Novalyst IT AGDownload PDFTrademark Trial and Appeal BoardSep 11, 2013No. 79104646 (T.T.A.B. Sep. 11, 2013) Copy Citation THIS OPINION IS NOT A PRECEDENT OF THE TTAB Mailed: September 11, 2013 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE _____ Trademark Trial and Appeal Board _____ In re Novalyst IT AG _____ Serial No. 79104646 _____ Dyan M. House of Carter Stafford Arnett Hamada & Mockler, PLLC for Novalyst IT AG. Martha L. Fromm, Trademark Examining Attorney, Law Office 106 (Mary I. Sparrow, Managing Attorney). _____ Before Seeherman, Zervas and Adlin, Administrative Trademark Judges. Opinion by Adlin, Administrative Trademark Judge: On August 12, 2011, Novalyst IT AG (“applicant”) filed a request for extension of protection under Section 66(a) of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1141f(a), seeking registration of the mark shown below for: Serial No. 79104646 2 Providing user access to a global computer network; providing user access to computer programmes in data networks; providing access to the internet; internet service provider services, namely, providing multiple user bandwidth and dedicated access to the internet to enable electronic access to computer software, websites, software applications, electronic databases, digital content, and business computer software applications of others accessible via the internet in International Class 38; and Updating of computer software; updating of websites for others; design and development of computer software; design and development of computer systems; computer programming; engineering; design and development of electronic data security systems; computer services, namely, electronic data storage by providing data storage facilities; technological services, namely, research in the field of computer networking hardware, computer security technology and computer datacenter architecture; technical support services, namely, technical administration of servers for others and troubleshooting in the nature of diagnosing server problems; computer security services, namely, restricting access to and by computer networks; design, development and implementation of software for authenticating digital signatures; computer services, namely, designing and implementing websites for others in International Class 42 (the “application”).1 The application includes a color claim and the following description: “The mark consists of a gold computer chip with black lines. On top of the computer chip is a red letter I surrounded by a circular grey arrow. To the right of the design element is the wording SMART OPENID in black, on two lines.” The examining attorney refused registration of the mark under Section 2(d) of the Act, on the ground that applicant’s mark so resembles the previously- 1 The request for extension of protection is based on International Registration No. 1096037, issued August 12, 2011. Serial No. 79104646 3 registered mark OpenID, in standard characters, for “Computer software for authentication, identity management, security, information sharing, social networking, messaging, and personal communications,” that use of applicant’s mark in connection with applicant’s services is likely to cause confusion.2 After the refusal was made final, applicant appealed, its request for reconsideration was denied and applicant and the examining attorney filed briefs. We affirm the refusal to register. Analysis Our determination under Section 2(d) is based on an analysis of all probative facts in evidence that are relevant to the factors bearing on the issue of likelihood of confusion. In re E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563, 567 (CCPA 1973); see also, In re Majestic Distilling Company, Inc., 315 F.3d 1311, 65 USPQ2d 1201, 1203 (Fed. Cir. 2003). In any likelihood of confusion analysis, two key considerations are the similarities between the marks and the similarities between the goods and/or services. See Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co., 544 F.2d 1098, 192 USPQ 24, 29 (CCPA 1976) (“The fundamental inquiry mandated by § 2(d) goes to the cumulative effect of differences in the essential characteristics of the goods and differences in the marks.”). We discuss each of the du Pont factors concerning which applicant or the examining attorney submitted argument or evidence. 2 Registration No. 2046127, issued March 18, 1997; renewed. Serial No. 79104646 4 Turning first to the marks, we must compare them “in their entireties as to appearance, sound, connotation and commercial impression.” Palm Bay Imports Inc. v. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Maison Fondee En 1772, 396 F.3d 1369, 73 USPQ2d 1689, 1691 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting du Pont, 177 USPQ at 567). The test is not whether the marks can be distinguished when subjected to a side-by-side comparison, but rather whether the marks are sufficiently similar in terms of their overall commercial impression so that confusion as to the source of the goods and services offered under the respective marks is likely to result. San Fernando Elec. Mfg. Co. v. JFD Electronics Components Corp., 565 F.2d 683, 196 USPQ 1, 3 (CCPA 1977); Spoons Rests. Inc. v. Morrison Inc., 23 USPQ2d 1735, 1741 (TTAB 1991). The focus is on the recollection of the average purchaser, who normally retains a general rather than a specific impression of trademarks. See Sealed Air Corp. v. Scott Paper Co., 190 USPQ 106, 108 (TTAB 1975). Of course, one feature of a mark may be more significant than another, and it is not improper to give more weight to the dominant feature of a mark in determining its commercial impression. In re Nat’l Data Corp., 753 F.2d 1056, 224 USPQ 749, 751 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (“There is nothing improper in stating that, for rational reasons, more or less weight has been given to a particular feature of a mark, provided the ultimate conclusion rests on consideration of the marks in their entireties. Indeed, this type of analysis appears to be unavoidable.”). In this case, a significant element of applicant’s mark is “Smart OpenID”; “OpenID” is the entirety of the cited mark. As a result, the marks create similar Serial No. 79104646 5 overall commercial impressions. See, International Paper Co. v. Valley Paper Co., 468 F.2d 937, 175 USPQ 704 (CCPA 1972) (DATA for “writing, typewriter and printing paper” confusingly similar to DATA-SPEED for “paper sold in bulk rolls or bulk reams for conversion only into business forms”); In re Rexel Inc., 223 USPQ 830, 832 (TTAB 1984) (“we are firmly of the opinion that purchasers who encounter applicant’s ‘LITTLE GOLIATH’ stapler kits and registrant’s ‘GOLIATH’ large diameter woodcased pencils are likely to believe … that both products emanate from or are in some way associated with the same source”); Johnson Publishing Co. v. International Development Ltd., 221 USPQ 155 (TTAB 1982) (EBONY for cosmetics confusingly similar to EBONY DRUM for hairdressing and conditioner). While applicant argues that its mark creates a different overall commercial impression from the cited mark because OPENID is only one of several elements of applicant’s mark, we disagree. The additional elements are subordinate to the term OPENID, which the two marks share, and which serves as the primary source indicator in applicant’s mark. See, Cunningham v. Laser Golf Corp., 222 F.3d 943, 55 USPQ2d 1842, 1846 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (“Regarding descriptive terms, this court has noted that the ‘descriptive component of a mark may be given little weight in reaching a conclusion on the likelihood of confusion.’”) (quoting In re Nat’l Data, 224 USPQ at 752) and In re Appetito Provisions Co. Inc., 3 USPQ2d 1553, 1554 (TTAB 1987) (holding that “if one of the marks comprises both a word and a design, then the word is normally accorded greater weight because it would be used by purchasers to request the goods or services” and “because applicant’s mark shares Serial No. 79104646 6 with registrant’s mark that element responsible for creating its overall commercial impression, the marks are confusingly similar”). The examining attorney has introduced a dictionary definition which establishes that “smart” means “equipped with, using, or containing electronic control devices, as computer systems, microprocessors.” Office Action of December 15, 2011. Thus, this term in applicant’s mark is suggestive. As for the design element consisting of the letter “i” surrounded by a gray arrow, while it is noticeable, it is still subordinate to SMART OPENID. We also point out that “I” or “i” can mean ‘Internet’” when used in connection with services such as applicant’s. See, In re Zanova Inc., 59 USPQ2d 1300, 1304 (TTAB 2001). Applicant’s computer chip design is entitled to less weight because it is suggestive of applicant’s computer network and software-related services. Cunningham, 222 F.3d at 943, 55 USPQ2d at 1846; see also, In re Kysela Pere et Fils Ltd., 1268 (“because of the laudatory suggestive nature of the crown design and the carrier nature of the ovals, the absence of these elements from applicant’s mark and/or presence of them in the cited marks are not sufficient to distinguish the marks”). In any event, even “[t]he addition of a