Ttabvue-91254146-OPP-4.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov ESTTA Tracking number: ESTTA1036564 Filing date: 02/18/2020 IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD Proceeding 91254146 Party Plaintiff Skunk Inc. Correspondence MARY ANN NOVAK Address HILGERS GRABEN PLLC 575 FALLBROOK BOULEVARD, SUITE 202 LINCOLN, NE 68521 UNITED STATES [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 4022182106 Submission Motion to Suspend for Civil Action Filer's Name Mary Ann Novak Filer's email [email protected] Signature /Mary Ann Novak/ Date 02/18/2020 Attachments 2020-02-18 Motion to Suspend re SKUNK BRAND_FINAL.pdf(90414 bytes ) Ex 1 - 049 2019-05-15 BBK 1st Amended Complaint.pdf(3717946 bytes ) Ex 2 - 128 2019-12-02 Skunks amended answer and counterclaims.pdf(590562 bytes ) Ex 3 - Order of suspension re Opp No. 91241486.pdf(94559 bytes ) Ex 4 - Order of suspension re Cancellation No. 92071164.pdf(87104 bytes ) IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD In the Matter of Application Serial No. 88/221,710 For the mark SKUNK BRAND in International Class 34 Published: October 22, 2019 Skunk, Inc. Opposition No. Opposer, v. BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP d/b/a HBI International, Applicant. MOTION TO SUSPEND Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 2.117 and TBMP § 510.02(a), Opposer Skunk, Inc. (“Skunk”), by and through its counsel of record, hereby moves the Board to suspend the above-titled proceeding as parties are involved in civil action pending before the United States District Court for the District of Arizona—BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP, d/b/a HBI International v. Skunk, Inc. et al., case number 2:18-cv-02332-JAT (the “Arizona District Court Litigation”). The Arizona District Court Litigation has been pending since July 25, 2018. A copy of the operative First Amended Complaint (“Arizona Complaint”) filed in the Arizona District Court Litigation is attached as Exhibit 1 and a copy of Skunk’s First Amended Answer to First Amended Complaint (“Arizona Answer”) and Counterclaims filed in that litigation is attached Exhibit 2. Among other things, the Arizona District Court Complaint alleges that BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP d/b/a HBI International (“BBK”) uses the SKUNK BRAND mark to identify certain smoking-related products it sells, including smokers’ rolling trays (see Arizona Complaint (Ex. 1) at ¶ 21 & Ex. A), and that Skunk has infringed BBK’s rights in that mark (see, e.g., Arizona Complaint (Ex. 1) at ¶¶ 84-97). The Arizona District Court Litigation also involves claims by Skunk that BBK has misused the federal registration symbol and that BBK’s asserted marks are merely descriptive (see, e.g., Arizona Answer (Ex. 2) at ¶¶ 194-196, 198, 219-220). Skunk has also requested, and the Board has grant, suspension of two other related matters pending before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board pending resolution of the Arizona District Court Litigation—namely, Opposition No. 