law 227: trademarks & unfair competition registration & clearance june 18, 2009 jefferson...
TRANSCRIPT
Law 227: Trademarks &Law 227: Trademarks &Unfair CompetitionUnfair Competition
Registration & ClearanceJune 18, 2009
Jefferson Scher
TM & Unfair Comp — Day 6TM & Unfair Comp — Day 6AgendaAgenda
•The Federal registration process
•Reconciling “first to use” and “first to file” priority
•Clearance: Determining whether a proposed trademark is “available for use and registration”
Federal Registration ProcessFederal Registration ProcessThe Initial ApplicationThe Initial Application
•Bases for registration§1(a) — Use in commerce that Congress
can regulate (interstate, international)§1(b) — Intention to use in commerce§44(e) — Foreign registration§66(a) — Request for extension of
protection under the Madrid Protocol — distinct procedure, not combinable
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Federal Registration ProcessFederal Registration ProcessThe Initial ApplicationThe Initial Application
•Electronic filingLet’s visit... PTO Sample
Federal Registration ProcessFederal Registration ProcessThe Initial ApplicationThe Initial Application
First to Use vs. First to FileFirst to Use vs. First to FileCreating a New Trademark RightCreating a New Trademark Right
•Zirco Corp. v. AT&T p190
Context: TTAB proceedings
1/11/90
DATACELITU App
Filed
4/15/90
Opposer’sFirst Use ofDATACELL
10/21/91
ConditionalJudgmentfor AT&T
1/08/93
FinalJudgment
against AT&T
4/23/91
Oppositionfiled: LOC,use priority
10/07/92
ExpressWithdrawalby AT&T
5/12/92
Notice ofAllowance
Issued
11/26/90
Approvedfor
Publication
First to Use vs. First to FileFirst to Use vs. First to FileCreating a New Trademark RightCreating a New Trademark Right
•WarnerVision v. Empire of CarolinaContext: District Court litigation
p193
Oct-Dec 94
WV & Buddy Lshow mockups,
take orders
12/22/94
WV shipsgoods toresellers
1/03/95
WV filesITU apps
1/18/95
WV goodson sale tothe public
9/23/94
TLV filesITU app
1/06/95
Buddy Lfiles
ITU app
Jan-Feb 95
Buddy Lexhibits attrade fairs
1st app = TLV; 1st actual use = WV;1st use analogous to a TM = ?
First to Use vs. First to FileFirst to Use vs. First to FileCreating a New Trademark RightCreating a New Trademark Right
•WarnerVision v. Empire of CarolinaEmpire enters the picture by
acquisition
Feb-July 95
Buddy Lfiles BK,
E buys TM
8/15/95
E goodson sale tothe public
10/20/95
E buysTLV’s
ITU app
11/13/95
WVsues
E
Feb 95
WV C&Dletter toBuddy L
Sept 95
WV C&Dletter to
E
2/12/96 &3/26/96
D. Ct.grants WVinjunction
E buys applications pre-dating both WV’s use and its ITU application...
First to Use vs. First to FileFirst to Use vs. First to FileCreating a New Trademark RightCreating a New Trademark Right
•Koala / Armadillo p202
Assessing Trademark Assessing Trademark AvailabilityAvailabilityDemo: ScreeningDemo: Screening
•Internet Explorer set-upActiveX, scripting, pop-upsAdd to
(A) Trusted sites list and (B) Allowed sites for pop-ups:www.ctcorsearch.comwww.advantage-screening.comwww.corsearch-advantage.com
Assessing Trademark Assessing Trademark AvailabilityAvailabilityDemo: ScreeningDemo: Screening
•Proposed marks for online sympathy card web site and associated softwareWinners in employee naming contest
E-GREETSALOHASHOUTOUT.COM
TESS vs. Advantage Screening
Assessing Trademark Assessing Trademark AvailabilityAvailabilityDemo: Comprehensive SearchDemo: Comprehensive Search
•Proposed marks for online sympathy card web site and associated softwareSurvivor of preliminary screening
BOO-HOO!
TM & Unfair Comp — Up TM & Unfair Comp — Up NextNextTopics and Reading for Day 7Topics and Reading for Day 7
•Trademark “Prosecution”Chapter 4, pp. 202-248Online
Cases: DuPont, Dixie, Opus OneMisc: TMEP excerpts, Cases for
Discussion, Sample Responses, Sample Consent to Registration