distinctive term, which is not a house mark, does not necessarily result in marks that are dissimilar.” In re Toshiba Medical Systems Corp., 91 USPQ2d 1266, 1269 (TTAB 2009). We find that SMART OPENID is the portion of applicant’s mark that will be articulated and remembered by consumers, and used by them to request applicant’s services. M.C.I. Foods, Inc. v. Brady Bunte, 96 USPQ2d 1544, 1551 (TTAB 2010); see also, CBS, Inc. v. Morrow, 708 F.2d 1579, 218 USPQ 198, 200 (Fed. Cir. 1983). Serial No. 79104646 7 As noted, the term SMART does not have the same source-identifying significance as OPENID, so that the addition of SMART does not serve to distinguish the marks. Furthermore, we note that in a presentation made during the IIW (Internet Identity Workshop) conference, applicant used not only the involved mark, but also OPENID alone, which is identical to the cited mark. Applicant’s Request for Reconsideration Ex. A. This belies applicant’s argument that one or more of the other elements of its mark serves as its primary source indicator. In short, to the extent that applicant’s mark looks and sounds different from registrant’s, the dissimilarities are outweighed by the similarity arising out of applicant’s mark containing OPENID, which is identical to the entirety of registrant’s mark. We find that the descriptive and suggestive elements of applicant’s mark are entitled to less weight than the shared and more distinctive term OPENID, which is most responsible for any meaning applicant’s and registrant’s marks may convey. The marks convey the same commercial impression. Finally, because registrant’s mark is in standard characters, it may be displayed in any font, size or other manner, including in a manner similar to how applicant displays the wording in its mark. See, e.g., In re Viterra Inc., 671 F.3d 1358, 101, USPQ2d 1905, 1909 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (citations omitted). This factor therefore weighs in favor of a finding of likelihood of confusion. We now turn to a comparison of the services. We must first address applicant’s argument that the owner of the cited registration is a “mere standardization organization,” and “does not produce any software products.” Serial No. 79104646 8 Applicant’s Appeal Brief at 6.3 This argument is unavailing because registrant’s cited registration is registered on the Principal Register for software products, and is therefore entitled to the presumptions of Section 7(b) of the Trademark Act. Applicant may not challenge the validity of the cited registration in the context of this ex parte proceeding. In re Dixie Restaurants Inc., 105 F.3d 1405, 41 USPQ2d 1531, 1534-35 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Therefore, we compare the services identified in the application and cited registration. It is settled that the services need not be identical or even competitive in order to support a finding of likelihood of confusion. It is enough that the services are related in some manner or that the circumstances surrounding their marketing are such that they would be likely to be seen by the same persons under circumstances which could give rise, because of the marks used, to a mistaken belief that applicant’s and registrant’s services originate from or are in some way associated with the same source or that there is an association between the sources of the services. Hilson Research, Inc. v. Society for Human Resource Management, 27 USPQ2d 1423, 1432 (TTAB 1993); In re Melville Corp., 18 USPQ2d 1386, 1388 (TTAB 1991); Schering Corp. v. Alza Corp., 207 USPQ 504, 507 (TTAB 1980); Oxford Pendaflex Corp. v. Anixter Bros. Inc., 201 USPQ 851, 854 (TTAB 1978); In re 3 Applicant argues, and has introduced some evidence (a Wikipedia article) that registrant is a “mere standardization organization.” Applicant’s Office Action Response of June 15, 2012 at 7 and Ex. A. This is not relevant to our analysis as we are bound to consider registrant’s identification of goods, rather than extrinsic evidence about registrant’s activities. In re Bercut-Vandervoort & Co., 229 USPQ 763, 764-65 (TTAB 1986); see also, Tuxedo Monopoly, Inc. v. General Mills Fun Group, Inc., 648 F.2d 1335, 209 USPQ 986, 988 (CCPA 1981); In re Thor Tech Inc., 90 USPQ2d 1634, 1637-38 (TTAB 2009). Serial N Internat issue is there is 223 USP H applican example software Class 42 IDENG 3138327 (Registr for auth services No. 339 (Registr GUARD to differ Internet (R & Desig o. 791046 ional Tele not whet a likeliho Q at 832. ere, the ex t’s and go , the follow on the on services) INES (Reg ); COM.FO ation No. 2 entication (applicant 9671); GAR ation No. 2 & Design