Tuesday, September 26, 2017

SUPER WOMAN OF REAL ESTATE Dilutes SUPERMAN, Says TTAB

In a rare decision based solely on dilution, the Board sustained an opposition to registration of SUPER WOMAN OF REAL ESTATE, in standard character form, for "real estate procurement for others" [REAL ESTATE disclaimed], finding the applied-for mark likely to dilute by blurring the famous marks SUPERMAN, SUPERWOMAN, and Superman's blue bodysuit with the letter “S” inside a five-sided shield on the chest and a red cape. DC Comics v. Deanna Rivetti, Opposition No. 91219851 (August 17, 2017) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Marc A. Bergsman).


To prevail on a claim of dilution by blurring, a plaintiff must establish that (1) it owns a famous mark that is distinctive; (2) the defendant is using a mark in commerce that allegedly dilutes the plaintiff's famous mark; (3) the defendant's use of its mark began after the plaintiff's mark became famous; and (4) the defendant's use of its mark is likely to cause dilution by blurring.

Applicant Rivetti admitted that Opposer DC Comics' marks are famous, and became famous prior to any date upon which she could rely for her first use date. This satisfied the first and third elements listed above. DC Comics satisfied the second element because Rivetti filed under Section 1(a) and stated that she is using her applied-for mark.

As to the fourth element, whether Applicant's mark is likely to dilute Opposer's marks, the Board observed that "dilution by blurring occurs when a substantial percentage of consumers, on seeing the junior party's use of a mark in connection with her services, are immediately reminded of the famous mark and associate the junior party's use with the owner of the famous mark, even if they do not believe that the services emanate from the famous mark’s owner."

Section 43(c)(B)(i)-(vi) of the Trademark Act sets forth six non-exhaustive factors that a tribunal may consider in determining whether a mark is likely to cause dilution by blurring:

(i) The degree of similarity between the mark or trade name and the famous mark;
(ii) The degree of inherent or acquired distinctiveness of the famous mark;
(iii) The extent to which the owner of the famous mark is engaging in substantially exclusive use of the mark;
(iv) The degree of recognition of the famous mark;
(v) Whether the user of the mark or trade name intended to create an association with the famous mark; and
(vi) Any actual association between the mark or trade name and the famous mark.


As to the first element, based on the manner in which Applicant Rivetti used her mark, the Board found that the overall similarity of the marks is "immediately apparent." Although the Board does not ordinarily look at an applicant's trade dress when considering a word mark, the trade dress may provide evidence as to the commercial impression engendered by the mark.

We find that Applicant’s mark is sufficiently similar to Opposer’s marks to "trigger consumers to conjure up” Opposer’s famous marks. That is, consumers encountering Applicant’s mark will immediately be reminded of Opposer’s famous SUPERMAN mark and the appearance of Superman in his blue bodysuit with the letter “S” inside a five-sided shield on the chest and a red cape and associate them.

As to the second element, the Board found that DC Comics’ marks are inherently distinctive. Furthermore, Rivetti admitted that Opposer’s marks famous, "which necessarily subsumes a finding that the marks have acquired distinctiveness."

As to the third element, there was no evidence of third party use of a word mark similar to SUPERMAN or of the appearance of Superman.

As to the fourth element, there was no dispute that the mark SUPERMAN and Superman's appearance are widely recognized.

As to the fifth element, "[c]onsidering applicant's use of blue bodysuit with the letters 'SW' inside a five-sided shield on the chest and a red cape, which are extremely similar to the SUPERMAN indicia, the only possible conclusion that we can reach is that Applicant intended to create an association with Opposer’s SUPERMAN character and marks."

Finally, as to the sixth element, Rivetti stated that"'[s]everal times a month since July 2011 ... clients, other agents, brokers, and prospective clients' have 'referred directly or indirectly to Opposer, Opposer’s Superman, Supergirl or Super Woman characters, or Opposer’s Marks in connection with Applicant’s Mark.'" Thus, the Board found, there has been actual association between applicant's mark and opposer's marks.

Conclusion: The Board concluded that DC Comics is entitled to judgment on its claim of dilution by blurring. The Board then decided that it did not reach opposer's likelihood of confusion claim.

Read comments and post your comment here.

TTABlog comment: Was the likelihood of confusion claim likely a loser? DC The SUPERMAN marks may be famous for movies, comic strips, action figures and the like, but what's the connection with real estate services?

Text Copyright John L. Welch 2017.

3 Comments:

At 11:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Able to sell tall building with a single bound..."

 
At 12:40 AM, Anonymous Bob Frank said...

I wonder if the decision would have been different had she not used the design on her clothing but just left it as a stand-alone design that looks like a house.

 
At 2:00 PM, Anonymous Jimmy Olsen said...

An easy win for Opposer, in spite of its Super Brief wh9ch exceeded the Board's page limits.

 

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