TTABlog Quarterly Index: July - September 2012

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Section 2(a) - Deceptiveness:

• Precedential No. 25: TTAB Finds "α CU" (Alpha CU) Deceptive for Copper-less Dietary Supplements

Section 2(a) - False Association:

• TTAB Sustains Section 2(a) False Association Opposition to "FRANKS ANATRA" for Catering Services
• Ron Coleman Comments on the TTAB''s "BENNY GOODMAN" False Association Decision
• Precedential No. 23: TTAB Affirms 2(a) False Connection Refusal of BENNY GOODMAN COLLECTION

Section 2(d) - Likelihood of Confusion:

• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Are "ADMIRAL RODNEY" and "ADMIRAL NELSON'S" Confusingly Similar for Rum?
• TTAB Reverses 2(d) Refusal of "PERFUME PARIS & Design" Over "PARIS PERFUMES & Design"
• TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal:"THE HURRICANE CLUB" Confusable With "HURRICANE GRILL & WINGS"
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Are These Automobile Design Marks Confusingly Similar?
• TTAB Dismisses VIRGIN Opposition to VIRGIN FARMS for Agricultural Seeds
• COLONY Confusingly Similar to COLONY MEMBER ARGO GROUP & DESIGN, Says TTAB, Affirmingly
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability on these Five Section 2(d) Appeals
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Are Wine and Sauces Related Goods?
• E. D. Va. District Court Affirms TTAB Dismissal of SWATCH Opposition versus SWAP
• TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal: "MY BIG FAT GREEK WINE" Confusingly Similar to "MY BIG FAT GREEK RESTAURANT"
• TTAB Affirms Two of Three PHILADELPHIA'S CHEESESTEAK Refusals to Register
• TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal of "MaxCL" for Life Insurance, Finds Confusing Similarity to "MAX" for Property/Casualty Insurance
• "VALENTINO RUDY" Confusingly Similar to "VALENTINO" for Clothing, Says TTAB
• Despite Sophisticated Purchasers, TTAB Finds PREVAIL Confusingly Similar to PEEK PREVAIL for Medical Implants
• Finding CORVUS and CORVO Confusingly Similar for Wine, TTAB Sustains 2(d) Opposition
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Which One of these Section 2(d) Refusals Was Reversed?
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability on these Five Section 2(d) Appeals
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability on this Appeal from a Section 2(d) Refusal
• CAFC Affirms TTAB Ruling that WAGGIN' STRIPS and BEGGIN' STRIPS Are Confusingly Similar for Pet Treats
• TTAB Reverses 2(d) and 2(e)(1) Refusals of "ATTORNEYPAGES" for Online Legal Directory
WYHA? TTAB Finds AMERICA'S FAVORITE Confusingly Similar for Mustard and Ketchup

Section 2(e)(1) - Mere Descriptiveness:

• TTABlogger Article: "The Top Ten TTAB Decisions of 2011-2012" Plus 40% Discount on The IP Book
• TTAB Affirms Disclaimer Requirement of "PLANTABLE PACKAGING" for Seed-Infused Packaging Material
• Precedential No. 31: TTAB Affirms Mere Descriptiveness Refusal of "CENTER OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY"
• Precedential No. 30: Denying Cancellation, TTAB Finds CMS Neither Generic Nor Merely Descriptive for Wine
• "N3D" Not Merely Descriptive of Broadcasting Services, Says TTAB
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability on these Five Mere Descriptiveness Refusals
• Precedential No. 29: TTAB Affirms 2(e)(1) and Failure-to-Function Refusals of SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT MATRIX for Light Curing Systems
• Precedential No. 28: TTAB Finds Stylization of "SADORU" Not Enough to Overcome Mere Descriptiveness Refusal for Motorcycle Seats
• "OpenCL" Not Merely Descriptive of API Component of Operating Software, Says TTAB
• TTAB Finds BAGEL THINS Merely Descriptive of Baked Goods, But Not Generic
• "THE BEST LITTLE ART WALK IN TOWN" Not Merely Descriptive of Art Exhibitions, Says TTAB
• CAFC Reverses TTAB, Finds Two "SNAP' Marks Merely Descriptive of Syringes
• Precedential No. 26: Chastizing PTO, TTAB Reverses Disclaimer Requirement of ARCADEWEB For Internet Marketing Services
• TTAB Affirms Disclaimer Requirement of WET TECHNOLOGIES in Design Mark for Wet Blasting Machines
• "METRO LIVING & Design" Not Descriptive of Real Estate Brokerage Services, Says TTAB
• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Which One of these Mere Descriptiveness Refusals Was Reversed?