ent owner , network egistratio n (Registr 46 phone & T her purch od of confu amining a ods such a ing mark e hand an on the oth istration N RTE & D 787614). or security ’s services RETTCO 927311); L (Registrat s for comm or databas n No. 3394 ation No. 3 elegraph C asers wou sion as to ttorney ha s registran s are regis d software er: PASSE o. 334948 esign (Reg The follow software in Class 4 M (Registr OOKOUT ion No. 41 unications e access (a 016); JUIC 572147); T 9 orp., 197 ld confuse the sourc s introduc t’s are offe tered to di developm NABLER 9); RISKSE istration N ing marks on the one 2) on the o ation No. (Registra 44904). T software pplicant’s ECASTER OPSPEED USPQ 910 the servi e of the se ed evidenc red by the fferent ow ent and/or (Registrati CURE (R o. 307973 are regist hand and ther: CA ( 3449475); tion No. 3 he followin on the one Class 38 s KNOW F (Registra , 911 (TTA ces, but r rvices. In e that serv same sou ners for se design (ap on No. 324 egistration 6); and AP ered to dif computer Stylized) ( FINJAN S 964112); a g marks a hand and ervices) on IRST … S tion No. 3 B 1978). ather whe re Rexel ices such rce. For curity plicant’s 5435); No. PROVA ferent own security Registratio OFTWAR nd PHONE re register providing the other HOW FIR 223864); a The ther Inc., as ers n E ed : ST nd Serial No. 79104646 10 MOMEET (Registration No. 4176982). “Third-party registrations which cover a number of differing goods and/or services, and which are based on use in commerce, although not evidence that the marks shown therein are in use on a commercial scale or that the public is familiar with them, may nevertheless have some probative value to the extent that they may serve to suggest that such goods or services are of a type which may emanate from a single source.” See, In re Mucky Duck Mustard Co., 6 USPQ2d 1467, 1470 n.6 (TTAB 1998); In re Davey Prods. Pty. Ltd., 92 USPQ2d 1198, 1203 (TTAB 2009). In addition, the examining attorney introduced printouts from websites showing that the following companies offer, under the same mark, services similar to applicant’s Class 42 services and goods similar to registrant’s: SafeNet, Inc. (computer security services and security software), Symantec Corp. (computer security services and communications and security software) and Equifax (computer security services and security software). Office Action of July 23, 2012. In short, the evidence establishes that at least some of applicant’s services in each class and registrant’s goods are related. See Tuxedo Monopoly, Inc. v. General Mills Fun Group, 648 F.2d 1335, 209 USPQ 986, 988 (CCPA 1981) (likelihood of confusion must be found with respect to a class of goods or services in an application if there is likely to be confusion with respect to any item that comes within the identification of the goods or services in that class). Furthermore, applicant’s “design and development of computer software” and “computer programming” services are complementary and therefore related to registrant’s computer software, in that the end result of applicant’s development Serial No. 79104646 11 and programming services could be the goods identified in the registration, i.e. “computer software for authentication, identity management, security, information sharing, social networking, messaging and personal communications.” More specifically and to the point, the involved application and cited registration make clear that applicant and registrant both provide computer security-related products and services. In fact, applicant’s “engineering, design and development of electronic data security systems,” “computer security services, namely restricting access to and by computer networks” and “design, development and implementation of software for authenticating digital signatures” all relate directly to, and could result in software directly competitive with, “computer software for authentication, identity management, security.” See generally, In re RSI Systems LLC, 88 USPQ2d 1445, 1450 (TTAB 2008) (“Applicant’s software for processing images and the ‘680 registrant’s imaging services that convert documents from one medium to another are very similar. Consumers familiar with the ‘680 registrant’s document imaging services are likely to assume that registrant is now the source of software that performs some of the same functions.”); In re Association of the United States Army, 85 USPQ2d 1264, 1271 (TTAB 2007) (“For the same reasons as those discussed above in connection with our finding that applicant’s association services are related to registrant’s employment and career related services, we likewise find that applicant’s