Trademarks outline
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- Parks v. LaFace Records (Rosa Parks)
- Standard of analyzing cause of action
- Misleading
- ETW Corp. v. Jireh Publishing, Inc.
- § 43(a) (unregistered mark)
- Dilution § 43(c) 45
- Under state law Ringling Bros. (“Greatest Show on Earth”)
- Mead Data v. Toyota (LEXIS v. LEXUS)
- Hormel Food v. Jim Henson Productions
- Federal Dilution § 43(c)
- Word Marks Moseley v. V. Secret Catalogue (Victor’s Little Secret)
- Ringling Bros. v. Utah Division of Travel Department
- DEFENSES Possibilities
| § 43(a) test
involving goods or services—celebrities have endorsement powers as “services” effect on interstate commerce false designation of origin or false description of goods or services likelihood of confusion Parks v. LaFace Records (Rosa Parks)—First Amendment Used Rosa Parks’ name in the title but not in the lyrics; used on the sticker on the album Rosa Parks has standing because Once you reach celebrity status, you have an automatic protectable entity, economic interest She had sponsored/approved a tribute album She’s a celebrity for the civil rights movt Did she need secondary meaning for her name? no discussion about it Standard of analyzing cause of action—Likelihood of confusion CT: a reasonable jury could find a likelihood of confusion Some affidavits offered from ppl who thought Parks sponsored the song Rogers Test (First Amendment) Artistic relevance—is the use of the person’s name or identity artistically relevant to the content of the work? Her name is not artistically relevant to the content of the Outkast song They could’ve named it something not associated with Rosa Parks’ name Misleading as to the source of content? (left for LC to decide, depending on first prong) Neville Brothers’ song Her name is artistically relevant to the topic and purpose of the song Couldn’t tell the story without reference her name ETW Corp. v. Jireh Publishing, Inc.,—fair use defense Painting of Tiger Woods winning the Masters § 32 (registered mark): words “Tiger Woods” on art prints, calendars, mounted photographs, notebooks, pencils, unmounted photographs, etc. his name is mentioned in the narrative that accompanies the painting no use of his name directly on the painting CT: this falls under statutory fair use defense Just describing the product in good faith § 43(a) (unregistered mark) claiming TM rights to image and likeness CT: his image doesn’t indicate source—just a picture of Tiger Woods But leaves open that there is a possibility that a particular pose could be trademarked (like Elvis), but not right now Dilution § 43(c) & 45 When use of the same or similar marks by others has caused a mark to become less distinctive than before Likelihood of confusion unnecessary dilution can only occur when confusion is absent Under state law Ringling Bros. (“Greatest Show on Earth”) Even if Lanham preempts IL state def of “distinctive,” ct already applied Hyatt factors for distinctiveness Coined or invented term Length of time used Scope of advertising Nature and extent of the business Scope of first user’s repuation Injunction b/c irreparable harm Mead Data v. Toyota (LEXIS v. LEXUS) In NY, the court makes clear that the mark doesn’t have to identical to senior user, but needs to be substantially similar. DC thought Lexus and Lexis were substantially similar, but this court said they were not. Commercial speech standard: doesn’t matter that some people would mispronounce these, but professional announcers would be able to do it correctly. In visual appearance, you would be able to tell because the marks are not substantially similar, there is no cause of action. The court continues on about distinctiveness of marks. Just being distinctive or well known in a smaller market isn’t enough. Have to be well known generally. Not about secondary meaning, but recognizable. The people who would see the marks as distinctive (attys) are fairly sophisticated. What about reverse dilution claim in this case? Lexis concerned that Lexus would become really famous, Lexis mark would be compromised. We allow for reverse confusion, why not reverse dilution? The only people having mental association are sophisticated and will be able to recognize the difference. Deere v. MTD Products—Tarnishment, Parody involved an advertisement between two competing lawn tractors. Competitor had ad with cartoon version of Deere ad, making fun of the deer. Court said that there wasn’t blurring because the competitor was referring to senior users mark – issue is not that consumers would think that the Deere mark was the MTD’s mark. Six factor test for determining blurring: Similarity of the marks Similarity of the products covered by the marks Sophistication of consumers Predatory intent Renown of the senior user Renown of the junior mark Not tarnishment either because that usually refers to linking products with shoddy quality. Tarnishment is usually found where a distinctive mark is depicted in a context of sexual activity, obscenity, or illegal activity. But there is dilution in the form of “making fun.” (form of tarnishment?) Some satiric expression is ok, but there is a line that was crossed. Not ok if in direct competition – meaning if competitor was making fun of senior mark to promote its own product. Also, this is in a commercial context. Parody outside of commercial context is ok, as is comparative advertising. Hormel Food v. Jim Henson Productions—Parody Muppets use the name Spa’am. Court says that this is ok – not in commercial context. Specifically talks about Deere, reads it differently than we discuss. Revisits its holding – never said that there was a third category other than blurring or tarnishment – just a form of tarnishment that court hadn’t previously mentioned. Even if it had been in commercial context, would it be tarnishment? No. No evidence that the use causes negative associations, not direct competitor, and the parody inheres in the product. Federal Dilution § 43(c) Dilution means the lessening of the capacity of a famous mark to identify and distinguish goods or services. Famous mark (most states is just “distinctive mark”) Inherent/acquired distinctiveness Duration/extent use Ads and publicity Trading area Trade channels Recognition (public generally in the trading areas of * and * mark, how they overlay) 3rd party uses registration Commercial use in commerce Diluting action has to occur after mark is famous Cause dilution (states is “likely to dilute” relief general injunctive relief damages if willful intent defense—registered mark Word Marks Moseley v. V. Secret Catalogue (Victor’s Little Secret) Is proof of actual injury to economic value of famous mark for federal dilution? NO Junior non-identical use of senior mark does not necessarily create actionable dilution Mark had no effect on ppl’s opinion of Victoria’s Secret Suggests need to use consumer surveys when not identical Kennedy concurrence in Moseley: diminishment of the famous mark’s capacity can be shown by the probable consequences flowing from use or adoption of the competing mark….a holder of a famous mark threatened with diminishment of the mark’s capacity to serve its purpose should not be forced to wait until the damage is done and the distinctiveness of the mark has been eroded. Ringling Bros. v. Utah Division of Travel Department Utah used “the greatest snow on earth” on its license plates. Elements of federal cause of action: Sufficient similarity of marks to evoke in consumers a mental association of the two that Causes actual harm to the senior mark’s economic value as a product-identifying and advertising agent. How do you show actual harm and that it was caused by * use? Consumer surveys whether there is association Loss of revenues, and exclude other potential causes for the loss Contextual factors such as the extent of the junior mark’s exposure, the similarity of the marks, the firmness of the senior mark’s hold. Can show dilution through circumstantial evidence. Evidence here shows that the reference actually boosted Ringling Bros. mark here. More people in Utah knew about the circus than the rest of the country. Congress has proposed abrogating the holding in Moseley. Would change to “likely to cause dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment of the famous mark,” Would lower standard to state level. Argument for it is that * wouldn’t have to wait around until it was injured to bring an action. Argument against the amendment? Limiting the language by letting companies to lock-up words – applies not just to arbitrary or fanciful. DEFENSES Possibilities attack P’s case genericism—basis for canceling a mark abandonment §33(b) common law defense basis for canceling a mark functionality prior use/registration—§ 33(b)(5)-(6) cancellation (not under § 33) preemption some instances TM yields to PT and © laws fed preempting state law state laws generally are found to be in harmony with fed laws except wrt dilution laws § 43(c)(3): if there is a federal registration, then it would prevent state dilution claim 1st sale doctrine—if you buy a product, simply selling it does not constitute a TM violation non-trademark use (1800 Mercedes) fair use statutory—§ 33(b) nominative 1st Amendment misuse rarely successful used in some way to misrepresent a mark false designation of origin that D asserts against P antitrust law § 33(b)(7) rarely succeeds equitable principles § 33(b)(9) acquiescence implied license other fraudulence must show intent to deceive USPTO (§ 33(b)) Statutory Defenses Lanham Act § 14 Lanham Act § 15 Lanham Act § 33 Lanham Act § 43(c) Common Law, Equitable and Constitutional Defenses Free Speech Defenses Directory: sba -> upperlevel sba -> Test Administrator Checklist sba -> Draft 06/26/2015 draft sba -> Goals and Objectives for the Exploration and Investigation of the Solar System’s Small Bodies Assessment Group (sbag) sba -> Business Administration Partner Identification & Management sba -> Property Outline part 1 Basic Concept sba -> Property outline upperlevel -> Trusts and estates outline 2 Download 244.15 Kb. 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