Section 2(e)(2) - Primarily Geographically Descriptive:

• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Is "MDF IT & Design" Primarily Geographically Descriptive of Furniture?
• "METRO LIVING & Design" Not Descriptive of Real Estate Brokerage Services, Says TTAB

Section 2(e)(3) - Primarily Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive

• Precedential No. 24: TTAB Affirms Refusal of REAL RUSSIAN as Primarily Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive of Vodka
• TTAB Amends GUANTANAMERA Decision to Remove Derogatory Statements

Section 2(e)(4) - Primarily Merely A Surname::

• Test Your TTAB Judge-Ability: Is "CARDANO" Primarily Merely a Surname?

Section 2(e)(5) - Functionality:

• TTAB Affirms Functionality Refusal of Plastic Suction Cup Configuration

Section 2(f) - Acquired Distinctiveness:

• TTAB Finds BAGEL THINS Merely Descriptive of Baked Goods, But Not Generic

Failure to Function:

• TTAB Reverses Failure-to-Function Refusal of MONTICELLO for House Paint
• TTAB Reverses Refusal to Register Hershey Bar Product Configuration

Genericness:

• Precedential No. 30: Denying Cancellation, TTAB Finds CMS Neither Generic Nor Merely Descriptive for Wine
• TTAB Finds "FRIDGE BINZ!" Generic for ... Guess What?
• TTAB Finds BAGEL THINS Merely Descriptive of Baked Goods, But Not Generic
• TTAB Affirms Genericness Refusal of "BABY GUIDE" for ... Guess What?
• TTAB Affirms Genericness Refusal of ADMEDIA for ... Guess What?

Non-use:

• TTAB Cancels LITTLE RED HEN BAKERY Registration: No Proof of Pre-Filing Use in Interstate Commerce
• CAFC Affirms TTAB Cancellation of "LENS" Registration: Mark Not Used for Software

Specimen of use/Material alteration:

• Precedential No. 27: Adding a Question Mark to GOT STRAPS Materially Alters the Mark, Says TTAB

CAFC Decisions:

• CAFC Reverses TTAB, Finds Two "SNAP' Marks Merely Descriptive of Syringes
• CAFC Affirms TTAB Cancellation of "LENS" Registration: Mark Not Used for Software
• CAFC Affirms TTAB Ruling that WAGGIN' STRIPS and BEGGIN' STRIPS Are Confusingly Similar for Pet Treats

Recommended Reading:

• Recommended Reading: Elizabeth W. King, "The Trademark Functionality Doctrine"
• TTABlogger Article: "The Top Ten TTAB Decisions of 2011-2012" Plus 40% Discount on The IP Book
• Inter Partes Proceedings at the TTAB: Advanced Practice Tips

Other:

• Another TTABlog Reader Found!
• Fraud at the TTAB: Is "Willful Blindness" Enough?
• USPTO Extends Deadlines for Comments on Two Proposed Changes, Finalizes "Universal Symbols" Examination Guide
• New Online Version of TMEP (8th Ed.) Now Available
• TTAB Posts September 2012 Hearing Schedule
• TTABlog Job Posting: Boutique IP Firm Seeks TM Associate With Litigation and TTAB Experience
• TTABlog Job Posting: Boutique IP Firm Seeks TM Associate With Litigation and TTAB Experience
• TTAB Comes to New Hampshire: September 20th at UNH School of Law
• USPTO Seeks Comments on Raising Fees to Incentivize Electronic TM Filings
• USPTO Requests Comments on Proposal to Require Earlier Filing of First Section 8 Declaration
• TTAB Posts August 2012 Hearing Schedule
• All Ohio Annual Institute on Intellectual Property: Sept. 20 and 21st
• TBMP Third Edition, 1st Revision, Now Available
• Erik Pelton's Summary of July 13th TPAC Public Meeting
• ABA Publishes Second Edition of TTAB Practice Guide
• TTAB Posts July 2012 Hearing Schedule

Text Copyright John L. Welch 2012.