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[James Lap]

Any idea how about, about [dot] com have become registered trademarks?

A) Is "about" a merely descriptive term that has acquired secondary meaning?

B) Can one take a merely descriptive term that has not acquired secondary meaning and simply add "dot com" thereby making it trademarkable?

[JSonnabend]

The "about.com" registrations are interesting.  A quick look didn't reveal any indication that any showing of secondary meaning was required (i.e., no rejections nor 2(f) bases).  Perhaps the answer lies in the G&S, which are described, at least in on application, as "search engines for obtaining data" services.

To  answer your second question, no, one cannot simply add a ".com" to an otherwise descriptive/generic mark and avoid such a rejection.  

- Jeff

[James Lap]

Jeff -

Much thanks for that.