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