiate the various services provided online from the underlying technology used to provide them. As the Board has noted, "[a]lthough it may well be software that is generating the [services], in today's commercial context if a customer goes to a company's website and accesses the company's software to conduct some type of business, the company may be rendering a service, even though the service utilizes software." In re Ancor Holdings, LLC, 79 USPQ2d 1218, 1221 (TTAB 2006) .
TMEP 1301.04(i) Examples of Acceptable Service-Mark Specimens
Cloudlab webpage advertising computer services.
[Screenshot of Parse webpage displaying fill-in fields for signing up for Parse software goods.]
[Screenshot of Parse webpage advertising computer services.]
[Screenshot of Montagable webpage advertising computer services.]
[Screenshots of StaffTap home screen and sign-in screen with fill-in fields for logging in, and schedule screen showing schedule for Friday and Saturday. The right-hand side shows a screenshot of StaffTap showing a date and time grid for scheduling tasks and menu options for utilizing the staff management funcitons of the software services.]
[Screenshot of AthenaCoordinator webpage advertising physician order support, medical practice management, and computer services.]
[Screenshot of Myfitage webpage showing sign-in screen with fill-in fields for logging into and accessing the computer software services.]
[Screenshot of ClincAnywhere advertisement for medical billing and computer software services.
[ClinicAnywhere Mark Image]
[Screenshot of Ticket Central webpage showing the applicant's mark Insite Ticketing for application service provicer services.]
[Screenshot of GovHub webpage showing pictures of government officials and a fill-in field for leaving feedback.]
[Screenshot of GovHub webpage showing sign-in fields for logging in and accessing on-line forum services.]
[Screenshot of Hometown Sounds webpage showing a schedule of music programs and a link for streaming music.]
[Screenshot of HooplaHa webpage diplaying a play button for playing a video about hurricane healing, and showing latest videos on other topics that are available for viewing.]
[HooplaHa with bird mark image]
[Screenshot of Cinemax webpage advertising various television programs.]
[Screenshot of the title screen of a television program about cooking.]
[Screenshot of Facebook webpage displaying the applicant's mark Outernauts on the launch screen of a video game.]
[Screenshot of iTunes webpage displaying two screenshots of an iPhone, one being the home screen of a computer application and the other being a street map showing available parking spots for the on-line matching services.]
[Above: Screenshot of Vtech Direct webpage containing sign-in fields for logging in and accessing the online business-to-business store services. ]
[Below: Screenshot of Vtech Direct webpage advertising the online business-to-business store services.]
[Left: Screenshot of McGowan Group webpage showing applicant's mark CashFlow Units for financial sevices offered by McGowan Group Asset Management company. Right: Screenshot of McGowanGroup webpage displaying applicant's mark CashFlow Units immediately above links to two documents, one for MGAM Wrap Program Assets Discretionary Advisory Agreement and the other for MGAM RIA Disclosure. ]
[Screenshot of Ride411 webpage displaying search options for obtaining inforamtion about providers of car parts and car services.]
[Screenshot of an Apple electronic device displaying specific social networking activity with people and on topics the user follows.]
(stylized speech bubbles)
[Stylized Speech Bubble mark image]