services are related to registrant’s downloadable software to the extent that such software includes ‘career education’ as part of its subject matter.”). It is of course settled that goods and services may be related. In re Hyper Shoppes (Ohio), Serial No. 79104646 12 Inc., 837 F.2d 463, 6 USPQ2d 1025 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (BIGGS for retail grocery and general merchandise store services likely to be confused with BIGGS for furniture); In re Thomas, 79 USPQ2d 1021, 1024 (TTAB 2006) (“It is clear that consumers would be likely to believe that jewelry on the one hand and retail stores selling jewelry on the other emanate from or are sponsored by the same source if such goods and services are sold under the same or similar marks.”). At the very least, applicant’s software-related security services and registrant’s security software are complementary, and thus could give rise to source confusion. See Octocom Systems Inc. v. Houston Computers Services, Inc., 918 F.2d 937, 16 USPQ2d 1783, 1788 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (modems and computer programs are commonly used together in networking). See also In re Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc., 748 F.2d 1565, 223 USPQ 1289, 1290 (Fed. Cir. 1984); In re Toshiba Medical Systems Corp., 91 USPQ2d at 1272. Because applicant’s identification of services contains no limitations with respect to channels of trade, applicant’s services are presumed to encompass all services of the type described, and the services are presumed to move in all normal channels of trade for those services and be available to all classes of consumers. Citigroup Inc. v. Capital City Bank Grp., Inc., 637 F.3d 1344, 98 USPQ2d 1253, 1261 (Fed. Cir. 2011); In re Jump Designs, LLC, 80 USPQ2d 1370, 1374 (TTAB 2006); In re Elbaum, 211 USPQ 639, 640 (TTAB 1981). To the extent that the identification of goods in the cited registration specifies certain channels of trade, they are so broad (“information sharing” and “personal communications”) as to Serial No. 79104646 13 encompass a wide range of fields, and in any event it is clear from the identifications of goods and services that both applicant and registrant provide or intend to provide authentication and security-related products and services. Consumers seeking to secure a computer network may have a choice between retaining applicant to provide its security services or purchasing registrant’s security software, and those familiar with applicant’s security services may also encounter registrant’s software, and vice versa. Furthermore, applicant’s evidence regarding the IIW conference (discussed infra) establishes that in fact there is some overlap between the channels of trade and relevant consumers. In short, applicant’s and registrant’s identifications of goods and services establish that their channels of trade overlap. Accordingly, this factor also weighs in favor of a finding of likelihood of confusion. Applicant strenuously argues that the “relevant consumer base” is “sophisticated,” and likely to exercise care in purchasing decisions. While there is no evidence of record which supports this contention, we accept, based on applicant’s identification of services, which shows that applicant’s services are technical, that the purchasers of applicant’s services are sophisticated. However, it is settled that even sophisticated purchasers are not immune from source confusion. This is especially true where, as here, they are faced with similar marks and related goods and services. See, In re Research Trading Corp., 793 F.2d 1276, 230 USPQ 49, 50 (Fed. Cir. 1986); Carlisle Chem. Works, Inc. v. Hardman & Holden Ltd., 434 F.2d 1403, 168 USPQ 110, 112 (CCPA 1970); In re Decombe, 9 USPQ2d 1812, 1814- Serial No. 79104646 14 15 (TTAB 1988); see also, HRL Associates, Inc. v. Weiss Associates, Inc., 12 USPQ2d 1819 (TTAB 1989), aff’d, Weiss Associates, Inc. v. HRL Associates, Inc., 902 F.2d 1546, 14 USPQ2d 1840 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (similarities of goods and marks outweigh sophisticated purchasers, careful purchasing decision, and expensive goods). In any event, even assuming that this factor weighs against a finding of likelihood of confusion, it is outweighed by the similarities between the involved and cited marks, the relatedness of their goods and services and the overlapping channels of trade. Quite simply, even if sophisticated and careful consumers were to notice the differences in the marks, they would not ascribe the differences to different sources of the goods and services, but would instead see the marks as merely