TTABlog Quarterly Index: July - September 2009

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Eastham, MA
Section 2(a) - suggesting a false association:

• Precedential No. 27: U.S. CUSTOMS Logo Barred by Sections 2(a) and 2(b)

Section 2(b) - US Flag, Coat of Arms, or Insignia:

• Precedential No. 27: U.S. CUSTOMS Logo Barred by Sections 2(a) and 2(b)

Section 2(d) - likelihood of confusion:

• WYHA? TTAB Finds "LUCA'S CHOPHOUSE" Confusingly Similar to "LUCA PIZZA"
• Finding "COTT" and "COtea" For Soft Drinks Too Different, TTAB Dismisses 2(d) Opposition
• Finds Autos and Tires Not Closely Related, TTAB Reverses 2(d) Refusal of "ECHELON"
• Finding Wine and Beer Related, TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal of "BEAR REPUBLIC" over "BEAR REPUBLIC RICARDO'S RED ROCKET ALE & Design"
• Precedential No. 36: "MTOWN CLOTHING" and "MOTOWN" Confusingly Similar for Clothing, Croons TTAB
• "NO FRIGGIN CLUE" Confusingly Similar to "CLUE" for Video Games, Says TTAB
• Finding Clothing and Jewelry Related, TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal of "TIANA"
• WYHA? TTAB Finds "WOW PRINTABLE COUPONS" Confusingly Similar to "WOW! MARKETING"
• Re-Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Can You Handle Another Nut Case?
• TTAB Reverses "ANDIAMO" 2(d) Refusal: Insufficient Proof that Wine and Restaurant Services are Related
• Precedential No. 34: Applicant's Cancelled Registration for Identical Mark No Help, TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal of "DAVEY" for Water Pumps
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability with this Section 2(d) Nut Case
• Precedential No. 33: TTAB Designates Section 2(d) Alligator Decision as Precedential
• Precedential No. 31: In an Accelerated Decision, TTAB Sustains Schick Opposition to "SLICK ULTRA PLUS" for Disposable Razors
• Test Your TTAB "Eyeball"-Ability on Two Eagle Design Marks for Clothing
• Prepositional Difference in Marks Not Enough to Avoid 2(d) Refusal, Says TTAB
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability
• TTAB Says No and No to "NAP OF THE CARIBBEAN" Double Entendre Argument
• TTAB Dismisses 2(d) Opposition: Marks Similar but Goods and Services, Trade Channels, and Purchasers Too Different

Section 2(e)(1) - mere descriptiveness:

• TTAB Finds "E-LEX" Merely Descriptive of Litigation Support Services
• "MEDITERRANEAN MELT" Not Merely Descriptive of Sandwiches, Says TTAB
• Precedential No. 38: Expert Testimony Alone Not Sufficient to Prove Mere Descriptiveness of "BEER 1" Marks
• WYHA? "INVENTION REGISTRY" Merely Descriptive of Invention Document Storage, Says TTAB
• WYHA or not WYHA? "CHROMALOY" Merely Descriptive of Surgical Implants, Says TTAB
• TTAB Tosses Out Bankrupt Opposition to "SECRETS OF THE MILLIONAIRE MIND"
• TTAB Finds "BRAIN GAMES" Merely Descriptive of Puzzle Books, Lacking in Acquired Distinctiveness
• WYHA? TTAB Affirms Mere Descriptiveness Refusal of "LOCAL LABEL" for Clothing
• "SKINNY CEREAL" Merely Descriptive of Cereal Products, Says TTAB
• WYHA? TTAB Finds "Dirt Drifters" Merely Descriptive of -- Guess What?
• WYHA? "STEAM N' MASH" Merely Descriptive of Processed Potatoes, Says TTAB
• TTAB Says No and No to "NAP OF THE CARIBBEAN" Double Entendre Argument
• WYHA? TTAB Affirms 2(e)(1) Mere Descriptiveness Refusal of "SENSOR DOME" for Kitchen Cooktops
• Precedential No. 26: TTAB Affirms Descriptiveness Refusal of "BATTLECAM" for Computer Game Software

Section 2(e)(2) - primarily geographically descriptive:

• Finding Double Entendre, TTAB Reverses 2(e)(2) Refusal of "PROFUMO DE FIRENZE" for Perfume

Section 2(e)(4) - primarily merely a surname:

• TTAB Reverses Surname Refusal of "SIGMANN" for Kitchen Fixtures
• Another WYHA? TTAB Affirms 2(e)(4) Surname Refusal of "MERIWETHER" for Cabinetry

