Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A.v.Mamani Flores, Martin Nazario, aka Martin MamaniDownload PDFTrademark Trial and Appeal BoardDec 18, 2013No. 91203495 (T.T.A.B. Dec. 18, 2013) Copy Citation THIS OPINION IS NOT A PRECEDENT OF THE TTAB Mailed: December 18, 2013 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE _____ Trademark Trial and Appeal Board _____ Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A. v. Mamani Flores, Martin Nazario, aka Martin Mamani ________ Opposition No. 91203495 against Serial No. 85414282 _______ Frank P. Presta of Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C. for Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A. Martin Mamani, an individual, proceeding pro se. _______ Before Bucher, Mermelstein and Wolfson, Administrative Trademark Judges. Opinion by Wolfson, Administrative Trademark Judge: Mamani Flores, Martin Nazario, aka Martin Mamani (hereinafter “applicant”) seeks registration on the Principal Register of the stylized mark for the following goods: carpet cleaning machines; clothes washing machines; dishwashers; drilling machines; electric food blenders; electric food processors; electricity generators; juice extractors; sewing machines; vacuum cleaners in International Class 7; and Opposition No. 91203495 2 air conditioners; air purifiers; clothes dryers; electric coffee makers; electric fans; electric rice cookers; electric sandwich makers; electric toasters; gas stoves; hand-held electric hair dryers; lamps; light bulbs; microwave ovens; refrigerators; water filters; water heaters in International Class 11.1 Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A. (hereinafter “opposer”) has opposed registration of applicant’s mark, asserting as its ground for opposition, that registration of applicant’s mark in connection with goods legally identical to opposer’s own coffee machines would lead to a likelihood of confusion under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d). Opposer claims prior use and ownership of registrations for the standard character mark FAEMA2 for “commercial coffee machines, such as machines for making espresso coffee, and coffee grinders” in International Class 7 and of the design mark depicted below: 3 for “power-operated coffee grinders for commercial institutional and residential use and dosers for use therewith, sold as a unit” in International Class 7 and “commercial, institutional, and residential non-coin operated coffee making 1 Application Serial No. 85414282, filed pursuant to Trademark Act Section 1(b), 15 U.S.C. § 1051(b) (intent to use). The application also includes goods in International Class 9 that have not been opposed, namely “apparatus for recording, transmission, processing and reproduction of sound, images or data; audio speakers; batteries and battery chargers; blank optical discs; blank USB flash drives; computers and computer hardware; digital video cameras; DVD players; earphones; electronic memory card readers; flash memory card; optical disc players; portable media players; radios and telephones; smartphones; televisions and monitors.” 2 Reg. No. 0773489; registered July 21, 1964; renewed. 3 Reg. No. 1325440; registered March 19, 1985; renewed. Opposition No. 91203495 3 machines; water conditioning units” in International Class 11. Opposer further claims prior use of the FAEMA mark on dishwashers, mini refrigerators, ice cube makers, and water softeners. In his answer, applicant denied the salient allegations to opposer’s claim under Section 2(d). Only opposer has filed a brief.4 The Record Pursuant to Trademark Rule 2.122(b), the record includes applicant’s application file and the pleadings. In addition, the record consists of copies of opposer’s notice of reliance on its pleaded registrations and the testimony deposition of Ms. Enrica Nava, opposer’s legal services manager, accompanied by attached exhibits. Applicant did not submit any evidence or testimony. Standing and Priority Because opposer has properly made its pleaded registrations of record, showing that the registrations are in full force and effect, and has filed appropriate assignment documents showing opposer as owner of the pleaded registrations,5 opposer has established its standing, and priority is not in issue with respect to the goods covered by opposer’s registrations. Cunningham v. Laser Golf Corp., 222 F.3d 943, 55 USPQ2d 1842, 1844 (Fed. Cir. 2000); Lipton Industries, Inc. v. Ralston Purina Co., 670 F.2d 1024, 213 USPQ 185, 189 (CCPA 1982); King Candy Co. v. 4 Additional grounds for opposition were stated in the notice of opposition but were not maintained by opposer in its brief; they are considered waived. Applicant likewise asserted the affirmative defenses of laches, estoppel, waiver, unclean hands, and acquiescence; these were not pursued trial and are likewise considered waived. See Research in Motion Limited v. Defining Presence Marketing Group Inc., 102 USPQ2d 1187 (TTAB 2012) (affirmative defenses not pursued at trial deemed waived). 