variations of each other. Finally, applicant argues that confusion is unlikely because there is no evidence of actual confusion and registrant “has not objected” to applicant’s use of its mark. With respect to actual confusion, there is no evidence in the record regarding the extent of applicant’s use of its mark, and therefore no evidence regarding whether there has been a meaningful opportunity for confusion to occur. Barbara's Bakery Inc. v. Landesman, 82 USPQ2d 1283, 1287 (TTAB 2007) (the probative value of the absence of actual confusion depends upon there being a significant opportunity for actual confusion to have occurred). In this connection, we note that applicant’s application is based on Section 66(a) of the Trademark Act, rather than use in the United States. The lack of actual confusion is accordingly of little relevance. See, In re Majestic Distilling Co., 315 F.3d 1311, 65 USPQ2d 1201, Serial No. 79104646 15 1205 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (“Majestic’s uncorroborated statements of no known instances of actual confusion are of little evidentiary value … A showing of actual confusion would of course be highly probative, if not conclusive, of a high likelihood of confusion. The opposite is not true, however. The lack of evidence of actual confusion carries little weight … especially in an ex parte context.”) (citation omitted). As for registrant not objecting to applicant’s use of the involved mark, applicant states that it “has used its Mark, including without limitation, in presentations to the relevant, sophisticated consumer group at IIW, a conference organized in connection with the Identity Commons group, which includes Registrant.” Applicant’s Appeal Brief at 8. With its request for reconsideration, applicant submitted printouts of slides it used during those presentations in Mountain View, California. Applicant’s Request for Reconsideration Ex. A. Applicant also submitted evidence which appears to show that registrant is part of a working group associated with the conference organizers, and perhaps the conference itself. Id. Ex. B. In other words, applicant would have us treat the fact that it and registrant were involved in the same conference or group as some sort of consent or acquiescence by registrant to applicant’s use of the mark. There is no evidence regarding whether registrant is in fact aware of applicant’s mark or use thereof, however. More importantly, we cannot regard the mere fact that both applicant and registrant were involved with the same conference as tantamount to registrant’s consent to registration of applicant’s mark. The Board must of course Serial No. 79104646 16 give great deference to consent agreements. Amalgamated Bank of New York v. Amalgamated Trust & Savings Bank, 842 F.2d 1270, 6 USPQ2d 1305 (Fed. Cir. 1988). However, we cannot conclude from the evidence herein that registrant has consented to applicant’s registration of its mark. In re Majestic Distilling, 315 F.3d at 1311, 65 USPQ2d at 1205-06. (“there has been no consent agreement executed between Majestic and Stroh … no presumption can be made that Stroh consents to Majestic’s use of the mark or that Stroh has determined or admits that confusion of the public by Majestic’s concurrent use of the mark is unlikely”).4 There is no relevant evidence or argument concerning the remaining likelihood of confusion factors, and we therefore treat them as neutral. Conclusion We have considered all of the evidence of record as it pertains to the relevant du Pont factors, including applicant’s arguments and evidence, even if not specifically discussed herein. In view of our findings that the marks are similar, and that applicant’s services and registrant’s goods are related and the channels of trade overlap, we find that use of applicant’s mark for its identified services is likely to cause confusion with the cited registered mark, despite the fact that the relevant purchasers are sophisticated. To the extent that applicant’s arguments raise any doubt concerning the likelihood of confusion, we resolve any such doubt in registrant’s favor. In re Hyper Shoppes (Ohio), Inc., 837 F.2d 840, 6 USPQ2d 1025 (Fed. Cir. 1988); In re Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, 223 USPQ at 1290. 4 Furthermore, as the examining attorney points out, even if registrant does not object to applicant’s use of the involved mark, it may object to applicant’s registration of the mark. Serial No. 79104646 17 Decision: The examining attorney’s refusal to register applicant’s mark under Section 2(d) of the Act is affirmed. Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation