AgriGuardian Marketing, LLCDownload PDFTrademark Trial and Appeal BoardMay 9, 2014No. 85428371 (T.T.A.B. May. 9, 2014) Copy Citation THIS OPINION IS NOT A PRECEDENT OF THE TTAB Mailed: May 9, 2014 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE _____ Trademark Trial and Appeal Board _____ In re AgriGuardian Marketing, LLC _____ Serial No. 85428371 _____ AgriGuardian Marketing, LLC, pro se by David N. Sasseville, Ph.D. Kimberly Frye, Trademark Examining Attorney, Law Office 113 (Odette Bonnet, Managing Attorney). _____ Before Quinn, Wolfson, and Masiello, Administrative Trademark Judges. Opinion by Masiello, Administrative Trademark Judge: AgriGuardian Marketing, LLC (“applicant”) filed an application to register on the Principal Register the mark shown below for “Fertilizers for agricultural use,” in International Class 1.1 1 Application Serial No. 85428371, filed on September 21, 2011 under Trademark Act § 1(a), 15 U.S.C. § 1051(a). Applicant amended the statutory basis of the application on June 7, 2012 to Section 1(b), 15 U.S.C. § 1051(b) (intent to use). Serial No. 85428371 2 The application includes the following description of the mark: “The mark consists of a vertical three leafed plant that separates the word AgriGuardian. The plant extends below the text to look similar to the horizon.” Color is not a feature of the mark. The trademark examining attorney refused registration under § 2(d) of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d), on the ground that applicant’s mark, as used in connection with applicant’s goods, so resembles the registered mark GUARDIAN as to be likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive. The cited mark is registered in typed form for “Slow release water soluble nitrogen fertilizer for use as an additive to improve the utilization of nitrogen in fluid fertilizer for agricultural use,” in International Class 1.2 When the refusal was made final, applicant filed a request for reconsideration, which the examining attorney denied. This appeal ensued. Applicant and the examining attorney have filed briefs and applicant has filed a reply brief. 1. Evidentiary matters. As an initial matter, we note that applicant has submitted evidence with its reply brief. Such evidence is untimely and we have not considered it. “The record in the application should be complete prior to the filing of an appeal. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board will ordinarily not consider additional evidence filed with the Board by the appellant or by the examiner after the appeal is filed.” 2 Reg. No. 1593699, issued on May 1, 1990; Section 15 affidavit acknowledged; renewed. Prior to November 2, 2003, “standard character” drawings were known as “typed” drawings. A typed mark is the legal equivalent of a standard character mark. TMEP § 807.03(i) (April 2014). Serial No. 85428371 3 37 C.F.R. § 2.142(d). See also TBMP § 1207.01 (3rd ed., June, 2013). The prohibition on additional evidence “is especially true with respect to evidence submitted for the first time with a reply brief, to which the examining attorney may not respond.” In re City of Houston, 101 USPQ2d 1534, 1537 (TTAB 2012), aff’d, 731 F.3d 1326, 108 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 2013). Appendix B of applicant’s appeal brief refers to the internet addresses, or “URLs,” of eight websites. Reference to a URL, unaccompanied by any copy of the matter located at the URL, is insufficient to make internet materials of record in a Board proceeding. The content available on the internet is constantly in flux and, if an applicant wishes to have such content considered by the Board, it must capture and submit, in a timely manner and together with the date accessed and the location at which the matter is found, a copy of the specific matter to be considered. In any event, for the reasons set forth in the preceding paragraph, any such matter submitted for the first time with applicant’s appeal brief would have been untimely. 2. Refusal under Section 2(d). Our determination under Section 2(d) is based on an analysis of all of the probative facts in evidence that are relevant to the factors bearing on the issue of likelihood of confusion, as set forth in In re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563, 567 (CCPA 1973). In any likelihood of confusion analysis, two key considerations are the similarities between the marks and the similarities between the goods and services at issue. See Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co., 544 F.2d 1098, 192 USPQ 24, 29 (CCPA 1976). In this case, Serial No. 85428371 4 applicant and the examining attorney have also submitted evidence and arguments regarding trade channels, customers and conditions under which sales are made, coexistence of the marks at issue without actual confusion, and a number of other considerations. We will address each factor in turn. (a) The marks. We consider the similarity or dissimilarity of the marks at issue in terms of their appearance, sound, meaning, and overall commercial impression. See Palm Bay Imports, Inc. v. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Maison Fondee En 1772, 396 F.3d 1369, 73 USPQ2d 1689, 1691 (Fed. Cir. 2005). We must base our determination on a comparison of the marks in their entireties. In re National Data Corp., 753 F.2d 1056, 224 USPQ 749, 751 (Fed. Cir. 1985). See also Franklin Mint Corp. v. Master Mfg. Co., 667 F.2d 1005, 212 USPQ 23, 234 (CCPA 1981). However, an analysis of individual aspects of the marks is a permissible part of our determination. Price Candy Company v. Gold Medal Candy Corporation, 220 F.2d 759, 105 USPQ 266, 268 (CCPA 1955). 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 a consideration of the marks in their entireties. In re National Data Corp., 224 USPQ at 751. “The proper test is not a side-by-side comparison of the marks, but instead ‘whether the marks are sufficiently similar in terms of their commercial impression’ such that persons who encounter the marks would be likely to assume a connection between the parties.” Coach Servs., Inc. v. Serial No. 85428371 5 Triumph Learning LLC, 668 F.3d 1356, 101 USPQ2d 1713, 1721 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (citation omitted). We note first that applicant’s mark includes within it the entirety of the cited registered mark GUARDIAN. In such cases, confusing similarity has often been found. See The Wella Corp, v. California Concept Corp., 558 F.2d 1019, 194 USPQ 419, 422 (CCPA 1977) (CALIFORNIA CONCEPT (with surfer design) likely to cause confusion with CONCEPT); Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Memphis, Tennessee, Inc. v. Joseph E. Seagram and Sons, Inc., 526 F.2d 556, 188 USPQ 105 (CCPA 1975) (BENGAL LANCER and BENGAL); In re West Point-Pepperell, Inc., 468 F.2d 200, 175 USPQ 558 (CCPA 1972) (WEST POINT PEPPERELL (with griffin design) and WEST POINT); Johnson Publishing Co. v. International Development Ltd., 221 USPQ 155, 156 (TTAB 1982) (EBONY DRUM and EBONY); In re Cosvetic Laboratories, Inc., 202 USPQ 842 (TTAB 1979) (HEAD START COSVETIC and HEAD START); S. Gumpert Co., Inc. v. ITT Continental Baking Company, 191 USPQ 409 (TTAB 1976) (FLAV-O-BAKE and FLAVO). Applicant’s mark differs in appearance from the registered mark by virtue of its initial literal element AGRI and its “three leafed plant” design. However, in the context of goods for agricultural use, the designation AGRI is not particularly distinctive. AGRI is suggestive of the word “agriculture” and, as the examining attorney has shown, “agri-” is a prefix “that usually refer[s] to agriculture.”3 The plant design is also suggestive of agriculture and, for that reason, is not highly 3 Entry for “Agro ” from , final Office action of February 10, 2013 at 12-13. Serial No. 85428371 6 distinctive as a source indicator for goods that are for agricultural use. Moreover, in the case of marks consisting of words and a design, the words are normally given greater weight because they would be used by consumers to request the products. In re Dakin’s Miniatures, Inc., 59 USPQ2d 1593, 1596 (TTAB 1999); In re Appetito Provisions Co., 2 USPQ2d 1553, 1554 (TTAB 1987). See also Sweats Fashions Inc. v. Pannill Knitting Co., 833 F.2d 1560, 4 USPQ2d 1793, 1798 (Fed. Cir. 1987); Giant Food, Inc. v. Nation’s Food Service, Inc., 710 F.2d 1565, 218 USPQ 390 (Fed. Cir. 1983). In sound, applicant’s mark resembles the cited mark in that both include the designation GUARDIAN, which would be pronounced the same in each mark. However, applicant’s mark is phonetically distinguished from the cited mark by virtue of its prefix AGRI. With respect to suggestive meaning or connotation, applicant argues that its mark “was selected to mean ‘protector of agriculture’ and/or ‘protector of land.’”4 Applicant also argues that its mark, taken as a whole, “suggests a direct relationship to plants and plant growth, which is well understood by farmers and growers who are the sole consumers for these products.”5 We see little distinction between the respective meanings or connotations of applicant’s mark and the cited mark. We agree with applicant that customers are likely to understand the word 4 Applicant’s brief at 6. 