91241486 (in which BBK opposes Skunk’s application to register its SKUNK & Design mark) and Cancellation No. 92071164 (in which BBK seeks cancellation of Skunk’s registration for its SKUNK mark). A copy of the Orders granting suspension of these proceedings are attached as Exhibits 3 and 4 respectively. As the claims in the Arizona District Court Litigation will have a direct bearing on this opposition proceeding, the interest of judicial economy is strongly served by suspension of this opposition proceeding until termination of the civil action. Accordingly, Skunk respectfully requests an order from the Board suspending all activity related to the above-captioned opposition proceeding pending the outcome of the Arizona District Court Litigation. 2 Dated: February 18, 2020 Respectfully submitted, HILGERS GRABEN PLLC By: /Mary Ann Novak/ Mary Ann Novak – NE Bar #24851 575 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 202 Lincoln, NE 68521 (402) 218-2106 [email protected] Majed Dakak Kesselman Brantley Stockinger LLP 1230 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 400 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (310) 307-4555 [email protected] Counsel for Opposer Skunk, Inc. CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and complete copy of the foregoing MOTION TO SUSPEND was filed electronically on the 18th day of February 2020 via ESTTA, and a copy was emailed to BBK’s counsel: Frank Long Cassandra Markoff Dickinson Wright PLLC 1850 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1400 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 [email protected] [email protected] Dated: February 18, 2020 /Mary Ann Novak/ Mary Ann Novak 3 EXHIBIT 1 Case 2:18-cv-02332-JAT Document 49 Filed 05/15/19 Page 1 of 28 FRXUWGRFV#GLFNLQVRQZULJKWFRP )UDQN*/RQJ IORQJ#GLFNLQVRQZULJKWFRP &DVDQGUD&0DUNRII FPDUNRII#GLFNLQVRQZULJKWFRP ',&.,1621:5,*+73//& 1&HQWUDO$YHQXH6XLWH 3KRHQL[$UL]RQD 3KRQH )D[ Attorneys for Plaintiff ,17+(81,7('67$7(6',675,&7&2857 )257+(',675,&72)$5,=21$ %%.72%$&&2 )22'6//3DQ $UL]RQDOLPLWHGOLDELOLW\SDUWQHUVKLSGED &DVH1RFY-$7 +%,,QWHUQDWLRQDO 3ODLQWLII ),567$0(1'('&203/$,17 Y -XU\7ULDO'HPDQGHG 6.81.,1&D&DOLIRUQLDFRUSRUDWLRQ 9$75$,1&D&DOLIRUQLDFRUSRUDWLRQ 6HQLRU-XGJH-DPHV$7HLOERUJ 'HIHQGDQWV 3ODLQWLII%%.7REDFFR )RRGV//3GED+%,,QWHUQDWLRQDO ³+%,´ IRULWV &RPSODLQW DJDLQVW 'HIHQGDQWV 6NXQN ,QF ³'HIHQGDQW 6NXQN ,QF´ DQG 9DWUD ,QF ³'HIHQGDQW9DWUD´ FROOHFWLYHO\³'HIHQGDQWV´ VWDWHVDVIROORZV 7+(3$57,(6 +%,LVDQ$UL]RQDOLPLWHGOLDELOLW\SDUWQHUVKLSZLWKLWVSULQFLSDOSODFHRI EXVLQHVVLQ$UL]RQD 'HIHQGDQW6NXQN,QFLVD&DOLIRUQLDFRUSRUDWLRQZLWKLWVSODFHRIEXVLQHVV LQ/RV$QJHOHV&DOLIRUQLD Case 2:18-cv-02332-JAT Document 49 Filed 05/15/19 Page 2 of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³6NXQN:HEVLWH´ 8SRQLQIRUPDWLRQDQGEHOLHI'HIHQGDQWVDORQHRULQFRQFHUWRSHUDWHD ZHEVLWHZLWKWKHGRPDLQQDPHKWWSVVNXQNJXDUGFRP WKH³6NXQN*XDUG:HEVLWH´ 8SRQ LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG EHOLHI 'HIHQGDQWV DORQH RU LQ FRQFHUW RSHUDWH D ZHEVLWHZLWKWKHGRPDLQQDPHKWWSVYDWUDFRP WKH³9DWUD:HEVLWH´ 8SRQLQIRUPDWLRQDQGEHOLHI'HIHQGDQWVRZQWKHKWWSVVNXQNEDJVFRP KWWSVYDWUDFRP DQG KWWSVVNXQNJXDUGFRP GRPDLQ QDPHV FROOHFWLYHO\ WKH ³:HEVLWHV´ 8SRQ LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG EHOLHI 'HIHQGDQWV DORQH RU LQ FRQFHUW RSHUDWH D ZHEVLWH ZLWK WKH GRPDLQ QDPH KWWSVYDWUDSURWHFWLRQFRP WKH ³9DWUD 3URWHFWLRQ :HEVLWH´ 7KH 6NXQN :HEVLWH DVNV XVHUV ZKHWKHU WKH\ DUH LQWHUHVWHG LQ MRLQLQJ D ³0DLOLQJ/LVWIRU6DOHVDQG6SHFLDOV´ 8VHUV RI WKH 6NXQN :HEVLWH PD\ HQWHU WKHLU HPDLO DGGUHVV WR MRLQ WKLV ³0DLOLQJ/LVWIRU6DOHVDQG6SHFLDOV´ 1RJHRJUDSKLFUHVWULFWLRQH[LVWVIRUWKH6NXQN:HEVLWH¶V³0DLOLQJ/LVWIRU Case 2:18-cv-02332-JAT Document 49 Filed 05/15/19 Page 3 of 28 6DOHVDQG6SHFLDOV´ 'HIHQGDQWVLGHQWLI\WKHLUSURGXFWVDQGRIIHUWKRVHSURGXFWVVXFKDVWKHLU ³VPHOOSURRI´EDJVIRUVDOHWKURXJKWKH:HEVLWHV 7KH:HEVLWHVSURYLGHDPHDQVIRUXVHUVWRSXUFKDVHDGYHUWLVHGSURGXFWV VXFKDVWKHLU³VPHOOSURRI´EDFNSDFNVRUYDSHFDVHV 7KH:HEVLWHVSURYLGHDPHDQVIRUXVHUVWRSXUFKDVHWKHDGYHUWLVHGSURGXFWV XVLQJDFUHGLWFDUG 7KH:HEVLWHV¶RUGHULQJSDJHVSURYLGHXVHUVZLWKDGURSGRZQER[±ZKLFK LQFOXGHV$UL]RQDDVDQRSWLRQ±WRFKRRVHWKHLUPDLOLQJORFDWLRQZLWKLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV 3ODLQWLII¶VSODFHRIEXVLQHVVLVLQWKLVGLVWULFWDQG'HIHQGDQWVRIIHUWKHLU JRRGVIRUVDOHLQWKLVGLVWULFWDQGWUDQVDFWLQWHUVWDWHEXVLQHVVLQ$UL]RQDDQGHOVHZKHUH DQGDUHVXEMHFWWRSHUVRQDOMXULVGLFWLRQLQWKLVGLVWULFW 9HQXHLVSURSHULQWKLVGLVWULFWSXUVXDQWWR86& E LQWKDWD VXEVWDQWLDOSDUWRIWKHDFWLYLWLHVJLYLQJULVHWRWKHFODLPVDOOHJHGKHUHLQRFFXUUHGLQWKLV GLVWULFW *(1(5$/$//(*$7,216 $ +%,¶V6.81.3URGXFWVDQG6.81.0DUNV +%,LVLQWKHEXVLQHVVRIGHVLJQLQJPDUNHWLQJDQGVHOOLQJWREDFFRUHODWHG SURGXFWVLQFOXGLQJUROOLQJSDSHUV +%,XVHVWKH6.81.DQG6.81.%5$1'QDPHVWRLGHQWLI\VPRNLQJ UHODWHGSURGXFWVVROGE\+%, WKH³6.81.3URGXFWV´ See([KLELW$ +%,RZQV863DWHQWDQG7UDGHPDUN2IILFH ³372´ UHJLVWUDWLRQVIRUVRPH RIWKHPDUNVWKDWLQFRUSRUDWHWKH6.81.DQG6.81.%5$1'QDPHV WKH³6.81. 0DUNV´ See([KLELW% Case 2:18-cv-02332-JAT Document 49 Filed 05/15/19 Page 4 of 28 % 3725HJLVWUDWLRQVRI+%,¶V6.81.0DUNV %DVHGRQLWVXVHRIWKH6.81.0DUNV+%,KDVREWDLQHGWKHIROORZLQJ372 UHJLVWUDWLRQVIRUWKHIROORZLQJ6.81.0DUNV ³+%,¶V5HJLVWHUHG0DUNV´ D 372 7UDGHPDUN 5HJLVWUDWLRQ 1R IRU 6.81. %5$1' DV D WUDGHPDUN IRU ³FLJDUHWWH UROOLQJ SDSHUV FLJDUHWWHV WREDFFR VQXII SLSHV IRU VPRNLQJ FLJDUHWWH OLJKWHUV QRW RI SUHFLRXV PHWDO DQG PDWFKHV´ &ODVV UHJLVWHUHG RQ WKH 3ULQFLSDO5HJLVWHURQ'HFHPEHUDQGEDVHGRQDQDSSOLFDWLRQILOHGLQWKH372 RQ6HSWHPEHUZKLFKLVDGDWHSULRUWRWKHDFWRIILOLQJRI$SSOLFDQW¶VDSSOLFDWLRQ DQGSULRUWRWKHGDWHRI$SSOLFDQW¶VFODLPHGGDWHRIILUVWXVH E 3727UDGHPDUN5HJLVWUDWLRQ1RIRU6.81.DVDWUDGHPDUNIRU ³FLJDUHWWH OLJKWHUV QRW RI SUHFLRXV PHWDO FLJDUHWWH SDSHUV FLJDUHWWH UROOLQJ PDFKLQHV FLJDUHWWHUROOLQJSDSHUVFLJDUHWWHWXEHVFLJDUHWWHVFRQWDLQLQJWREDFFRVXEVWLWXWHVQRWIRU PHGLFDOSXUSRVHVKHUEVIRUVPRNLQJPDFKLQHVDOORZLQJVPRNHUVWRPDNHFLJDUHWWHVE\ WKHPVHOYHVDQGSRFNHWDSSDUDWXVIRUVHOIUROOLQJFLJDUHWWHV´ &ODVV UHJLVWHUHGRQWKH 3ULQFLSDO5HJLVWHURQ1RYHPEHUDQGEDVHGRQDQDSSOLFDWLRQILOHGLQWKH372 RQ-XO\ZKLFKLVDGDWHSULRUWRWKHDFWRIILOLQJRI$SSOLFDQW¶VDSSOLFDWLRQ DQG SULRUWRWKHGDWHRI$SSOLFDQW¶VFODLPHGGDWHRIILUVWXVH F 3727UDGHPDUN5HJLVWUDWLRQ1RIRU6.81.DVDWUDGHPDUNIRU