5 The registrations were assigned to opposer on December 15, 2005, and recorded at Reel/Frame 3275/0244 on March 23, 2006. Opposition No. 91203495 4 Eunice King's Kitchen, Inc., 496 F.2d 1400, 182 USPQ 108, 110 (CCPA 1974). Moreover, the record demonstrates opposer’s continuous use of its marks in connection with commercial coffee makers since the 1950s6 and use of its marks on coffee grinders, coffee grinder-dosers, dishwashers, mini refrigerators, ice cube makers, and water softeners. Likelihood of Confusion Our determination under Trademark Act § 2(d) is based on an analysis of the probative facts in evidence that are relevant to the factors bearing on a likelihood of confusion. See In re E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563 (CCPA 1973). See also Palm Bay Imp., Inc. v. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Maison Fondee En 1772, 396 F.3d 1369, 73 USPQ2d 1689 (Fed. Cir. 2005); In re Majestic Distilling Co., Inc., 315 F.3d 1311, 65 USPQ2d 1201 (Fed. Cir. 2003); and In re Dixie Rests. Inc., 105 F.3d 1405, 41 USPQ2d 1531 (Fed. Cir. 1997). In considering the evidence of record on these factors, we keep in mind that “[t]he fundamental inquiry mandated by Section 2(d) goes to the cumulative effect of differences in the essential characteristics of the goods and differences in the marks.” Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co., 544 F.2d 1098, 192 USPQ 24, 29 (CCPA 1976); see also In re Azteca Rest. Enters., Inc., 50 USPQ2d 1209 (TTAB 1999). A. Comparison of the Marks We first consider the du Pont factor of the similarity of the marks, keeping in mind that “[w]hen marks would appear on virtually identical goods or services, the 6 See, e.g., Nava dep. p. 14-16, 10 TTABVUE 17-19; exhibits 16, 17 and 18, 10 TTABVUE 124-160. Opposition No. 91203495 5 degree of similarity necessary to support a conclusion of likely confusion declines.” Century 21 Real Estate Corp. v. Century Life of America, 970 F.2d 874, 23 USPQ2d 1698, 1700 (Fed. Cir. 1992). In comparing the marks, we must consider the marks in their entireties as to appearance, sound, connotation and commercial impression, to determine the similarity or dissimilarity between them. Palm Bay, 73 USPQ2d at 1692. The test, under the first du Pont factor, 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 that confusion as to the source of the goods offered under the respective marks is likely to result. Applicant’s mark is ; opposer’s marks are FAEMA and . Each of the word marks, and the literal portion of opposer’s design mark, begins with the distinctive letter combination “FAE.” As the first portion of each mark, it is most “likely to be impressed upon the mind of a purchaser and remembered,” Presto Products, Inc. v. Nice-Pak Products, Inc., 9 USPQ2d 1895, 1897 (TTAB 1988), particularly because “FAE” is a highly unusual letter combination.7 Although the similarity or dissimilarity of the marks is determined based on the marks in their entireties, there is nothing improper in 7 We may take judicial notice of its rare appearance in print dictionaries. In The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the preface “fae-” is used in only seven words, the most notable being “Faenza,” a city and ceramic-producing center in northern Italy. William Morris, The America Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 470 (1976). It appears in Merriam-Webster in the following additional words: “faecal” (variation of fecal); “faena” (a series of final passes leading to the kill made by the matador in a bullfight); “faerie” (fairyland or fairy); as part of the “Faeroe islands” and “Faeroese” (a resident of the Faeroe islands). At www.merriam-webster.com. At http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/, the online Oxford Dictionaries lists only “faeces,” “Faenza,” and “faerie.” Opposition No. 91203495 6 giving more or less weight 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., 753 F.2d 1056, 224 USPQ 749, 751 (Fed. Cir. 1985). 