5 Id. at 7. Serial No. 85428371 7 “guardian” to mean “protector,” as this is one of its commonly accepted meanings.6 We also agree that the addition of AGRI and the plant design are likely to cause the mark to suggest the idea of a protector of the land or of agriculture. However, these same meanings are very likely to be perceived in the cited mark as well. There is no reason to believe that the word “guardian” in the cited mark would be understood to have a meaning different from “protector.” Further, as the cited mark is for use in the field of agriculture, it will suggest to customers the idea of a “protector” having something to do with agriculture. Overall, we find that the marks are quite similar in meaning and connotation. Considering the marks in their entireties, we find that their similarities in appearance, sound and meaning outweigh their differences, and that they create similar overall commercial impressions. Accordingly, the du Pont factor relating to the similarity or dissimilarity of the marks weighs in favor of a finding of likelihood of confusion. (b) The goods. We next consider the similarity or dissimilarity of the goods at issue. The goods of both applicant and registrant are identified as being “for agricultural use”; however, applicant argues that they are otherwise extremely different in nature, pointing out that applicant’s goods are “fertilizers” and registrant’s goods are 6 This significance of the word “guardian” is confirmed by WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1007 (1993), which defines it to mean, as a noun, “one that guards or secures : one to whom a person or thing is committed for protection, security or preservation”; and, as an adjective, “performing or appropriate to the office of a protector.” The Board may take judicial notice of dictionary definitions. Univ. of Notre Dame du Lac v. J.C. Gourmet Food Imp. Co., 213 USPQ 594 (TTAB 1982), aff'd, 703 F.2d 1372, 217 USPQ 505 (Fed. Cir. 1983). Serial No. 85428371 8 fertilizer additives (as identified in the registration, they are “… fertilizer for use as an additive…”). Applicant describes its goods as “fertilizers, primarily foliar applied micronutrients.”7 By contrast, applicant contends that registrant’s goods are not a fertilizer and cannot be used as a fertilizer: [Registrant’s product] improves the performance of nitrogen fertilizers, and [it] is always added to and used with nitrogen fertilizer.… [N]o one would consider using [it] to replace urea, anhydrous ammonia, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), or other commonly used nitrogen fertilizer. … The only labeled and acceptable use of the goods represented by the Registered mark for the intended consumers is as a nitrification inhibitor. … A nitrification inhibitor tries to suppress or kill the microorganisms that cause this transformation [of ammonium to nitrate] in the soil. Because nitrate is the end product of nitrification and it readily leaches from the soil with rainfall or irrigation resulting in a loss of the applied nitrogen fertilizers, growers may want to use a nitrification inhibitor such as [registrant’s product] to slow down nitrogen loss.8 Applicant also points out that “EPA (or anyone else) does not classify nitrification inhibitors as fertilizers.”9 Applicant’s contentions regarding the nature of registrant’s product is largely consistent with the identification of goods in the cited registration (“slow release water soluble nitrogen fertilizer for use as an additive to improve the utilization of 7 Applicant’s brief at 10. 8 Id. at 9-11. 9 Id. at 15. Serial No. 85428371 9 nitrogen in fluid fertilizer for agricultural use”). However, we must point out that applicant has not made any evidence of record to demonstrate his contentions that all goods of the type identified in the registration are necessarily “nitrification inhibitors,” or to show that such goods are not, in fact, considered in the trade to be “fertilizers” (despite the fact that the goods are identified as “fertilizers” in the registration). As we noted above, references in applicant’s brief to websites, unnamed “soils textbooks,” and “University Extension publications” do not make these materials of record. Accordingly, we have no more to rely upon than the statements set forth in applicant’s brief, which constitute argument, not evidence. In any event, even if we take all of applicant’s contentions as true, we still perceive a substantial commercial relationship between the goods of applicant and registrant. Most obviously, the goods of both applicant and registrant are for use in agricultural applications; this is explicit in the respective identifications of goods. In addition, both types of goods have similar purposes, inasmuch as both are used to improve soil conditions in order to promote better agricultural results.10 Applicant argues that the goods do not have a common purpose: “[Registrant’s product] has a total different purpose (it kills or suppresses selected soil microorganisms) compared to [applicant’s] products… (provides essential plant micronutrients), there is no comparison, and thus no confusion, in the real world.”11 Although the 10 See, e.g., advertisement for applicant’s AGRI-GRO ULTRA (“increases yields and crop performance….”), submitted as specimen of use with application filed September 21, 2011. 