Section 2(e)(5) - Functionality:

• TTAB Affirms Section 2(e)(5) Functionality Refusal of Bird Feeder Design
• Precedential No. 28: TTAB Affirms 2(e)(5) Functionality Refusal of Bicycle Spoke Design

Section 2(f) - Acquired Distinctiveness:

• Finding Proof of Acquired Distinctiveness Insufficient, TTAB Affirms Refusal to Register the Color Maroon for Steel Anchors
• TTAB Finds "BRAIN GAMES" Merely Descriptive of Puzzle Books, Lacking in Acquired Distinctiveness

Bona Fide Intent:

• On Summary Judgment, TTAB Finds "SUPER HERO" Applicant Lacked Bona Fide Intent

Concurrent Use:

• Canadian Concurrent Use Applicant Gets USA Minus MN, Says TTAB
• TTAB Accepts "BIG BOY" Restaurants Concurrent Use Agreement

Drawing Requirement:

• Precedential No. 28: TTAB Affirms 2(e)(5) Functionality Refusal of Bicycle Spoke Design

Failure to Function/Non-distinctiveness:

• WYHA? TTAB Affirms Failure-to-Function Refusal of "STRENGTH IN DATA" for Brochures
• Antler Trade Dress Fails to Function as a Trademark for Ammunition, Says TTAB
• TTAB Affirms Failure-to-Function Refusal of Folded Brochure as Service Mark

Fraud:

• TTAB Requires Amendment of Fraud Counterclaim in Light of Bose
• Some Additional Commentary on Bose
• CAFC Reverses TTAB's Bose Fraud Ruling, Eviscerates Medinol
• Fraud! TTAB Enters Judgment on the Pleadings Against Applicant Who Admitted Non-Use of Its Mark

Procedural issues:

• TTAB Requires Amendment of Fraud Counterclaim in Light of Bose
• Motion to Strike Bogus Affirmative Defenses: Worth the Effort?
• Precedential No. 37: Board Grants Motion to Introduce at Trial, Discovery Deposition of Nonparty Taiwanese Witness
• Precedential No. 32: TTAB Okays Service of Opposition by Mail to Applicant's Address, Not the Correspondence Address of Record
• Precedential No. 29: TTAB Strikes Testimony of Witness Not Identified in Pre-Trial Disclosure
• TTAB Grants Request for Reconsideration; Hell Freezes Over; Cubs Win World Series
• Fraud! TTAB Enters Judgment on the Pleadings Against Applicant Who Admitted Non-Use of Its Mark

Recitation of Services:

• Precedential No. 30: TTAB Okays Warranty Services for Applicant's Goods Sold Under Third-Party Marks

Rule 2.61(b) Request for Information:

• WYHA? TTAB Finds "Dirt Drifters" Merely Descriptive of -- Guess What?

Single Artistic Work:

• TTAB Tosses Out Bankrupt Opposition to "SECRETS OF THE MILLIONAIRE MIND"

Specimen of Use/Mutilation::

• Precedential No. 35: Finding Mutilation, TTAB Affirms Refusal of Applicant's Two Bottle Mark
• TTAB Affirms Refusal: Applicant Failed to Comply with Rule 2.61(b) Requirement for Additional Specimens
• TTAB Okays Web Page Specimen for Sausage Links

Standing:

• TTAB Tosses Out Bankrupt Opposition to "SECRETS OF THE MILLIONAIRE MIND"

Courts of Appeal:

• CAFC Reverses TTAB's Bose Fraud Ruling, Eviscerates Medinol
• CAFC Affirms TTAB's Genericness Refusal of "HOTELS.COM"
• CAFC Rules on Whether "SEED TO PLATE" Design Marks are Confusingly Similar
• CAFC Affirms TTAB's Shinnecock Smoke Shop Section 2(a) Ruling

Recommended Reading:

• Recommended Reading: David S. Welkowitz on "Famous Marks Under the TDRA"
• Recommended Reading: Joe Dreitler on "Why the TTAB Got It Right in Medinol

Other:

• ABA Webinar Sept. 30: "Trademark Fraud on the USPTO - A New Landscape"
• Follow Your TTAB Cases on TTAB Across The Board
• TTAB Posts September 2009 Hearing Schedule
• TTAB Posts August 2009 Hearing Schedule
• D. Mass Judge Considers Scope of Design Patent Markman Hearing Post-Egyptian Goddess
• TTAB Posts July 2009 Hearing Schedule

Text and photos ©John L. Welch 2009.