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 (TTAB 1975). The single letter difference (“m” instead of “d”) does not distinguish the marks in appearance, as it is buried in the middle of the word between the “fae-” prefix and the same final letter, “-a.” See, e.g., In re Dean S. Carlson, 91 USPQ2d 1198, 1200-1201 (TTAB 2009) (no difference in perception between URBANHOUZING and URBANHOUSING). Further, the slight variation in spelling does not impact whatever meaning attaches to the parties’ respective marks, as each word appears to be fanciful and without a recognizable connotation. In his answer,8 applicant argues that the Office commonly registers marks that differ by only a single letter, and attached copies of two such sets of registrations, Reg. Nos. 2409327 and 1566766 for the marks WEIDA for “drill chuck” and WEIMA for “woodwaste handling machinery” and Reg. Nos. 2930411 and 1616442 for the marks FADA for “plumbing fixtures” and FADAL for “vertical machining centers.” However, third-party registrations attached to pleadings are not of record unless they are properly introduced during the party’s testimony 8 An answer is not a platform for argument, and inasmuch as applicant did not file a brief, his arguments are technically moot. We have discussed them here solely for sake of completeness. Opposition No. 91203495 7 period. Trademark Rule 2.122(c).9 Even if these registrations had been properly introduced, they would not prove that applicant’s mark is dissimilar to opposer’s marks because there are only four of them, they are not evidence that the marks are in use, and the marks and goods listed in each registration are clearly dissimilar to each other and to the goods at issue herein. Applicant further argues that confusion is avoided because his mark is stylized. Applicant is mistaken. Opposer’s word mark is registered in typed format,10 and could be presented in any font, including that in which applicant’s mark appears. Citigroup Inc. v. Capital City Bank Group, Inc., 637 F.3d 1344, 1353, 98 USPQ2d 1253, 1259 (Fed. Cir. 2011). With respect to applicant’s argument that there can be no likelihood of confusion because the examining attorney did not cite opposer’s marks against applicant’s application, we remind applicant that the Board is not bound by an examining attorney’s prior determination as to registrability. See McDonald’s Corp. v. McClain, 37 USPQ2d 1274 (TTAB 1995). As for opposer’s design mark, the word FAEMA dominates the mark because it is the only portion that is pronounceable; the design is an abstraction, possibly of a building, and does not lend itself to a simple verbal description by which prospective customers would call for opposer’s goods. When a mark comprises both a word and a design, the word is normally accorded greater weight because it would be used by purchasers to request the goods or services. See In re Appetito Provisions 9 For the same reason, the single third-party registration (for the mark for agricultural machines) that applicant submitted with his answer is not admissible evidence; even if it were, it is of no probative value. 10 “Typed drawing” form is now known as standard character form. See Trademark Rule 2.52 (a): “Standard character (typed) drawing.” Opposition No. 91203495 8 Co., 3 USPQ2d 1553 (TTAB 1987). For the same reasons as discussed above, the single letter difference between the dominant FAEMA portion of opposer’s design mark and applicant’s mark does not avoid likely confusion. Nor does the single letter difference sufficiently distinguish the marks in terms of pronunciation. Although pronunciation may vary from individual to individual and even differ from that intended by either party (because of potential uncertainty as to how the prefix FAE- is pronounced), the two marks will likely be verbalized in a similar manner by consumers, given that they both start with the letter string FAE, are made up of only two syllables, and the final syllable ends in the letter “a” in each mark. As for connotation, there is no evidence in the record as to the meaning, if any, of the term FAEDA. The term FAEMA is an acronym for the phrase “Fabbrica Articoli Elettromeccanici Meccanici Affini,” but opposer does not use the phrase in its advertising entered into the record and it is unlikely that opposer’s consumers are aware of the underlying meaning of the acronym. It is more likely that consumers would consider the marks to be arbitrary terms with a foreign “flair,” as suggested by opposer in its brief. Overall, the marks convey similar commercial impressions, particularly in light of