DGB LLC
On-line social networking services
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action Response
Outgoing Trademark Office Action
Trademark Office Action Response
Date: February 20,2010
To: United States Patent and Trademark Office
From: Dan Bell
Subj: Response Office Action: DGB LLC Dec 2009 Trademark Challenge: #77733631
To Whom It May Concern:
There are two matters which DGB LLC must address two the granting of a trademark:
Hampton Roads Informs Disclaimer
DGB does hereby agree and agree to and submit a disclaimer of “Hampton Roads” such
that it is not an exclusive term which can only be used in the context of Hampton Roads
Informs. The use of Hampton Roads in the context of Hampton Roads Informs only
specifies it is a regionally specific website intended to provide an informational and
discussion based social media (website) platform. DGB LLC acknowledges that the term
Hampton Roads is used in the context of many other regional businesses and resources as
well as new and future businesses and resources. DGB LLC claims no exclusive right to
the term Hampton Roads in anylall other contexts.
References to On-Line Social Networing
The Hampton Roads Informs website is intended to provide information as well as on-
line social networking on regional topics.
I’tI
I
t’,{ ‘-+r
-‘J^’
tl{
*
:r
Wtxrr,[DIA
lLt.. riv
/ lrrpili”t:,
I w.1 t’
The terms online and offline (also on-line and off-line) have specific meanings with
respect to computer technology and telccommi.rnicaii-ql. In general, “online” indicates a
state of ggn11eqLivily, while “offline” indicates a disconnected state. In common usage,
“online” often refers to the hrtcrnet or the Worid Wide Web.
The adjective “social” is also used often in pqiit!;al discourse, although its meaning in
such a context depends heavily on who is using it. Discourse defined as “written or
spoken communication
A social network is a social structurc. made of individuals (or orgarizations) called
“nodes,” which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of inlerdepgldgllgy,
such as fiieridship, kinship, financial exchange, dislike, sexupl rclationships, or
relationships of beliefs, knowledge or plelLigq.
Image 1 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to it’s On-line Social Networking
element pertaining to a variety of Regional Topics.
lnforms
Image 2 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to its OnJine Social Networking
element via its gateway to community discussions (on-line via web, social via political
discourse, networking via discouse/conversation):
.: i. – :: :::: ..i,:-l:i’ !l:_
lnforms
_-,-: _ _I:-: l:=
^-.
1W**;
Image 3 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to its On-line Social Networking
element via one of two portals into discussion forums for social topics. In this case, the
Urban Planet portal.
Fe! ,zi l,l. ::l:ir ie3,rE Lcqr
lnforms ‘.’..:1 ;-,gi:ii*—‘lEl
iidtorl3lTdn,i! ! Fiiura a3r.tr.i” ^r{-!,s.,
ttampto gods lr;ru o,*o* **
:afeanllireC .c.tEnt (:eE bel..,’)
lcn’t se tl’E tcpi. lcu -e lrte-e:ted ir di:tulsing, i l:ts:ijAj,-jt!!it:1_i!!!
S’qn :rl Re,l,siti
LJHHA.NPLA;IET
6tvrng ctttes avotte rtnce 2003
Image 3 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to its On-line Social Networking
element via one of two portals into discussion forums for social topics. In this case, the
National Issues portal.
Fe*af , :!, 2!ii Rq6iir
lnforms
l-!1qa
‘,’.+5 r’ s:e t ]p|
*J rnror* o*;;;. -l
“r*p,*
of regional and national topics
lcr’t :ee tl’e tcprt tcu re iiie_eEted in Cii:u!srnE. : :r ‘4 : :-1 i… _ : l _t it:, ‘
iflJorr! iir3Nt f0rurrts
{0f-ral!(ltor!
{)filiIr a{isr!::,o’r
*i ;-;i’ ?;a
,t
ef,
I do hereby certify that Hampton Roads Informs is used for online social networking and
was in use in commerce prior to the filing of the amendment to allege use.
