<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Arrow;
        panose-1:0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:purple;
        text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
        {mso-style-type:personal;
        font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
        color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
        {mso-style-type:personal;
        font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
        color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle19
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
        color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear Trademark Clearinghouse IAG,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The issue has been raised whether certain pictorial, design, or logo marks should be listed in the Clearinghouse with respect to their word elements.&nbsp; I am of the opinion that to the extent that such pictorial marks contain terms in ASCII or Latin format (that do not have pictorial qualities such as Chinese) that these terms should not garner protection in the Clearinghouse.&nbsp; As trademark practitioners know, it is easier to obtain registration in many jurisdictions for terms that would otherwise not be registrable due to their generic or descriptive qualities if they are combined with a distinctive design.&nbsp; Accordingly, providing blanket protection for all terms that are included in pictorial marks would provide for over-inclusive protection of many terms.&nbsp; I also believe that having the TMCH attempt to sort out which pictorial marks contain terms that are distinctive or non-distinctive is beyond the mandate of the TMCH.&nbsp; Therefore, the TMCH should not accept pictorial marks with terms in ASCII or Latin format.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thank you,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Brian</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>Brian J. Winterfeldt, Esq.</span></u></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow;color:#3399FF'>Steptoe &amp; Johnson LLP</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>Washington, DC 20036</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>TEL 202.429.6260</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>|</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>FAX 202.261.7547</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'> <br><a href="mailto:bwinterfeldt@steptoe.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#3399FF'>bwinterfeldt@steptoe.com</span></a> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>&nbsp;</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>The information contained in this e-mail may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited. If you think that you have received this e-mail message in error, please e-mail the sender at &#8220;</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arrow'><a href="mailto:bwinterfeldt@steptoe.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#3399FF'>bwinterfeldt@steptoe.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arrow'>.&#8221; Thank you.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p></div></body></html>