their shared unusual prefix and similar overall appearance. This du Pont factor favors a finding of likelihood of confusion. B. Similarity of the Goods, Channels of Trade, and Conditions of Sale We turn next to the similarity or dissimilarity, and nature of, the goods described in the application and registrations, basing our evaluation on the Opposition No. 91203495 9 identifications of the goods as listed therein.11 Octocom Systems, Inc. v. Houston Computers Services Inc., 918 F.2d 937, 16 USPQ2d 1783, 1787 (Fed. Cir. 1990). See also Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Packard Press Inc., 281 F.3d 1261, 62 USPQ2d 1001 (Fed. Cir. 2002). It is settled that it is not necessary that the respective goods be identical or even competitive in order to support a finding of a likelihood of confusion. That is, the issue is not whether consumers would confuse the goods themselves, but rather whether they would be confused as to the source of the goods. See In re Rexel Inc., 223 USPQ 830 (TTAB 1984). The goods need only be sufficiently related that consumers would be likely to assume, upon encountering the goods under similar marks, that the goods originate from, are sponsored or authorized by, or are otherwise connected to the same source. See In re Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc., 748 F.2d 1565, 223 USPQ 1289 (Fed. Cir. 1984); In re Melville Corp., 18 USPQ2d 1386 (TTAB 1991). In International Class 11, applicant’s goods include “electric coffee makers.” These goods are legally identical to the “commercial coffee machines, such as machines for making espresso coffee” in opposer’s registration for the standard 11 On February 23, 2012, applicant electronically filed an amendment to the identification of goods of his application through the TEAS system. The proposed amendment is unacceptable and will not be entered. In the first instance, the filing is procedurally improper because it was filed not with the Board, but with the Trademark Examining Operation. See TBMP § 514 (June 2013) (request to amend application involved in a Board proceeding must be filed with the Board). Further, a pending application that is involved in a Board proceeding may not be amended except with opposer’s consent and the Board’s approval, or upon motion granted by the Board. Trademark Rule 2.133(a), 37 C.F.R. 2.133(a). Clearly, opposer did not consent to applicant’s proposed amendment. If construed as a motion to amend, it must be denied; applicant did not consent to the entry of judgment on the question of a likelihood of confusion with the goods to be deleted. Drive Trademark Holdings LP v. Inofin, 83 USPQ2d 1433, 1435 (TTAB 2007) (consent to entry of judgment is necessary before amendment will be entered). Accordingly, the issue of likelihood of confusion has been determined on the basis of the identification of goods as filed. Opposition No. 91203495 10 character mark FAEMA, and to the “commercial, institutional, and residential non- coin operated coffee making machines” in opposer’s registration for the mark . Because of the legal identity between the parties’ goods in this class, it is unnecessary to consider whether there would also be a likelihood of confusion with respect to the other goods of Class 11 in applicant’s application. See Tuxedo Monopoly, Inc. v. General Mills Fun Group, 648 F.2d 1335, 209 USPQ 986, 988 (CCPA 1981) (a likelihood of confusion must be found if there is likely to be confusion with respect to any item that comes within the identification of goods or services in the class). The second du Pont factor, similarity of the goods, favors a finding of likelihood of confusion with respect to Class 11. In International Class 7, applicant seeks registration for the following goods: carpet cleaning machines; clothes washing machines; dishwashers; drilling machines; electric food blenders; electric food processors; electricity generators; juice extractors; sewing machines; vacuum cleaners. Opposer’s registration for the mark FAEMA covers: “commercial coffee machines, such as machines for making espresso coffee, and coffee grinders.” Its registration for the mark covers “power-operated coffee grinders for commercial institutional and residential use and dosers for use therewith, sold as a unit” and “commercial, institutional, and residential non-coin operated coffee making machines; water conditioning units.” In addition, opposer claims use of its marks on dishwashers, mini refrigerators, ice cube makers, and water softeners.12 12 Opposer’s witness testified that opposer has sold “dishwashers” under the mark FAEMA in the United States. Nava dep., p. 17, 10 TTABVUE 20. She also testified that opposer Opposition No. 91203495 11 Although opposer did not directly address the relationship, if any, between its and applicant’s Class 7 goods, several of the goods in applicant’s application are common kitchen appliances, as are opposer’s coffee makers, grinders and grinder- dosers. It is commonly known that kitchen appliances used for food production, such as electric food blenders and food processors, are likely to be manufactured or sold by the same entity as would sell coffee machines and juice extractors. Although applicant’s identification of goods also includes dishwashers, goods that are legally identical to opposer’s dishwashers, opposer has failed to establish that its sale of dishwashers in the United States pre-dates the filing date of applicant’s application. Accordingly, with respect to Class 7, the second du Pont factor, similarity of the goods, is considered to only slightly favor opposer. Turning first to the International Class 7 goods, regarding channels of distribution and likely purchasers, opposer’s registration for the standard character mark FAEMA is restricted in that it only recites commercial coffee machines. However, applicant’s identification of goods does not contain any trade channel or purchaser limitations and could be sold either at retail, through distributors or wholesalers, or directly to commercial establishments. Thus, there is potential for trade channel overlap. With regard to the International Class 11 goods, because there is partial legal identity of the goods, we may presume the channels of trade and classes of purchasers for these goods are identical. See American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities Inc. v. Child Health Research Institute, 101 USPQ2d uses the mark FAEMA on “mini refrigerators, ice cube makers, water softeners.” Nava dep., p. 10, 10 TTABVUE 13. Opposition No. 91203495 12 1022, 1028 (TTAB 2011); In re Smith and Mehaffey, 31 USPQ2d 1531, 1532 (TTAB 1994) (“Because the goods are legally identical, they must be presumed to travel in the same channels of trade, and be sold to the same class of purchasers.”). As further proof that the trade channels for the goods in International Class 11 overlap, opposer’s witness, Ms. Nava, testified that in addition to its professional commercial line of coffee makers sold to “restaurants, café, hotel, and the food service industry in general,”13 a “small coffee machine” is also sold at the retail level.14 As to the goods in Class 7, Ms. Nava testified that these are the types of goods that could be sold through the same distribution channels as would be opposer’s products in the United States.15 Accordingly, these du Pont factors weigh in favor of a finding of likelihood of confusion. As for conditions of sale, although the record shows that opposer’s goods are relatively expensive and typically sold to a professional class of buyers, who may be presumed to be generally sophisticated, because there are no restrictions in applicant’s identification of goods, we must presume that applicant’s customers would include the same class of buyers. Further, opposer’s registration for its mark is not restricted to commercial sales, and the identification of goods for applicant’s mark in the application is not restricted or limited to any particular class of purchaser. Thus, this factor also favors opposer. 13 Nava dep., p. 24, 10 TTABVUE 27. 14 Id. 15 Nava dep., pp. 34-35, 10 TTABVUE 37-38. Opposition No. 91203495 13 C. Strength of Opposer’s Mark FAEMA Opposer’s predecessor, FAEMA (“Fabbrica Articoli Elettromeccanici Meccanici Affini”), was established as a factory in 1945, manufacturing various electro-mechanical appliances in Italy.16 Ms. Nava testified that the company “started to use [the] trademark in [the] United States in the ‘50s with a distributor.”17 Her testimony is reinforced by one of opposer’s brochures set forth at exhibit 4 to her deposition, dated 1957. Although printed in Italian, the brochure lists a United States trading company, including its address. Exhibit 5 to the same deposition, a brochure dated 1960-1970, includes the tagline “Faema in America” and a picture of an American flag.18 At least by the 1970’s, opposer’s predecessor had a presence in the United States selling coffee machines under the FAEMA mark in the United States through a network of distributors; exhibit 2 shows a map that includes three United States distributors and is identified as “the leaflet of the ‘70s.”19 Furthermore, the pleaded registration for the standard character mark FAEMA was filed in 1963, upon which date opposer may rely as the date of first use of the mark in the United States for the goods identified in opposer’s registrations.20 In 1977, FAEMA declared insolvency and was reorganized into three new companies, one of which was La Nuova Faema S.p.A., which continued the 16 Exhibit 1, 10 TTABVUE 48-58. 17 Nava dep., p. 12, 10 TTABVUE 15. 18 Exhibit 4 is at 10 TTABVUE 66 and exhibit 5 is at 10 TTABVUE 67. 19 Nava dep., p. 13, 10 TTABVUE 16. 20 Absent evidence establishing the asserted date of first use in the registration, a registrant may rely on the filing date of the registration’s underlying application. Trademark Act § 2(d), 7(c) and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1052(d), 1057(c) and 1127; See T.A.B. Systems v. PacTel Teletrac, 77 F.3d 1372, 37 USPQ2d 1879 (Fed. Cir. 1996); Intersat Corp. v. International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, 226 USPQ 154 (TTAB 1985). Opposition No. 91203495 14 production of coffee machines. This company was merged into Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A. in 2006.21 Coffee machines, coffee grinders, and coffee dosers22 have been continuously manufactured by opposer and its predecessor from the reorganization to the present.23 Ms. Nava further attested to use of the mark FAEMA on dishwashers, water softeners, and mini-refrigerators, and that opposer currently sells “mini-refrigerators” under both the standard character mark and the design mark.24 From 1995 to 2012, opposer’s approximate gross sales in the United States of products bearing the mark FAEMA exceeded $24,000,000.25 Advertising expenses for the period 2005 to 2010 totaled $145,000.26 These sales and advertising figures are indicia of the strength of the mark, which taken together with opposer’s long years of use of the mark, show that the mark enjoys a favorable reputation at least in the field of commercial coffee machines. D. Lack of Actual Confusion Applicant argues in his answer that there has been no injury to opposer because there has been no actual confusion. It is axiomatic that actual confusion need not be shown in order for a plaintiff in an opposition proceeding to prevail; a likelihood of confusion is all that is required. Herbko International Inc. v. Kappa Books Inc., 308 F.3d 1156, 64 USPQ2d 1375, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Moreover, applicant has filed for registration on an intent-to-use basis and has not shown that 21 The merger was recorded on March 23, 2006 at Reel/Frame 3275/0246. 22 A “doser” is a device that measures the appropriate dose of coffee beans necessary to produce a cup of coffee. Nava dep., p. 19, 10 TTABVUE 22. 23 Nava dep., p. 14, 10 TTABVUE 17. 24 Nava dep., p. 21, 10 TTABVUE 24; exhibit 9B, 11 TTABVUE. 25 Nava dep., p. 31, 10 TTABVUE 34; exhibit 17, 10 TTABVUE 127. 26 Nava dep., p. 30, 10 TTABVUE 33; exhibit 16, 10 TTABVUE 124-126. Opposition No. 91203495 15 he is, in fact, using his mark. Thus, there has been no opportunity for actual confusion to have arisen. We find this du Pont factor to be neutral. E. Conclusion Opposer has shown that applicant’s mark is substantially similar to opposer’s FAEMA (in standard characters) and marks, and that FAEMA enjoys a favorable reputation at least in the field of commercial coffee machines. These factors, together with the legal identity of one of the goods listed in International Class 11, and the relatedness of the goods in International Class 7, weigh in favor of a finding of likelihood of confusion. We conclude that applicant’s registration of the mark is likely to cause confusion with opposer’s previously used and registered marks FAEMA and when used on or in connection with the goods listed in International Classes 7 and 11 of the application. To the extent we harbor any doubt, we resolve that doubt, as we must, in favor of opposer as the prior registrant. See Hard Rock Café Int’l (USA) Inc. v. Elsea, 56 USPQ2d 1504, 1514 (TTAB 2000); W.R. Grace & Co. v. Herbert J. Meyer Indus., Inc., 190 USPQ 308, 311 (TTAB 1976). Decision: The opposition is sustained under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2(d) with respect to International Classes 7 and 11 only. The application will be forwarded to the Intent-to-Use Unit for processing of a notice of allowance in International Class 9. Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation