USPTO also cited a number of examples from internet on a range of products marketed with term ‘mini’ attached to their names in some fashion. It means that the term ‘mini’ only signifies the small size of the handset when compared with its larger counterparts, and hence holds no uniqueness.  

Apple had submitted the iPad mini trademark application with images from its product webpages, which is a common practice from the company. However, USPTO, in its refusal letter said that the web catalog or web page specimen is not acceptable to show trademark use since the images of the goods does not provide sufficient information.

Apple Inc can still amend its application for a trademark, provided it can prove that "a portion of the mark has acquired distinctiveness." Apple is given time until July 24 to better explain how "iPad mini" is sufficiently different from the larger-sized iPad to merit its own trademark.

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