Dan G. Bell representing DGB LLC
Date: February 20,2010
To: United States Patent and Trademark Office
From: Dan Bell
Subj: Response Office Action: DGB LLC Dec 2009 Trademark Challenge: #77733631
To Whom It May Concern:
There are two matters which DGB LLC must address two the granting of a trademark:
Hampton Roads Informs Disclaimer
DGB does hereby agree and agree to and submit a disclaimer of “Hampton Roads” such
that it is not an exclusive term which can only be used in the context of Hampton Roads
Informs. The use of Hampton Roads in the context of Hampton Roads Informs only
specifies it is a regionally specific website intended to provide an informational and
discussion based social media (website) platform. DGB LLC acknowledges that the term
Hampton Roads is used in the context of many other regional businesses and resources as
well as new and future businesses and resources. DGB LLC claims no exclusive right to
the term Hampton Roads in anylall other contexts.
References to On-Line Social Networing
The Hampton Roads Informs website is intended to provide information as well as on-
line social networking on regional topics.
I’tI
I
t’,{ ‘-+r
-‘J^’
tl{
*
:r
Wtxrr,[DIA
lLt.. riv
/ lrrpili”t:,
I w.1 t’
The terms online and offline (also on-line and off-line) have specific meanings with
respect to computer technology and telccommi.rnicaii-ql. In general, “online” indicates a
state of ggn11eqLivily, while “offline” indicates a disconnected state. In common usage,
“online” often refers to the hrtcrnet or the Worid Wide Web.
The adjective “social” is also used often in pqiit!;al discourse, although its meaning in
such a context depends heavily on who is using it. Discourse defined as “written or
spoken communication
A social network is a social structurc. made of individuals (or orgarizations) called
“nodes,” which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of inlerdepgldgllgy,
such as fiieridship, kinship, financial exchange, dislike, sexupl rclationships, or
relationships of beliefs, knowledge or plelLigq.
Image 1 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to it’s On-line Social Networking
element pertaining to a variety of Regional Topics.
lnforms
Image 2 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to its OnJine Social Networking
element via its gateway to community discussions (on-line via web, social via political
discourse, networking via discouse/conversation):
.: i. – :: :::: ..i,:-l:i’ !l:_
lnforms
_-,-: _ _I:-: l:=
^-.
1W**;
Image 3 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to its On-line Social Networking
element via one of two portals into discussion forums for social topics. In this case, the
Urban Planet portal.
Fe! ,zi l,l. ::l:ir ie3,rE Lcqr
lnforms ‘.’..:1 ;-,gi:ii*—‘lEl
iidtorl3lTdn,i! ! Fiiura a3r.tr.i” ^r{-!,s.,
ttampto gods lr;ru o,*o* **
:afeanllireC .c.tEnt (:eE bel..,’)
lcn’t se tl’E tcpi. lcu -e lrte-e:ted ir di:tulsing, i l:ts:ijAj,-jt!!it:1_i!!!
S’qn :rl Re,l,siti
LJHHA.NPLA;IET
6tvrng ctttes avotte rtnce 2003
Image 3 represents Hampton Roads Informs access to its On-line Social Networking
element via one of two portals into discussion forums for social topics. In this case, the
National Issues portal.
Fe*af , :!, 2!ii Rq6iir
lnforms
l-!1qa
‘,’.+5 r’ s:e t ]p|
*J rnror* o*;;;. -l
“r*p,*
of regional and national topics
lcr’t :ee tl’e tcprt tcu re iiie_eEted in Cii:u!srnE. : :r ‘4 : :-1 i… _ : l _t it:, ‘
iflJorr! iir3Nt f0rurrts
{0f-ral!(ltor!
{)filiIr a{isr!::,o’r
*i ;-;i’ ?;a
,t
ef,
I do hereby certify that Hampton Roads Informs is used for online social networking and
was in use in commerce prior to the filing of the amendment to allege use.
Dan G. Bell representing DGB LLC