11 Reply brief at 3. Serial No. 85428371 10 two types of products, being different chemical substances, have different specific purposes, nonetheless they have the same general purpose to improve plant growth, and this similarity is likely to lead customers to believe that such goods could emanate from the same producer. Applicant’s argument that “growers who would use these products will clearly know the difference”12 is unavailing. The question is not whether customers would mistake one product for the other, but rather whether there is a likelihood of confusion as to the source of the products. In re Rexel Inc., 223 USPQ 830 (TTAB 1984). It is also significant that the goods of applicant and registrant are types of goods that would be used together. Applicant’s goods are agricultural fertilizers and, as applicant explains, registrant’s product “is always added to and used with nitrogen fertilizer.”13 If goods are complementary in nature, or used together, this relatedness can support a finding of likelihood of confusion. See, e.g., In re Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc., 748 F.2d 1565, 223 USPQ 1289, 1290 (Fed. Cir. 1984); In re Cook Medical Technologies LLC, 105 USPQ2d 1377, 1380 (TTAB 2012). In connection with this point, it bears noting that applicant’s identification of goods is broad and would include nitrogen fertilizer within its scope. Even if applicant does not in fact sell nitrogen fertilizer, it is the identification of goods in its application which governs, because it defines the scope of the registration that applicant seeks. See Octocom Syst. Inc. v. Houston Computers Svcs. Inc., 918 F.2d 937, 16 USPQ2d 1783, 1787 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (“the question of registrability of an applicant’s mark 12 Id. 13 Applicant’s brief at 9. Serial No. 85428371 11 must be decided on the basis of the identification of goods set forth in the application regardless of what the record may reveal as to the particular nature of an applicant’s goods…”). For the reasons discussed, we find that the goods of applicant and registrant are related in such a manner that customers could mistakenly believe that they emanate from the same source. Accordingly, the du Pont factor of the similarity or dissimilarity of the goods favors a finding of likelihood of confusion. (c) Trade channels. We next consider the similarity or dissimilarity of established, likely-to- continue trade channels for the goods. Applicant states that its goods “are rarely, if ever, sold in stores”;14 rather, they are sold directly to end-user growers and crop producers through knowledgeable distributors and dealers who are under contract to applicant.15 Applicant continues: It is correct that both [registrant] and [applicant] sell products through independent distributors and dealers. However, the chances of them being purchased from the same source of supply (the independent dealer or distributor) is virtually nil since the companies have totally different distribution networks. To [applicant’s] knowledge, no AGRIGUARDIAN distributor or dealer has ever marketed [registrant’s] products along with AGRIGUARDIAN products, and again AGRIGUARDIAN has no comparable products to the Guardian line of products. Part of the reason for independent distribution networks, is because of the high degree of technical knowledge needed to sell agricultural inputs (whether fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, etc.). Distributors and 14 Id. at 18. 15 Id. at 7. Serial No. 85428371 12 dealers tend to stay with one line of products that they can learn and promote.16 [Registrant] is a multilevel distribution network, similar to AMWAY, in which sales are only made through contracted “Independent Business Owners”…. AGRIGUARDIAN is [sic] also sell products through contracted distributors, but there is no overlap among these two groups of distributors. As part of the AGRIGUARDIAN contract with its distributors, an AGRIGUARDIAN distributor must obtain written permission to sell products produced and marketed by other companies. No AGRIGUARDIAN distributor has ever filed a request to also sell [registrant’s] products.17 Applicant’s contentions that no dealer has ever handled goods of both applicant and registrant together and that exclusivity contracts will guarantee that their goods will not be handled by the same distributor or dealer are not persuasive. These circumstances may change when a dealer finds that it is commercially expedient to handle both types of goods, or as a result of terminated contracts or shifting loyalties. Neither applicant’s identification of goods nor that in the cited registration includes any limitation providing that the goods will be handled only by exclusive distributors and dealers. Accordingly, we must presume that the goods will move in all channels of trade normal for such goods. See Paula Payne Products Co. v. Johnson Publishing Co., 473 F.2d 901, 177 USPQ 76 (CCPA 1973); Kalart Co. v. Camera-Mart, Inc., 258 F.2d 956, 119 USPQ 139 (CCPA 1958). The examining attorney has presented evidence of several agricultural suppliers that offer both 16 Id. at 16-17. 17 Reply brief at 3. Serial No. 85428371 13 “fertilizer additives” and various forms of dry and liquid fertilizer.18 There is no countervailing evidence to indicate that such goods would not be handled by a single distributor. Accordingly, we find that this du Pont factor favors a finding of likelihood of confusion. (d) Customers and conditions of sale. Applicant states that the customers of applicant and registrant are “crop producers, growers and farmers,”19 and characterizes them as “intelligent, sophisticated, careful and motivated” and not subject to impulse purchasing.20 They use large amounts of product and routinely make purchases of “thousands of dollars at a time.”21 Applicant continues: The consumers will not spend this kind of money without understanding what the products do, the benefits of the products to their crops and what the return is on their investment into these products. In other words, the goods are thoroughly investigated and understood before purchasing since they are essential to producing a profitable crop. Also as a result of this investigation, growers know the manufactures [sic] and suppliers of the products they buy from. Failure to thoroughly know the products could result in severe economic losses to the consumers, because the goods influence both the yield and quality of the crops harvested, which in turn influences their profitability. The consumers are actually business people making business decisions that impact their livelihood.… These consumers read product literature 18 Website located at ; see also website at , offering a “urease inhibitor [that] stabilizes nitrogen…” as well as “nitrogen fertilizers”; both submitted with the final Office action of February 10, 2013 at 29-33 and 20-21, respectively. 19 Applicant’s brief at 7, 10. 20 Id. at 18. 21 Id. at 19. Serial No. 85428371 14 and labels, and seek advice from distributors, university extension personnel, private consultants, and other growers who have use [sic] the products.22 It behooves the distributor to educate the grower on what the products are, what they do, and their proper use.… Education and marketing to growers on products are provided by one-on-one sales contacts, sales literature, grower meetings, university extension/consultant recommendations, and internet searches.23 The examining attorney argues that “the fact that purchasers are sophisticated or knowledgeable in a particular field does not necessarily mean that they are sophisticated or knowledgeable in the field of trademarks or immune from source confusion.”24 A number of factors – i.e., that the relevant customers are business people making business-related decisions,25 that the cost of the goods is potentially high, and that sales may be made in a one-on-one setting – indicate that customers may use an elevated degree of care in making their product selections. Of course, even in such settings, the question of whether two offered brands are related to each other is not necessarily an issue of prime importance to the customer. Nonetheless, on balance, we find that this du Pont factor weighs against a finding of likelihood of confusion. 22 Id. 23 Reply brief at 3. 24 Examining attorney’s brief at 9. 25 One may question whether the limiting language “for agricultural use” necessarily limits the goods of applicant and registrant to goods used in the business of farming, to the exclusion of goods used by consumers in cultivating personal gardens. However, for purposes of considering applicant’s argument we will assume that the goods are for use in the business of agriculture. Serial No. 85428371 15 (e) Absence of actual confusion. Applicant contends that it has been in business since 2005 and that since then applicant and registrant have coexisted, with both having warehouses and offices in Minnesota. “In fact, [registrant’s product] has been recommended to [applicant’s] customers by [registrant’s] distributors, dealers, employees and owners whenever a nitrification inhibitor… is needed or desired.”26 Applicant contends that during that time registrant has not expressed any concern about such co- existence,27 and there has been no confusion involving the goods of applicant and registrant.28 Although the statements in applicant’s brief suggest that there has been a meaningful opportunity for confusion to occur, applicant has submitted no evidence to prove these allegations. In an ex parte proceeding in which registrant has no opportunity to be heard, we simply cannot accept applicant’s unsupported statements as to the conditions of co-existence and applicant’s own lack of awareness of any instances of confusion. See In re Majestic Distilling Co., Inc., 315 F.3d 1311, 65 USPQ2d 1201, 1205 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (“uncorroborated statements of no known instances of actual confusion are of little evidentiary value”). See also In re Bisset-Berman Corp., 476 F.2d 640, 177 USPQ 528, 529 (CCPA 1973) (self- serving testimony of applicant’s corporate president’s unawareness of instances of actual confusion was not conclusive that actual confusion did not exist). 26 Applicant’s brief at 8. 27 Id. 28 Id. at 20. Serial No. 85428371 16 Accordingly, the du Pont factor of the length of time during and conditions under which there has been contemporaneous use without evidence of actual confusion is considered neutral. (f) Other considerations. Applicant seeks to distinguish its mark from the cited mark by explaining that AGRIGUARDIAN is used as a company name, while registrant’s GUARDIAN mark is used as a product name.29 This distinction is not germane. Applicant has applied to register its mark as a trademark and, accordingly, we must consider its market impact when used as a trademark, not as a company name. Moreover, nothing in the cited registration requires registrant to use its mark only as a product trademark, as opposed to a house mark for all its goods, a mark identifying a line of goods, or any other type of commercial source indicator. Applicant frequently characterizes the registrant’s mark as “Conklin Guardian,” suggesting that the registered mark is typically displayed together with the house mark Conklin. However, the terms of Section 2(d) require us to compare applicant’s mark to the mark that is registered, not the mark as it appears in the marketplace. 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d). Applicant further argues as follows: ALL agricultural inputs are required by law to contain the name and address of the source of the product being sold. This must be included on the label of every package sold, and if sold in bulk, then on the invoice and bill of lading. Every Guardian® package will contain the name and address of Conklin, while every AGRIGUARDIAN 29 Id. at 8. Serial No. 85428371 17 product will have the name and address of AGRIGUARDIAN.30 Applicant’s contentions regarding legal requirements applicable to labeling are not supported by any citations to law or by any evidence of record.31 In any event, we are not persuaded that this aspect of the marketing of the goods would necessarily dispel confusion. Customers who rely on a trademark as the symbol of the source of the goods may have no knowledge of the corporate name or address of the producer; or they may have no recollection of the name and address that appeared on one product when they encounter another product that bears a similar trademark. Moreover, many businesses consist of groups of entities (such as a parent and its subsidiaries, a group of sister corporations, or a company and its licensed franchisees). Customers may readily believe that there is a connection between goods bearing similar trademarks even though they bear, elsewhere on the label, different corporate names and addresses. We do not discount the possibility that, in cases involving very careful customers, the presence of a trade name on the goods would reduce the likelihood of confusion. However, in the absence of probative evidence of this market practice, we give little weight to this factor. (g) Balancing the factors. Having considered the evidence of record and all relevant du Pont factors, including those not specifically discussed herein, we find that applicant’s mark, as 30 Applicant’s brief at 16. See also reply brief at 2. 31 Applicant’s reply brief at 2 does refer to a publication of the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (apparently a trade association); but no copy of the publication was made of record and it is not the type of matter of which we would take judicial notice. Serial No. 85428371 18 applied to applicant’s goods, so closely resembles the cited registered mark as to be likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to the source of applicant’s goods. Decision: The refusal to register under Section 2(d) is affirmed. Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation