2021 TTAB Precedential Decisions

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Section 2(a) - Deceptiveness:

• Precedential No. 2: "BURNS NIGHT" Whiskey Opposition Survives Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss

Section 2(a) - False Suggestion of a Connection:

• Precedential No. 31: TTAB Affirms Section 2(a) Refusal of "NATO" for Tents, for Falsely Suggesting a Connection With ... Guess What?
• Precedential No. 1: TTAB Dismisses Olympic Committee's Section 2(a) False Connection Opposition to PIERRE DE COUBERTIN for Various Goods

Section 2(d) - Likelihood of Confusion:

• Precedential No. 35: TTAB Grants MIRAGE BRANDS Cancellation Petition Due To Likelihood of Reverse Confusion
• Precedential No. 13: TTAB Affirms Section 2(d) Refusal of NBA Star Joel Embiid's "TRUST THE PROCESS" For Shoes

Section 2(e)(1) - Deceptive Misdescriptiveness:

• Precedential Nos. 9 and 10: TTAB finds "CLEAR" Deceptively Misdescriptive of Non-Transparent Clothing and Handbags

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

• Precedential No. 30: TTAB Reverses Descriptiveness Refusal of TAVERNA COSTERA, Declining to Apply Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents

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

• Precedential No. 27: TTABlog Test: Is "REPUBLIC OF LONDON" Primarily Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive of Clothing? [No]

Section 2(e)(5) - Functionality

• Precedential No. 12: TTAB Grants Petition to Cancel Registration for Gun Barrel Trade Dress Due to Section 2(e)(5) Functionality

Section 2(f) - Acquired Distinctiveness

• Precedential No. 32: Color "Cream" for Guitar Pickups Lacks Acquired Distinctiveness, Says TTAB
• Precedential No. 16: WYHA? TTAB Affirms Mere Descriptiveness Refusal of ONLINETRADEMARKATTORNEYS.COM as Claim of Acquired Distinctiveness Fails

Abandonment/Nonuse:

• Precedential No. 29: TTAB Affirms Refusal of "DRINK MORE BEER" For Bottle Caps: Not Used as a Source Indicator
• Precedential No. 28: TTAB Sustains Opposition to "I AM THE MARS GENERATION" for Licensing Services on Ground of Nonuse
• Precedential No. 8: TTAB Orders Cancellation of "NT-MDT" Registration Due to Nonuse

Fraud:

• Precedential No. 24: TTAB Rules that Reckless Disregard for the Truth Is Sufficient for Proving Fraud
• Precedential No. 21: TTAB Upholds Fraud Claim Against Distributor of Massage Chairs Who Registered Manufacturer's Mark FUJIIRYOKI
• Precedential No. 7: Denying FRCP 12(b)(6) Motion, TTAB Finds DOCTOR DISABILTY Fraud and Likelihood of Confusion Claims Adequately Pleaded

Genericness

• Precedential No. 4: TTAB Deems THE CONSUMER PROTECTION FIRM.COM Generic for Legal Services, but Okays Supplemental Registration for Design Form With Disclaimer
• Precedential No. 15: On Remand, TTAB Reverses COOKINPELLETS.COM Genericness Ruling, But Affirms Mere Descriptiveness and Lack of Acquired Distinctiveness

Lack of Bona Fide Intent:

• Precedential No. 33: "LOCH MOOSE MONSTER" Fends Off Monster Energy's Lack-of-Bona-Fide-Intent Summary Judgment Motion

Nonuse/Failure to Function/Specimens of Use:

• Precedential No. 34: TTAB Affirms Nonuse Refusal - Service Mark Use Requires Rendering of the Services, Not Just Preparation
• Precedential No. 28: TTAB Sustains Opposition to "I AM THE MARS GENERATION" for Licensing Services on Ground of Nonuse
• Precedential No. 5: Sustaining U. Kentucky's Opposition, TTAB Finds that "40-0" Fails to Function as a Trademark for T-Shirts
• Precedential No. 11: Specimen Webpages Fail the "Display-Associated-With-the Goods" Test, Says TTAB

Section 14(3) Misuse of a Registration:

• Precedential No. 18: TTAB Orders Cancellation of Two Registrations Under Section 14(3) Due to Registrant's Misrepresentation of Source

Procedural Issues/Discovery:

• Precedential No. 26: Claim Preclusion Inapplicable in Concurrent Use Proceeding After Cancellation or Opposition Proceeding
• Precedential No. 25: TTAB Rejects Proposed Modification of Standard Protective Order, Refuses to Apply EU Privacy Regulation
• Precedential No. 23: TTAB Refuses to Allow Withdrawal of Express Abandonment of Opposed Application
• Precedential No. 22: TTAB Allows Withdrawal of Cancellation Petition Prior to Answer, Without Prejudice, Despite Federal Court Ruling Adverse to Petitioner
• Precedential No. 20: Claim Preclusion and Issue Preclusion Inapplicable in VALVOLINE Opposition to MAXVOLINE, Says TTAB
• Precedential No. 19: Does Eastern Standard Time Control the Timeliness of Discovery Requests? TTAB Says No
• Precedential No. 17: TTAB Dismisses ADVENTIST Cancellation Petition Due to Failure to Maintain "Standing"

Prosecution Issues:

• Precedential No. 6: Applying Res Judicata, TTAB Again Affirms Mere Descriptiveness Refusal of POWERCOATINGS for Solar Cell Chemicals
• Precedential No. 3: TTAB Rejects Applicant's Express Abandonment of Application "Without Prejudice" After Adverse Final Decision
• Precedential No. 14: Indefinite Recitation of Services and Failure to Adequately Respond to Information Request Sink SHIFTMAG Application

Text Copyright John L. Welch 2020-2021.