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Trademark is opposed with the argument linking it with a song title

 
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Gotback

posts: 2

Mar 28, 2007 2:05 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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My trademark is being opposed for registration because the opposer believes it will be damaged by the registration of my application.  Namely, the opposition states that the song is a common law mark that consumers will closely associate with opposers song and has extensively licensed the mark for use in various media outlets and that it is symbolic of extensive good will and consumer recognition.  Additionally, it bases its opposition on that it owns this song title "mark", there is a likelihood consumers would believe that the artist would sponser, endorse, ro be affiliated with my line of clothing and that my trademark resembles their song title, "mark", so to cause confusion, mistake or deception and is therefore barred from registration by section 2(d) of the Trademark act of 1946. 

My question is, before I make a decision to rigorously pursue defending my trademark, which I see is a lengthy process in the TTAB proceedings, is anyone aware of a similar outcome and what was the outcome?  My attorney says we have a good case.  I am aware that song titles cannot be registered as trademarks, but the opposing party claims that unfair competition is protected under the Lanham Act.

CraigL

posts: 9051

Mar 28, 2007 3:03 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Email PatentAndTrademark; see what he thinks.
patentandtrademark

posts: 1332

Mar 30, 2007 8:29 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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do you have any reason to doubt your attorney?

-------------------------

James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com
Gotback

posts: 2

Mar 30, 2007 10:47 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I am interviewing 3 attorneys and am narrowing it down to the one, however, I am not sure that these attorneys are giving me the real cost and time involved for these proceedings. One attorney was telling me $20K retainer, and the other is willing to do it for a flat fee of $3,000, one has 22 years experince in this area and the other has been practicing for 20 years but for small business.  I guess this case is interesting in that it has a big gray area. The real costs intuitively is probably around the high end as I imagine there will be some market surveys done by the other party if they are of strong financial strength.  I will just have to start with at least my answer to force the issue in front of an impartial decision maker and go from there.
patentandtrademark

posts: 1332

Mar 30, 2007 11:54 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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yes, surveys can REALLY push the costs - big time.

-------------------------

James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com
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