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holding that a "complete phrase may signify something different than the sum of its parts" thus, the district court erred by focusing on the separate terms "duck" and "tours" and not the entire phrase together
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Nos. 07-2078, 07-2246.
Heard March 5, 2008.
Decided June 18, 2008.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Nathaniel M. Gorton, J.
Robert R. Pierce, with whom Christopher D. Engebretson and Pierce Mandell, P.C. were on brief, for plaintiff, appellee.
Joshua M. Dalton, with whom Victor H. Polk, Jr., Ralph C. Martin, II, Lawrence T. Stanley, Jr., and Bingham McCutchen LLP, were on brief for defendant, appellant.
In this trademark infringement dispute, defendant-appellant Super Duck Tours ("Super Duck") appeals a preliminary injunction granted in favor of plaintiff-appellee Boston Duck Tours ("Boston Duck"). Asserting that the phrase "duck tour" and the image of a duck splashing in water are generic, and therefore that there is no likelihood of confusion between Boston Duck's marks and Super Duck's marks, appellant requests that we dissolve the injunction requiring the alteration of its trade name and logo. Appellee has also cross-appealed the order of the district court, arguing that the court committed clear error by not enjoining Super Duck from using the term "duck" in its trade name.
After carefully reviewing the record in this dispute, we conclude that the district court committed clear error by finding the phrase "duck tour" nongeneric, and thereby according it too much weight in its likelihood of confusion analysis. Consequently, the court erred in issuing a preliminary injunction, which prevented Super Duck from using the phrase "duck tour" in its own trade name. The district court also clearly erred in finding a likelihood of confusion between Super Duck's and Boston Duck's design marks. Therefore, the court also should not have issued an injunction preventing Super Duck from using its design mark. We dismiss Boston Duck's cross-appeal as moot given our resolution of the other issues.
I.
A. Duck Tours
We recite the background facts here, adding additional information throughout the analysis where appropriate. Both Boston Duck and Super Duck are in the business of offering sightseeing tours via land and water in Boston, using amphibious vehicles commonly referred to as "ducks." The idea to market such tours to the public was hatched by Melvin Flath shortly after World War II. He purchased DUKWs (pronounced "ducks"), amphibious army vehicles used in the war to function as both trucks and boats, and fitted them with bus seats. His company, based in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, became the first purveyor of such tours in the country.
Recently, these amphibious tours have surfaced in many cities in the United States and abroad, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago, and London. Many of the companies that offer these tours use the phrase "duck tour" in their trade names as a way of describing their services. They also use various logos featuring a cartoon duck and water to advertise and represent their businesses.
B. The Parties
Since 1994, Boston Duck has offered sightseeing tours of the Boston area and Charles River, largely with genuine renovated DUKWs from World War II. Andy Wilson, the founder of Boston Duck, started the company after a visit to Memphis, Tennessee in 1992, where he experienced his first tour. The vehicles, which are painted with a rainbow of colors and marked with the Boston Duck logo, take customers to a number of Boston landmarks, including Charles Street, the State House, the North End, Quincy Market, and Newbury Street. Boston Duck has received national and international press coverage as well as numerous awards for its tours. The tours were featured in the World Series Parade after the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and after the Patriots' 2002, 2004, and 2005 Super Bowl wins. In 2006 alone, over 585,000 customers enjoyed a tour operated by Boston Duck.
See Appendix for an image of the logo. A detailed description of the logo is provided in Section V, infra.
Begun in 2001, Super Duck is also in the business of providing sightseeing tours by land and water. Rather than using renovated DUKWs, Super Duck uses custom-made amphibious vehicles called Hydra-Terras containing several features that make the vessels virtually unsinkable. Because of the Hydra-Terras' features, which make them "larger and more modern" than the original DUKW vehicles, Super Duck decided to adopt the trade name SUPER DUCK TOURS in 2001. The name and the company's super-hero theme seek to portray services that are "bigger and newer"; the company essentially combined the word "super" with the description of the service offered, "duck tours." The "super" theme was also reflected in the company's advertisements and website, which contain a parody of Superman ("It's a bus. It's a boat. It's a Super Duck!") as well as its logo, which consists of a white cartoon duck with an orange bill, muscular arms, and a cape.
Super Duck opened its business in Portland, Maine in 2001 and operated exclusively there until 2003, when the company ceased its operations in Maine and, seeking a larger New England market, started planning operations in Boston. Unable to obtain the necessary approvals and Hackney licenses to begin operations on its own, Super Duck purchased New England Tours in 2006 and thereafter obtained the necessary permits and licenses to conduct its tours. In late 2006 and 2007, Super Duck took steps to begin its Boston operation, including launching its website, advertising its services in local publications, and making substantial capital and resource investments in its operations. In May 2007, Super Duck entered into an agreement with Discover Boston, an independent company that offers trolley tours, whereby Discover Boston agreed to sell tickets for Super Duck tours in exchange for a sales commission. Super Duck introduced its tour operations the same month; the tours avoid the Back Bay area, a focus of Boston Duck's tours, instead concentrating on the Boston waterfront area.
C. The Trademarks
Boston Duck owns several state and federal trademark registrations for the composite word mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS and a composite design mark consisting of the company's name and logo in connection with its sightseeing tour services. For both of these marks, Boston Duck's federal registrations on the Principal Register are subject to disclaimers for the terms "duck" and "tours," meaning that it does not possess exclusive rights to use either term separate and apart from its full, registered mark. See, e.g., Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Int'l, Inc., 950 F.2d 1555, 1560 (Fed. Cir. 1991). Boston Duck also owns two federal trademark registrations, one for the composite word mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS and the second for its composite design mark, in connection with "clothing, namely, sweatshirts, T-shirts, golf shirts, sweaters, visors, and hats." Boston Duck claims a first-use date of 1993 for three of its four registrations; the fourth, the word mark in connection with apparel, claims a first-use date of 1995. Super Duck does not dispute that Boston Duck maintains trademark priority rights in the Boston area with respect to its composite marks.
A "composite mark" is a mark that consists of several separate elements. If a mark contains components that "are so merged together that they cannot be regarded as separate elements . . ., the mark is a single unitary mark." 4 Thomas McCarthy, McCarthy on Trademarks and Unfair Competition § 19:66 (4th ed. 2008).
There are a number of procedural and substantive legal benefits that come with registration of a mark on the Principal Register. See 3 McCarthy, supra, § 19:9. For example, "registration on the Principal Register is prima facie evidence of the validity of the registered mark, of the registration of the mark, of the registrant's ownership of the mark, and of the registrant's exclusive right to use the registered mark." Id.
In connection with its applications for apparel, Boston Duck was required to disclaim the term "Boston," but not "duck" or "tours."
Super Duck maintains one federal registration for the word mark SUPER DUCK TOURS on the Supplemental Register, in connection with its tour services. Super Duck filed for the mark in 2001 on the Principal Register, but its application was rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the "PTO"), which ruled that the phrase was merely descriptive, and therefore not entitled to protection unless Super Duck could establish secondary meaning. As a result, Super Duck agreed to register the mark on the Supplemental Register, and further, to disclaim exclusive use of the phrase "duck tours." The mark has been registered since July 2003, and Super Duck claims a first-use date of 2001.
A mark may be registered on the Supplemental Register if it is inherently non-distinctive (such as a descriptive phrase), and is "capable of achieving trademark status through the acquisition of secondary meaning and distinctiveness." 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:1. A generic term cannot be registered on either the Principal or Supplemental Registers. Id.
D. Procedural History
On July 2, 2007, Boston Duck filed a complaint against Super Duck Tours, alleging federal trademark infringement in violation of Section 32(1) of the Lanham Act, codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1114, federal and state unfair competition, tortious interference with prospective business relationships, and a flock of other state and federal claims. In connection with these claims, Boston Duck asked the court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent Super Duck from using its trademark or logo, or any other mark confusingly similar to Boston Duck's mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS, in connection with its services. Further, it sought to enjoin Super Duck from interfering with Boston Duck's relations with prospective customers.
After receiving affidavits and exhibits from both parties, the district court held a non-testimonial hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction on July 11. Two days later, the court entered its judgment, granting Boston Duck's motion in part and denying it in part. Specifically, the court found the term "duck tours" to be nongeneric for amphibious sightseeing tours in the Boston area, and therefore capable of trademark protection. The court used the eight-part likelihood of confusion test established in Pignons S.A. de Mecanique de Precision v. Polaroid Corp., 657 F.2d 482, 487 (1st Cir. 1981) (the " Pignons factors" or " Pignons analysis"), and concluded that Boston Duck had established a likelihood of success on the merits of its trademark infringement claim. Accordingly, the court enjoined Super Duck from "using the term 'duck tours' or a cartoon duck as a trademark . . . in association with its sightseeing tour service in the greater Boston area." Further, it enjoined Super Duck from using the term "duck" in a two-word or three-word trademark in conjunction with either "Boston" or "tours."
In Pignons, the court stated that when determining whether a likelihood of confusion exists, a court should examine the following factors: "the similarity of the marks; the similarity of the goods; the relationship between the parties' channels of trade; the relationship between the parties' advertising; the classes of prospective purchasers; evidence of actual confusion; the defendant's intent in adopting its mark; and the strength of the plaintiff's mark." 657 F.2d at 487.
The court denied Boston Duck's preliminary injunction request on the tortious interference claim, finding that the tortious conduct alleged by Boston Duck was in fact committed by Discover Boston, an independent agency unrelated to Super Duck. Finally, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 65(c), the court required Boston Duck to post a bond in the amount of $100,000 as security for any costs and damages that may be incurred or suffered by Super Duck should it be determined that the injunction was improvidently granted.
Both Boston Duck and Super Duck challenge on appeal aspects of the district court's judgment. Super Duck challenges the district court's preliminary injunction, arguing that the court erred by not holding that the phrase "duck tours" and the image of a cartoon duck are generic for the services both companies provide. Super Duck further claims that because of this error, the court gave undue weight to the term "duck tours" and the image of a cartoon duck when comparing the parties' respective marks, and thereby improperly found a likelihood of confusion between the marks BOSTON DUCK TOURS and SUPER DUCK TOURS as well as the parties' design marks. Boston Duck cross-appeals, arguing that the district court erred by not enjoining Super Duck from using the word "duck" or "ducks" in any part of its trademark in conjunction with its services.
II.
When deciding a motion for a preliminary injunction, a district court weighs several factors: "(1) the plaintiff's likelihood of success on the merits; (2) the potential for irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction; (3) whether issuing an injunction will burden the defendants less than denying an injunction would burden the plaintiffs; and (4) the effect, if any, on the public interest." United States v. Weikert, 504 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2007). The first factor, the plaintiff's likelihood of success, is "the touchstone of the preliminary injunction inquiry." Philip Morris, Inc. v. Harshbarger, 159 F.3d 670, 674 (1st Cir. 1998). "[I]f the moving party cannot demonstrate that he is likely to succeed in his quest, the remaining factors become matters of idle curiosity." New Coram Wireless Servs., Inc. v. SprintCom, Inc., 287 F.3d 1, 9 (1st Cir. 2002).
On appeal, we review the grant of a preliminary injunction for abuse of discretion. Weikert, 504 F.3d at 6. Within that framework, findings of fact are reviewed for clear error and issues of law are reviewed de novo. Wine and Spirits Retailers, Inc. v. Rhode Island, 418 F.3d 36, 46 (1st Cir. 2005). "[W]e will set aside a district court's ruling on a preliminary injunction motion only if the court clearly erred in assessing the facts, misapprehended the applicable legal principles, or otherwise is shown to have abused its discretion." Id.
III.
Before addressing the specific arguments raised on appeal, we set forth as essential background some basic principles of trademark law related to the use of generic terms as marks. Even though Super Duck has acknowledged that the mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS is entitled to trademark protection, thereby conceding the first element of Boston Duck's trademark infringement claim, see Borinquen Biscuit Corp. v. M. V. Trading Corp., 443 F.3d 112, 116 (1st Cir. 2006), we discuss these background trademark principles because they inform our genericism analysis of the phrase "duck tours."
Although trademarks are not explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution, our federal legal system offers statutory protection for entities that adopt and use trademarks to advertise and market their goods and services. See generally 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051- 1129 (the Lanham Act). This protection is justified by the substantial benefits that trademarks offer for both consumers and businesses. Serving to distinguish and identify goods, as well as their sources, trademarks concisely impart information to consumers, reducing their search costs and allowing them to make decisions that more closely coincide with their preferences. See Ty Inc. v. Perryman, 306 F.3d 509, 510 (7th Cir. 2002) ("The consumer who knows at a glance whose brand he is being asked to buy knows whom to hold responsible if the brand disappoints and whose product to buy in the future if the brand pleases."). Because consumers rely heavily on trademarks when making choices, businesses also have an incentive to maintain product quality, lest they lose disappointed consumers. See id.
By contrast, the Constitution gives Congress the express authority to establish laws governing patents and copyrights. U.S. Const. art. I, § 8; see also 13B Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller Edward H. Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure § 3582 (2d ed. 1984) ("The Constitution gives the Congress express power to enact patent and copyright laws, while the Congress must rely on its general power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce in order to regulate trademarks." (footnote omitted)).
The term "trademark" is used throughout this opinion to include both trademarks and service marks. Trademarks serve to identify and distinguish goods; service marks perform the same function for services. In the context of this appeal, it is a distinction without a difference.
The considerable reliance on trademarks by consumers also creates an incentive for other competing, and typically less successful businesses, "to pass off their inferior brand as the successful brand by adopting a confusingly similar trademark, in effect appropriating the goodwill created by the producer of the successful brand." Id. Trademark law is designed, in part, to prevent these "passing-off practices and the consumer confusion that results from it. See id. Trademark infringement law is specifically targeted to address this concern.
To succeed on a claim of trademark infringement, a plaintiff must establish (1) that its mark is entitled to trademark protection, and (2) that the allegedly infringing use is likely to cause consumer confusion. Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 116. We have interpreted "likely confusion" to mean "more than the theoretical possibility of confusion." Int'l Ass'n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFLCIO v. Winship Green Nursing Ctr., 103 F.3d 196, 200 (1st Cir. 1996). In other words, the allegedly infringing conduct must create "a likelihood of confounding an appreciable number of reasonably prudent purchasers exercising ordinary care." Id. at 201.
A mark is entitled to trademark protection if it is capable of functioning as a source-identifier of goods. Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc., 505 U.S. 763, 769, 112 S.Ct. 2753, 120 L.Ed.2d 615 (1992). Trademark law categorizes proposed marks along a spectrum of distinctiveness, based on their capacity to serve such a source-identifying function. A mark is classified as: (1) generic (least distinctive), (2) descriptive, (3) suggestive, (4) earbitrary, or (5) fanciful (most distinctive). Id. at 768, 112 S.Ct. 2753 (citing Abercrombie Fitch Co. v. Hunting World, Inc., 537 F.2d 4, 9 (2d Cir. 1976)). Marks classified as suggestive — COPPERTONE for sun screen — arbitrary — APPLE for computers — or fanciful — EXXON for petroleum products — are all considered inherently distinctive because they have the capacity to serve a source — identifying function upon first use. As the Fourth Circuit has recited:
"The term 'distinctive' is a key term of art in trademark law. . . . If a designation is not 'distinctive,' it is not a 'mark.' Without achieving distinctiveness, either inherently or through the acquisition of secondary meaning, a designation does not have the legal status of a 'trademark' or 'service mark.'" 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:2.
"A term is suggestive if it requires imagination, thought and perception to reach a conclusion as to the nature of goods." Equine Techs., Inc. v. Equitechnology, Inc., 68 F.3d 542, 544 (1st Cir. 1995) (quoting Blinded Veterans Ass'n v. Blinded Am. Veterans Found., 872 F.2d 1035, 1040 (D.C. Cir. 1989)); see 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:62. The mark COPPERTONE is suggestive of suntan lotion because it hints at the nature of the connected product.
"An arbitrary mark consists of a word or symbol that is in common usage in the language, but is arbitrarily applied to the goods or services in question in such a way that it is not descriptive or suggestive." 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:4. The mark APPLE is arbitrary for computer-related items because its common definition is a fruit, which is unrelated to its use in connection with computers and other technological items.
"A fanciful mark is a word that is coined for the express purpose of functioning as a trademark. It could also be any obscure or archaic term not familiar to buyers." 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:4. The mark EXXON is fanciful because it was invented or designed solely to designate petroleum and other related goods. It has no other meaning.
The more distinctive the trade mark is, the greater its influence in stimulating sales, its hold on the memory of purchaser and the likelihood of associating similar designations on other goods with the same source. If the trade mark is a coined word, such as Kodak, it is more probable that all goods on which a similar designation is used will be regarded as emanating from the same source than when the trademark is one in common use on the variety of goods, such as "Gold Seal" or "Excelsior".
Arrow Distilleries v. Globe Brewing Co., 117 F.2d 347, 349 (4th Cir. 1941) (quoting Restatement (First) of Torts § 731 cmt. e (1938)) (quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, suggestive, arbitrary, and fanciful terms may be registered as trademarks on the Principal Register under the Lanham Act without producing any actual evidence of their source-identifying attributes or the public's perception of these marks.
Descriptive marks are those that "convey[] an immediate idea of the ingredients, qualities or characteristics of the goods" to which they are attached, see Equine Techs., Inc. v. Equitechnology, Inc., 68 F.3d 542, 544 (1st Cir. 1995) (quoting Blinded Veterans Ass'n v. Blinded Am. Veterans Found., 872 F.2d 1035, 1040 (D.C. Cir. 1989)), such as SPORTS ILLUSTRATED for a sports magazine. Because descriptive marks are not inherently capable of serving as source-identifiers, such marks may only be registered on the Principal Register after the owner has provided sufficient evidence to establish that the public associates the term or phrase not only with a specific feature or quality, but also with a single commercial source. See 2 McCarthy, supra, § 15:1. When a descriptive phrase becomes associated with a single commercial source, the phrase is said to have "acquired distinctiveness" or "secondary meaning," and therefore functions as a trademark. See 15 U.S.C. § 1052(f) ("[N]othing [herein] shall prevent the registration of a mark used by the applicant which has become distinctive of the applicant's goods in commerce."). For example, when the public perceives the phrase SPORTS ILLUSTRATED as a particular sports magazine in addition to its primary meaning as a description of a specific feature or element, the phrase has "acquired distinctiveness" or "secondary meaning" and may receive trademark protection. "A mark is, therefore, considered distinctive (and, thus, eligible for trademark protection) if it either is inherently distinctive or exhibits acquired distinctiveness gained through secondary meaning." Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 116-17.
Finally, a generic term, such as "car" or "pizza," is one that does not have capacity as a source-identifier because it designates the class, or "genus" of goods. See Abercrombie Fitch, 537 F.2d at 9; Colt Def. LLC v. Bushmaster Firearms, Inc., 486 F.3d 701, 705 (1st Cir. 2007) ("'A generic term is one that does not distinguish the goods of one producer from the goods of others. Instead, it is one that either by definition or through common use has come to be understood as referring to the genus of which the particular product is a species.'" (quoting Keebler Co. v. Rovira Biscuit Corp., 624 F.2d 366, 373-74 (1st Cir. 1980))). Rather than answering the question "where do you come from?", a generic term merely explains "what are you?" Id. (quoting 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:1).
Because they serve primarily to describe products rather than identify their sources, generic terms are incapable of becoming trademarks, at least in connection with the products that they designate. See Park 'N Fly, Inc. v. Dollar Park Fly, Inc., 469 U.S. 189, 193-94, 105 S.Ct. 658, 83 L.Ed.2d 582 (1985). Awarding trademark rights to any user of the term, especially the first user, would harm competitors and consumers alike. Competitors unable to use a common term that describes or designates their product are at a significant disadvantage communicating to potential customers the nature and characteristics of the product. See Vanessa Bowman Pierce, If it Walks like a Duck and Quacks like a Duck, Shouldn't it be a Duck?: How a "Functional" Approach Ameliorates the Discontinuity Between the "Primary Significance" Tests for Genericness and Secondary Meaning, 37 N.M. L.Rev. 147, 154 (2007). Likewise, consumers will be forced either to pay a higher price to purchase the desired goods from the seller who owns the generic term as a trademark or expend additional time investigating the alternative products available. Id. Therefore, in accord with the primary justifications for protecting trademarks — to aid competition and lower consumers' search costs — the law does not grant any party exclusive rights to use generic terms as trademarks.
We turn now to Super Duck's several challenges to the conclusions of the district court.
IV.
We begin with Boston Duck's trademark infringement claim against Super Duck based on the parties' word marks. On appeal, Super Duck challenges the district court's conclusion that Super Duck's use of its mark SUPER DUCK TOURS is likely to cause confusion among the relevant consumer public with Boston Duck's use of its mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS. Specifically, it argues that the court erred by finding that the phrase "duck tours" is nongeneric for amphibious sightseeing tours and therefore capable of receiving trademark protection. Because of this erroneous conclusion, Super Duck asserts that the district court gave undue weight to the phrase "duck tours" in the parties' respective marks when analyzing the relevant Pignons factors. For example, rather than focusing on the nongeneric portions of each party's mark, "BOSTON" and "SUPER," respectively, when comparing the marks, the court treated each element in the parties' composite marks equally when comparing them with one another. If the district court had deemed "duck tours" generic as the law requires, Super Duck contends, it would have deemphasized that element in each party's mark and found that the differences between the composite marks significantly outweighed the similarities. Further, the court's analysis of other Pignons factors, including Super Duck's intent in adopting its mark and the consideration of evidence of actual confusion, would also have been altered in favor of Super Duck. As a result, the district court would not have found a likelihood of confusion between the marks and granted an injunction in favor of Boston Duck.
The district court properly noted that Super Duck had conceded the first required element in Boston Duck's trademark infringement action — that it owns a mark entitled to trademark protection. See Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 116.
A. The Eight-Factor Pignons Test
To determine whether the district court's conclusion regarding the second infringement requirement — a likelihood of confusion between the marks — was clearly erroneous, we must assess the district court's Pignons analysis of the composite marks BOSTON DUCK TOURS and SUPER DUCK TOURS. We review the district court's factual findings for each Pignons factor for clear error. See Equine Techs., 68 F.3d at 546. Then we assess whether the court's overall conclusion — that Boston Duck was able to show a likelihood of confusion between the marks — is erroneous. "The determination as to whether a likelihood of confusion exists is a question of fact, which we review only for clear error." Id.
Where the district court's analysis is based on an incorrect legal premise, or it has not addressed a relevant and required issue, we could remand the case to the district court for further consideration in light of the legal errors we have identified. However, where the underlying facts are largely undisputed, as they are in this case, we think that course of action would be a waste of judicial resources and incompatible with the urgency of the issues before us. See Guglietti v. Sec'y of Health Human Servs., 900 F.2d 397, 399-400 (1st Cir. 1990) (choosing not to remand where the facts were not in dispute and the district court was in no better position to decide the matter); Kos Pharm., Inc. v. Andrx Corp., 369 F.3d 700, 712 (3rd Cir. 2004) (noting that it would be a waste of judicial resources to remand a trademark action where the district court committed legal error, but the facts necessary to make the necessary likelihood of confusion determination are undisputed); Opticians Ass'n of Am. v. Indep. Opticians of Am., 920 F.2d 187, 194-98 (3d Cir. 1990) (addressing the remaining elements necessary to support a preliminary injunction without remand where the district court had erroneously found that plaintiff was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its claim). Where the district court's analysis reveals a legal error, we address those conclusions de novo. On the remaining factors — the similarity of the goods, the relationship between the parties' channels of trade, the relationship between the parties' advertising, and the classes of prospective purchasers — we defer to the district court's analysis.
1. Strength of the Plaintiff's Mark
Although the eight-factor Pignons analysis typically begins with an evaluation of the similarities and differences between the marks at issue, there is no necessary sequence in the eight-factor analysis. In this case, Super Duck has asserted that an element of Boston Duck's mark, "duck tours," is generic. This genericism challenge implicates the strength of Boston Duck's mark. Moreover, for the reasons asserted by Super Duck, if the district court's conclusion on the genericism question was clearly erroneous, the court's analysis of several other Pignons factors was necessarily flawed as well. Thus, we begin our discussion with the district court's evaluation of the phrase "duck tours" and, consequently, its analysis of the strength of Boston Duck's composite trademark BOSTON DUCK TOURS.
a. The district court's genericism analysis
Evaluating the strength of Boston Duck's composite mark, the district court limited its discussion exclusively to the phrase "duck tours," assessing both the phrase's conceptual strength — its inherent distinctiveness — and its commercial strength. The court found the phrase "duck tours" was nongeneric. In reaching this conclusion, the court relied exclusively on a dictionary definition of "duck," which did not include any reference to DUKWs or amphibious vehicles. See 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:13 (listing "dictionary definitions" as one of several factors a court should consider when determining whether a phrase is generic). The court's analysis of the genericism issue consisted of the following:
The "conceptual strength" of a mark refers to the mark's placement on the spectrum of distinctiveness. "Commercial strength" denotes the mark's consumer recognition value in the marketplace. 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:83. As we explain in greater detail below, we typically evaluate a mark's strength primarily on the basis of its commercial strength, analyzing such factors as "the length of time a mark has been used and the relative renown in its field; the strength of the mark in plaintiff's field of business; and the plaintiff's action in promoting the mark." Equine Techs., 68 F.3d at 547 (internal quotation marks omitted).
Unlike the examples of "wool felt" and "crab house" identified by the defendant, "duck tours" does not clearly refer to a broad, general category of services. Rather, the word "duck" is a play on the World WAR II amphibious vehicles, DUKWs, which were the distinctive predecessors of the vehicles used by Plaintiff, Boston Duck Tours. The tour itself does not involve ducks, as creatures, in any way. Contrary to what the name "duck tours" may imply, the tour does not involve either duck watching or duck hunting. Thus, unlike "wool felt" or "crab house" in which the generic terms referred exactly to what the public would assume the words to mean, the link here is more attenuated.
Although it did not classify "duck tours" as descriptive, suggestive, or fanciful, it concluded that the phrase was capable of receiving trademark protection.
We agree with the concurrence that the district court erred by assessing whether the phrase "duck tours" was a trademark owned by Boston Duck in light of Boston Duck's assertion that it only sought to establish a likelihood of confusion between SUPER DUCK TOURS and its composite mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS. However, the district court's underlying conclusion that the phrase "duck tours" was not generic and therefore capable of protection as a trademark remains relevant for determining the scope of protection to which Boston Duck's composite mark was entitled and therefore whether Super Duck's use of its own mark SUPER DUCK TOURS was likely to cause confusion with Boston Duck's mark. Thus, contrary to the concurrence's suggestion, we are not conflating the likelihood of confusion analysis with the first element of the infringement analysis — whether a mark is entitled to protection. We are undertaking the genericism analysis only to determine the scope of protection afforded to Boston Duck's composite mark.
The district court was correct in analyzing both the conceptual and commercial strength of plaintiff's mark in this case. Although we have tended to focus our strength analysis on "practical matters [related to a mark's perception in the marketplace] and not the legal classification of the mark," Attrezzi LLC v. Maytag Corp. 436 F.3d 32, 40 (1st Cir. 2006); see Beacon Mut. Ins. Co. v. OneBeacon Ins. Group, 376 F.3d 8, 19 (1st Cir. 2004), even going so far as to say that consideration of the inherent distinctiveness of a mark was "a proposition [not] supported by any First Circuit case law and its logic is not apparent to us," Attrezzi 436 F.3d at 40, the conceptual strength of the overall mark, and its components, is indeed relevant where a composite mark contains an arguably generic phrase. If we were to measure BOSTON DUCK TOURS' strength only on the basis of practical, commercial factors, we would risk affording greater protection to the mark than is warranted. Specifically, we would risk recognizing commercial strength that is the result of the descriptive force of the unprotectable generic element "duck tours." See Colt Def., 486 F.3d at 705 ("Generic terms, being the least distinctive, receive no trademark protection."). For this reason, our statement in Attrezzi where we determined the strength of a protectable, unitary mark, does not apply to this case.
Without examining the specific commercial factors we typically rely upon, the district court indirectly considered the commercial strength of plaintiff's mark by assessing whether the mark had acquired secondary meaning in connection with Boston Duck's services. See 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:82 ("When determining the commercial or marketplace strength of a mark, the courts look to the same kind of evidence of real world recognition of the mark as is used to decide the presence or absence of secondary meaning to determine whether a noninherently distinctive designation is or is not a valid mark.") Although the district court cited evidence of secondary meaning in connection with its analysis of the phrase "duck tours" alone, the evidence applies equally to Boston Duck's composite mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS.
We disagree with the concurring opinion when it states that "where a mark is classified on the spectrum of distinctiveness is not evidence of the choices and decision-making that a consumer faces in the marketplace." In fact, where a mark lies on the spectrum of distinctiveness is in part dependent on market and societal conditions. Words do not exist in a vacuum. They have definitions, associations, and connotations, all of which contribute to the conceptual strength analysis because they reflect how consumers view the words in the marketplace. For example, "ice cream" and "pizza" are generic terms because consumers perceive them as specific goods and do not associate them with a particular brand. This reality is reflected by the factors we use to evaluate genericism, including the use of the term in the industry and by the media, consumer surveys, and dictionary definitions, which are themselves a product of market and societal forces.
In Attrezzi we were faced with evaluating the strength of a protectable mark consisting of a single element — ATTREZZI — in the face of a claim that the mark was inherently weak only because it was suggestive of the relevant goods rather than arbitrary. See Attrezzi, 436 F.3d at 40. In rejecting the defendant Maytag's argument that the court rely exclusively on the mark's conceptual strength in that case, we stated that a mark's conceptual strength, or inherent distinctiveness, is irrelevant when making such strength determinations. Id.
Genericism was the focus of the parties' arguments below and on appeal. We think that focus was appropriate. We respectfully disagree with the concurrence's reading of Attrezzi that would foreclose in all cases any consideration of genericism when evaluating the strength of a mark, composite or otherwise, as part of the likelihood of confusion analysis.
b. Is the phrase "duck tours" generic?
To assess the district court's conclusion on the strength of plaintiffs mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS, we must begin our analysis with a discussion of whether the phrase "duck tours" is generic in connection with the services offered by the parties. See Am. Cyanamid Corp. v. Connaught Labs., Inc., 800 F.2d 306, 308 (2d Cir. 1986) (noting that for the same reasons that trademark law does not grant protection to generic words or phrases, it also does not extend protection to a generic component of a trademark). Although the presence of a generic term or phrase in a full mark, such as "pizza" in DOMINO'S PIZZA, will not "render the entire mark invalid, its presence does affect the analysis of whether a competitor's mark containing the same component is likely to create confusion." Id. As noted above, a generic term is one whose "primary significance . . . to the relevant public" is as an identifier of the nature of a good, rather than its source. Colt Def., 486 F.3d at 705; see also 15 U.S.C. § 1064(3). A question of fact, 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:12, "the district court's finding [that the phrase is nongeneric] . . . [is] subject to review only for clear error," Boston Beer Co. v. Slesar Bros. Brewing Co., 9 F.3d 175, 180 (1st Cir. 1993).
Although the concurrence suggests otherwise, our evaluation of whether the phrase "duck tours" is generic in the course of evaluating the strength of Boston Duck's composite mark does not contravene the well-established "anti-dissection rule." As McCarthy notes in the same section that the concurring opinion cites, "[I]t is not a violation of the anti-dissection rule to view the component parts of conflicting composite marks as a preliminary step on the way to an ultimate determination of probable customer reaction to the conflicting composites as a whole." 3 McCarthy, supra, § 23:41. Our ultimate comparison is between the parties' composite marks.
Recognizing the deference owed to the district court and the inherent time pressures a court faces when deciding complex matters at the preliminary injunction phase, we nevertheless conclude that the court committed clear error by finding that the phrase "duck tours" is nongeneric. In undertaking its analysis, the district court did not identify and apply the appropriate legal standard in this case. As a result, its factual conclusion on the genericism question was erroneous.
i. The Legal Standard
In undertaking the genericism analysis, the court overlooked relevant evidence in the record on the genericism question. Tasked with determining the "primary significance" of the phrase at issue "to the relevant public," the law instructs courts to consider several factors when undertaking this analysis: (1) consumer surveys; (2) the use of the term in media publications, (3) use of the term by competitors in the industry, (4) purchaser testimony concerning the term; and (5) the plaintiff's use of the term. Colt Def., 486 F.3d at 705. Nevertheless, as noted above, the court relied exclusively on one dictionary definition of "duck" to reach the conclusion that "duck tours" is nongeneric. Although the presence or absence of a word in the dictionary, and its corresponding meaning(s), is evidence of how the public perceives a term, Surgicenters of Am., Inc. v. Med. Dental Surgeries, Co., 601 F.2d 1011, 1015 n. 11 (9th Cir. 1979) ("While not determinative, dictionary definitions are relevant and often persuasive in determining how a term is understood by the consuming public, the ultimate test of whether a trademark is generic. . . ."), it is only one of many factors to consider. The touchstone of the analysis remains the phrase's primary significance to the relevant public.
In addition, the district court focused on the separate terms "duck" and "tours," not the entire phrase. See Filipino Yellow Pages, Inc. v. Asian Journal Publ'ns., Inc., 198 F.3d 1143, 1150 (9th Cir. 1999) (finding that the genericism analysis should be conducted by looking at an entire mark rather than dissecting it into its smaller parts). Rather than analyzing each word separately, thereby altering the context of the inquiry, the court should have considered "duck tours" as a unified phrase. As courts have found in related contexts, a complete phrase may signify something different than the sum of its parts. See AmCan Enters., Inc. v. Renzi, 32 F.3d 233, 234 (7th Cir. 1994) ("yellow pages" generic for a business telephone directory); American Express Co. v. Mastercard Int'l. Inc., 685 F.Supp. 76, 78 (S.D.N.Y. 1988) ("gold card" generic for credit card services). The district court's decision to focus exclusively on the individual elements of the phrase, and each word's respective dictionary definition, removed the inquiry from its proper context and tainted the overall analysis.
We acknowledge that when assessing the dictionary definition of a phrase, it may be necessary to define the individual elements of the phrase and then combine those definitions to ascertain the meaning of the phrase as a whole. In these circumstances, however, the dictionary definition becomes less helpful for determining the public significance of the entire phrase.
ii. Application
Because the district court misapprehended the legal framework governing the genericism inquiry, its ultimate factual conclusion that "duck tours" is nongeneric was necessarily erroneous as well. In reaching its conclusion, the district court did not consider evidence in the record suggesting that the phrase "duck tour" is generic for the amphibious, sightseeing tours offered by both parties. Specifically, the court did not consider three types of evidence typically considered integral to the genericism determination: uses (1) by the media and other third parties, (2) within the industry generally, and (3) by Boston Duck itself.
With respect to the first type of relevant evidence, the district court overlooked articles in the media and other third-party sources that use the phrase "duck tours" generically to refer to amphibious, sightseeing tours. For example, a Boston Globe article from 2002 notes that rather than walking around Portland, Maine on foot, a visitor may use "town trolleys, duck tours, and harbor cruises." Beth Greenberg, Tattoos and Views The Best-Known Artists Craft Their Designs in Some of the Region's Most Interesting Cities, Boston Globe, Oct. 13, 2002, at M13. Another Boston Globe article published in 1997 used the phrase generically, but in a different context. In asserting that the Boston mayor needed to manage traffic issues better in the city, the author wrote: "It is important that city government remembers that it owns the streets. Tour buses, ersatz trolleys, and amphibious duck tours need to have their routes and parking carefully examined." Lawrence S. DiCara, Running Against Himself, Mayor Menino's Real Race will be to Forge a Legacy after Reelection Tuesday, Boston Globe, Nov. 2, 1997, at C1. These articles from Boston join many others from around the country which use "duck tours" in a generic manner. See, e.g., Schwan's IP, LLC v. Kraft Pizza Co., 460 F.3d 971, 975 (8th Cir. 2006) (discussing the relevance of newspaper articles using the phrase "brick oven" to name a type of pizza rather than a specific brand).
Second, the court overlooked the wide-spread generic use of "duck" and "duck tours" by other companies around the country that provide the same amphibious sight-seeing services. According to the record, there are at least 36 companies in operation today that provide tour services in cities around the United States and the world. Of these 36 tours described in the record, 32 include the term "duck" in their company or trade name, and more than 10 use both the terms "duck" and "tour(s)" in their trade name. Many of these companies characterize their own services generically as "duck tours." Taken together, this evidence indicates that when consumers hear the term "duck tours," they associate it primarily with a product rather than a source. See Colt Def., 486 F.3d at 706 ("This evidence is probative of generic use because '[t]he more members of the public see a term used by competitors in the field, the less likely they will be to identify the term with one particular producer.'" (quoting Classic Foods Int'l Corp. v. Kettle Foods, Inc., 468 F.Supp.2d 1181, 1190 (C.D.Cal. 2007)) (alteration in original)); Schwan's IP, 460 F.3d at 975 (finding generic use of a term by a company's competitors is indicative of public perception).
Finally, the district court did not consider Boston Duck's own generic use of the phrase "duck tour," which provides strong evidence against its claim that the term is primarily associated with its company rather than the services it provides. See Retail Servs., Inc. v. Freebies Publ'g, 364 F.3d 535, 545 (4th Cir. 2004) ("[Evidence of the owner's generic use, in particular, 'is strong evidence of genericness.'" (quoting 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:13)). On its website, the company notes that "[c]ontrary to local belief, the unique idea of a[d]uck [t]our did not originate in Boston. Duck operations have been in existence in the Midwest for decades, and in fact, continue to thrive. What we did, however, is take a unique product and improve and enhance it, while at the same time bringing it to a major metropolitan city." See Boston Duck Tours, http://www.bostonducktours.com company — history — main.html (last visited March 31, 2008). Although Boston Duck is quick to point out the introductory clause to its website statement, which asserts that the local population believes Boston Duck is the only provider of "duck tours," this speculative statement about what the Boston population believes is largely irrelevant for purposes of our analysis. The two sentences, and the website more generally, are published by Boston Duck to inform consumers in the Boston area and around the world about the company's history and services. Accordingly, the site instructs these customers that the phrase "duck tours" is the common phrase used to describe amphibious sightseeing tours rather than Boston Duck's product alone.
In addition, several articles submitted by Boston Duck to the district court to establish the company's fame and recognition provide evidence of the company's generic use of the phrase "duck tours" and an unwitting acknowledgment of the generic nature of the phrase. In a Business Week article from 1998, the author states that "[a]t the time [when the founder of Boston Duck came up with the idea], there were only two other Duck tours in the country." Edith Hill Updike, A Nice Business Built on Being Nice, Business Week, Sept. 14, 1998, at 10. In a similar article describing the history of Boston Duck in Boston Business Journal, the writer states that "[d]uck tours have been popular for decades in the Lake Country of Wisconsin and in southern resort towns." Lauren John, Rough Road to Amphibious Landing on the Charles, Boston Business Journal, June 30, 1995.
Indeed, all of this evidence, especially the widespread use of "duck" and "duck tours" by companies in the industry, indicates that no other "commonly used" and effective "alternative[s]" denote the sightseeing services both parties offer. See A.J. Canfield Co. v. Honickman, 808 F.2d 291, 305-06 (3d Cir. 1986). Although alternatives do exist, such as "amphibious tours," none have been widely adopted in the industry. Unlike "duck tours," they fail to describe the services accurately and concisely. See Bayer Co. v. United Drug Co., 272 F. 505, 511 (S.D.N.Y. 1921) (finding "Aspirin" generic in part because the public did not accept the alternative names to describe the product); Ty Inc. v. Softbelly's, Inc., 353 F.3d 528, 532 (7th Cir. 2003) ("[B]ecause 'beanies' is so much shorter and punchier than the alternatives that have emerged so far for designating the product, such as 'plush beanbag animals,' Ty may be fighting a losing war to keep its 'Beanies' trademark from becoming 'beanies' a generic term."). Because of the lack of adequate alternatives, "duck tours" — the most common and accepted term to describe the services at issue — may not be appropriated for one party's exclusive use. To grant Boston Duck exclusive rights to use the phrase in the Boston area would be to erect a barrier of entry into the marketplace, thereby preventing other entities, such as Super Duck, from calling their product by its name. Super Duck, as well as other potential competitors, would be placed at a significant market disadvantage. See Devan R. Desai Sandra L. Rierson, Confronting the Genericism Conundrum, 28 Cardozo L.Rev. 1789, 1851 (2007).
iii. Boston Duck's Counter-Arguments
Seeking to convince us that the district court's nongenericism determination was not clearly erroneous, Boston Duck raises a raft of arguments in support of its position that "duck tours" is nongeneric. Boston Duck asserts that the significant evidence of actual confusion by consumers in the marketplace between the marks BOSTON DUCK TOURS and SUPER DUCK TOURS indicates that the phrase "duck tour" possesses source-identifying attributes. Confusion could not arise, Boston Duck argues, unless consumers associate "duck tours" with Boston Duck's services specifically. Second, Boston Duck argues that the numerous records showing that the PTO has processed trademark applications for services similar to those provided by both parties without requiring a disclaimer of the term "duck" or the phrase "duck tour" suggest that the terms are neither generic nor descriptive. Third, Boston Duck claims that Super Duck should not be permitted to claim that "duck tours" is generic now given its previous stance before the PTO that neither the term "duck" nor the phrase "super duck tours" was generic or descriptive. Finally, Boston Duck argues that the dictionary definitions indicate that "duck" is nongeneric. We address each argument in turn.
(a) Consumer Confusion
Although the documentation provided by Boston Duck establishes numerous instances of consumer confusion between the services provided by the parties, the confusion alone suggests little about whether the term "duck tours" is generic. The confusion that Boston Duck cites can easily be attributed to Boston Duck's status as the exclusive purveyor of amphibious tours in the Boston area for over a decade rather than the source-identifying attributes of the phrase "duck tours." Although trademark law is designed to prevent consumer confusion between inherently distinctive marks or descriptive marks that have acquired secondary meaning, it is not intended to prevent confusion between two similar, generic marks, see Blinded Veterans Ass'n v. Blinded Am. Veterans Found., 872 F.2d 1035, 1043-45 (D.C. Cir. 1989), or, relatedly, between marks when one mark has acquired a "de facto secondary meaning" through its exclusive use of a generic term that causes customers to associate the term with that specific source, see Am. Online, Inc. v. AT T Corp., 243 F.3d 812, 822 (4th Cir. 2001) ("[T]he repeated use of ordinary words functioning within the heartland of their ordinary meaning, and not distinctively, cannot give AOL a proprietary right over those words, even if an association develops between the words and AOL."); 1 McCarthy, supra, § 7:66. Boston Duck's evidence of actual confusion, therefore, has little probative value on the question of whether the phrase "duck tours" is generic.
(b) PTO Treatment
Boston Duck overstates the weight a court must give to the decisions of the PTO regarding disclaimers. Although the PTO Examining Attorney is obligated to consider whether a disclaimer is appropriate for each application reviewed, the decision remains a discretionary choice rather than a conclusive legal determination. See In re Creative Goldsmiths of Wash., Inc., 229 U.S.P.Q. 766, 768 (T.T.A.B. 1986) ("[W]e conclude that it is within the discretion of an Examining Attorney to require the disclaimer of an unregistrable component (such as a common descriptive, or generic, name) of a composite mark sought to be registered on the Principal Register under the provisions of Section 2(f)."); see also Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, § 1213(a)-(c) (5th ed. 2007). Therefore, a decision by the PTO to either require a disclaimer or not is merely a single piece of evidence in the court's overall genericism analysis. See In re Nat'l Data Corp., 753 F.2d 1056, 1059 (Fed. Cir. 1985) ("The power of the PTO to accept or require disclaimers is discretionary under the statute, and its practice over the years has been far from consistent. Thus, it is inappropriate to give the presence or absence of a disclaimer any legal significance." (internal citation omitted)).
Moreover, although Boston Duck invokes several relevant trademark applications where no disclaimer of "duck" or "duck tours" was required, other applications include such disclaimers. For example, an entity named Liberty Duck Tours, LLC maintains several pending applications for the phrase LIBERTY DUCK TOURS that disclaim exclusive use of the phrase "duck tours." Further, because "[t]he crucial date for the determination of genericness is the date on which the alleged infringer entered the market with the disputed mark or term," Yellow Cab Co. of Sacramento v. Yellow Cab of Elk Grove, Inc., 419 F.3d 925, 928 (9th Cir. 2005) — here, late 2006 and early 2007 — the evidence put forward by Boston Duck of the PTO's past treatment of applications has only limited relevance to the district court's inquiry. The PTO's most recent decision on this issue is its treatment of the applications for LIBERTY DUCK TOURS, which were considered by the PTO only last year, and which, at least in connection with the sightseeing services at issue in this case, contain a disclaimer for the phrase "duck tours."
Liberty Duck Tours, LLC has not yet commenced use of its mark in connection with duck tours or other products. The applications were filed on an intent-to-use basis without any first-use date provided. See 15 U.S.C. § 1051(b).
Although Liberty Duck Tours decided to disclaim the phrase "duck tour" in each of its trademark applications for LIBERTY DUCK TOUR, the PTO informed the company that it need not maintain the disclaimer for its application in connection with clothing items. Nevertheless, the PTO did not give Liberty Duck Tour the same option to remove the disclaimer from its application for LIBERTY DUCK TOURS in connection with sightseeing tour services.
(c) Estoppel
Super Duck is not foreclosed from arguing now that the term "duck" or the phrase "duck tours" is generic because it argued to the contrary several years ago in front of the PTO. That contrary argument is simply another factor in the evidentiary mix. See Keebler, 624 F.2d at 375 n. 7 (allowing the defendant to argue in an infringement action that plaintiff's mark was generic despite a previous attempt to register the mark under the Puerto Rico trademark statute); Am. Rice, Inc. v. H.I.T. Corp., 231 U.S.P.Q. 793, 798 (T.T.A.B. 1986) ("It is clear that while these earlier positions [of the party] may be considered as evidence, no equitable estoppel may be derived from earlier inconsistent positions." (internal citations omitted)).
(d) Dictionary Definitions
As already noted, the dictionary definitions in the record are not conclusive on the question of public perception. Boston Duck offered the definitions of "duck" from several common dictionaries, none of which includes a reference to amphibious World War II vehicles. Conversely, Super Duck offered a single definition of "duck" from the Oxford English Reference Dictionary, which states that a duck is an "amphibious landing-craft." Because dictionary definitions are not conclusive indicators of overall public perception, and the specific dictionary definitions offered by the parties in this case do not significantly favor one party over the other, this factor does not materially help Boston Duck to convince us that the district court did not commit clear error in its genericism determination.
c. Strength of the Composite Mark
Having concluded that the phrase "duck tours" is generic for the parties' services, we remain obligated to assess the strength of plaintiff's composite mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS. Evaluating the conceptual strength first, we conclude that the mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS is highly descriptive of the services Boston Duck offers. The mark combines "duck tours," a generic phrase entitled to no trademark protection at all, with "Boston," a weak, descriptive term that deserves minimal protection. Thus, conceptually, BOSTON DUCK TOURS as a composite mark is weak. However, BOSTON DUCK TOURS has obtained significant secondary meaning as a result of its continuous use in the Boston area for the past 13 years. This secondary meaning overcomes the mark's initial weakness. 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:80 ("[A] descriptive mark, upon attaining secondary meaning may be protected just as if it had been 'strong' and arbitrary or fanciful at its inception.").
The evidence of secondary meaning also supports the commercial strength of Boston Duck's mark, which is assessed by examining "the length of time the mark has been used, the trademark holder's renown in the industry, the potency of the mark in the product field (as measured by the number of similar registered marks), and the trademark holder's efforts to promote and protect the mark," Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 121; see 2 McCarthy, supra, § 11:82 ("When determining the commercial or marketplace strength of a mark, the courts look to the same kind of evidence of real world recognition of the mark as is used to decide the presence or absence of secondary meaning to determine whether a noninherently distinctive designation is or is not a valid mark.").
Boston Duck has received significant national and international press in connection with its services, including coverage in U.S. Airways Attach, W Magazine, Cosmopolitan UK, and the Christian Science Monitor, as well as numerous awards since the mark was first used in 1994. For example, in 1996 Boston Duck won the Boston Magazine award for Best Tour in Boston. As the exclusive purveyor of duck tour services in the Boston area for over a decade, the company has become well known, and its revenue and number of customers have grown substantially. The number of ducks used by the company has grown from four in 1994 to twenty-four in 2006. Moreover, 585,000 customers enjoyed a duck tour operated by Boston Duck in 2006. Further, although a number of other entities around the country use the phrase "duck tours" in their trade names to describe similar services, none operate within the greater Boston area. Together, these facts indicate that the composite mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS is reasonably strong overall as an identifier of Boston Duck's tour services in the Boston area, although part of the mark — "duck tours" — is entitled to no trademark protection at all.
2. Similarity of the Marks
The degree of similarity between two marks — here, BOSTON DUCK TOURS and SUPER DUCK TOURS — is determined by analyzing their sight, sound, and meaning. Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Wheeler, 814 F.2d 812, 817 (1st Cir. 1987). Although "similarity is determined on the basis of the total effect of the designation, rather than a comparison of individual features," Pignons, 657 F.2d at 487; see I.P. Lund Trading ApS v. Kohler Co., 163 F.3d 27, 43 (1st Cir. 1998), we give less weight to the generic portions of the parties' respective, composite marks. 4 McCarthy, supra, § 23:49 ("If a common portion of the two conflicting marks is a public domain generic name, the emphasis of enquiry should be upon the confusing similarity of the nongeneric portion, with the ultimate issue determined by the confusing similarity of the total impression of both marks."); see Banff, Ltd. v. Federated Dep't Stores, Inc., 841 F.2d 486, 491 (2d Cir. 1988) (finding a likelihood of confusion between B WEAR and BEE WEAR for womens' clothing); Am. Cyanamid, 800 F.2d at 309 (HibVAX does not infringe HIB-IMUNE because the nongeneric portions of each mark are sufficiently dissimilar); cf. Beacon Mut., 376 F.3d at 19 (finding similarity between two composite marks where the dominant elements of each mark were very similar). Accordingly, we compare "the nongeneric components of a mark . . . in the context of the overall composite mark." Banff, 841 F.2d at 491.
Although the concurrence explicitly disavows using an analytical approach that considers the inherent distinctiveness of a composite mark's individual elements, the concurrence makes an implicit genericism determination when comparing the similarity of the parties' composite marks. The concurrence states: "[T]he term 'duck tours' is commonly understood to mean an amphibious sightseeing excursion. . . . The overall impression, therefore, suggests a similar tour offered by different enterprises." Rather than relying on a genericism determination to de-emphasize the phrase "duck tours" when comparing the parties' composite marks, the concurrence instead relies on the fact that the terms "duck" and "tours" are disclaimed in Boston Duck's trademark registration and that "duck tours" is disclaimed in Super Duck's registration. The concurrence states that "[w]ords that were disclaimed in the course of trademark registration ordinarily are not the dominant part of a composite word mark." We agree with the concurrence that disclaimed terms must be de-emphasized when comparing the marks at issue. We note, however, that the PTO requires disclaimers only for generic and other unregistrable elements in a composite mark. See 15 U.S.C. § 1056(a) ("The Director [of the PTO] may require the applicant to disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark otherwise registrable.") (emphasis added); Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure § 1213.03(b) ("If a mark is comprised in part of matter that, as applied to the goods/services, is generic or does not function as a mark, the matter must be disclaimed to permit registration. . . ."). Moreover, the decision as to what elements must be disclaimed is made when a trademark registration application is being processed, which often occurs prior to or immediately after the mark is introduced into the marketplace. Thus, the concurrence's insistence that its analysis relies exclusively on marketplace factors to evaluate likelihood of confusion is overstated.
Having mistakenly concluded that the phrase "duck tours" was nongeneric, the district court placed undue emphasis on the similarity of that phrase in the parties' marks and concluded that the differences between the composite marks was "slight." Analyzing the similarities ourselves with the correct genericism conclusion in mind, we focus our inquiry, albeit not exclusively, on the similarities and differences between the words "Boston" and "Super," the non-generic elements of each mark. Allowing "duck tours" to largely drop out of the analysis, we conclude that the parties' marks are reasonably, although not completely, dissimilar. Although both "Boston" and "Super" are two-syllable words, and they are each followed by a two-word generic phrase, the words look and sound completely different. In addition, they have different meanings, describing a different feature of their products.
3. Similarity of the Goods
The district court concluded that the parties "offer virtually identical services: amphibious sightseeing tours of the greater Boston area." It found that although slight differences exist between the products, including their routes, the differences are negligible as compared to the overall similarities. Super Duck does not challenge this conclusion, which is amply supported by the record.
4. Relationship Between the Parties' Channels of Trade, 5. Relationship Between the Parties' Advertising, and 6. The Classes of Prospective Purchasers
After considering these three interrelated factors together, see Beacon Mut., 376 F.3d at 19, the district court found significant overlap between the companies' channels of trade, advertising, and prospective consumers. Super Duck does not dispute that the companies are close competitors, and the court's findings are supported by the record.
7. Evidence of Actual Confusion
"While evidence of actual confusion is 'often deemed the best evidence of possible future confusion,' proof of actual confusion is not essential to finding likelihood of confusion." Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 120 (quoting Attrezzi 436 F.3d at 40); see Volkswagenwerk, 814 F.2d at 818. Nevertheless, as already noted, Boston Duck has documented in the record several dozen instances of actual confusion involving customers who were confused by the parties or believed that they were affiliated. Having found the phrase "duck tours" nongeneric, the district court gave considerable weight to this evidence of actual confusion as supporting Boston Duck's claim of infringement.
Given our conclusion that "duck tours" is generic, the value of the evidence of actual confusion documented by Boston Duck is diminished substantially for the likelihood of confusion analysis. As a matter of law, the confusion was largely, if not exclusively, the product of Boston Duck's lack of competition in its early years and the use of a generic phrase to describe its product. As such, it is not the type of confusion that warrants trademark protection. We therefore treat that evidence as largely irrelevant in reaching our overall determination.
8. Defendant's Intent in Adopting its Mark
Whether the defendant acted in bad faith in adopting its mark is another factor to be considered in determining the likelihood of consumer confusion. Attrezzi, 436 F.3d at 40. The district court concluded that Super Duck's intent in selecting the mark SUPER DUCK TOURS was "at least, suspect." It explained this conclusion by stating that "[Super Duck] knowingly and intentionally entered the Boston market offering a service, mark and logo nearly identical to that of Boston Duck Tours, an established and successful enterprise."
The court's conclusion regarding Super Duck's intent was clear error because it was based on the erroneous premise that the marks SUPER DUCK TOURS and BOSTON DUCK TOURS are highly similar. As already noted in our discussion of the similarity of the marks factor, the marks are reasonably dissimilar because the shared element in each party's mark is the generic phrase "duck tours." Because this foundational element of the court's analysis was incorrect, its conclusion that Super Duck's intent was "at least, suspect" was necessarily mistaken as well.
Super Duck adopted a name that combined a generic phrase describing its product with a significantly different descriptive term. Although there are similarities between the marks, logos, and services, and Super Duck benefited to some degree from Boston Duck introducing the Boston population to the duck tour product, these effects are natural consequences of having competition in the marketplace. See Nora Beverages, Inc. v. Perrier Group of Am., Inc., 269 F.3d 114, 124 (2nd Cir. 2001) ("While intentional copying can raise a presumption of consumer confusion, '[t]he intent to compete by imitating the successful features of another's product is vastly different from the intent to deceive purchasers as to the source of the product.'") (quoting Streetwise Maps, Inc. v. VanDam, Inc., 159 F.3d 739, 745 (2d Cir. 1998) (internal citation omitted)). Moreover, Super Duck created its mark and logo years before it entered the Boston market, when it began its operations in Portland, Maine.
B. Conclusion on the Likelihood of Confusion Analysis
Considering all of the factors in the Pignons analysis, we conclude that the district court's finding that Boston Duck was likely to succeed on the merits of its trademark infringement claim is clearly erroneous. Although the companies are direct competitors because their products, potential customers, channels of trade, and advertising all significantly overlap, these factors alone are insufficient to establish a successful claim of infringement. See, e.g., Prof'l Golfers Ass'n of Am. v. Bankers Life Cas. Co., 514 F.2d 665, 669 (5th Cir. 1975) ("[D]irect competition is not the sine qua non of trademark infringement; rather the gist of the [trademark] action lies in the likelihood of confusion to the public"). Boston Duck has failed to demonstrate bad faith on the part of Super Duck in adopting the mark SUPER DUCK TOURS. Its evidence of actual trademark confusion between the parties' marks has little probative value because the confusion shown is largely based on Boston Duck's lack of competition in its early years and each party's use of the generic phrase "duck tours" in its mark. Where the parties are direct competitors, the most important factor in the Pignons analysis is the similarity-of-marks inquiry. See McNeil Nutritionals, LLC v. Heartland Sweeteners, LLC, 511 F.3d 350, 367 (3d Cir. 2007) ("'[W]hen goods are directly competing [as is undisputed in the instant case], both precedent and common sense counsel that the similarity of the marks takes on great prominence.'") (quoting A H Sportswear, Inc. v. Victoria's Secret Stores, Inc., 237 F.3d 198, 214 (3rd Cir. 2000)). Here, the parties' marks — with greater emphasis placed on the words "Boston" and "Super" — are substantially dissimilar, based on sight, sound, and meaning. To the extent any similarity exists between the composite marks, that similarity is a result of each party's decision to use a generic phrase to describe its product. Accordingly, we conclude that the Pignons factors do not establish a likelihood of confusion between the parties' composite word marks. That conclusion means that Boston Duck has failed to establish a likelihood of success on the merits of its trademark infringement claim.
We acknowledge that evidence of actual confusion is not required to succeed on an infringement action. See Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 120-21.
V.
We turn now to the infringement analysis of the parties' composite design marks. In reviewing Boston Duck's petition for a preliminary injunction, the district court also found that Boston Duck was likely to succeed on its trademark infringement claim relating to the parties' design marks. Accordingly, the court enjoined Super Duck from using, in connection with its services, any design that contained a cartoon duck in water.
See Appendix for images of the parties' respective composite design marks.
Super Duck did not contest that Boston Duck's composite design mark is inherently distinctive or, alternatively, that it has obtained secondary meaning based on its long and continued use in connection with Boston Duck's services.
A. The Eight-Factor Pignons Test
Without evaluating each Pignons factor separately, the court found that the parties' design marks were "striking[ly] similar[]" and, consequently, that Super Duck's decision to choose a logo "nearly identical" to that of Boston Duck's called into question its intent in choosing its mark. Relying on these findings, the court found a likelihood of confusion between the parties' design marks. We disagree with the court's analysis and conclusions.
Although several of the eight factors warranted independent analysis directed specifically at the parties' design marks — including the similarity of the marks, the evidence of actual confusion, and the strength of Boston Duck's mark — the only factor the court considered separately was the similarity of the designs. On this factor, the court limited its focus to a single element within each mark — the central image of a cartoon duck splashing in water — to the exclusion of other elements, including the colors present in each image, the background images, the content and design of the textual elements in each mark, and their overall appearance. In the absence of a discussion of the strength of Boston Duck's mark, the similarities between the parties' composite design marks, and evidence of actual confusion by the district court, we address these factors de novo, and then evaluate our conclusions in conjunction with the district court's findings and our own earlier discussion of the remaining Pignons factors.
1. Strength of Plaintiff's Mark
Again, we begin our analysis with the strength of plaintiff's composite design mark, including an inquiry into whether the central element of that mark — the image of a duck splashing in water — is generic in connection with plaintiff's duck tour services. As noted above, the strength determination, including the important genericism component, weigh heavily in our consideration of the other Pignons factors.
a. Genericism
The district court did not subject Boston Duck's design to a genericism analysis in the context of assessing the strength of plaintiff's mark. Just as a word or phrase may be classified as generic, so too can an image or logo that describes a category of goods or services rather than a specific source. See 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:34 ("A mark that consists of an illustration of the goods themselves may be 'generic,' and hence incapable of serving a trademark function at all."); Kendall-Jackson Winery, Ltd. v. E. J. Gallo Winery, 150 F.3d 1042, 1049 (9th Cir. 1998) (finding that an image of a grape leaf on a wine bottle was not itself a protectable mark because it cannot serve to distinguish between brands). Accordingly, Super Duck argued that the image of a cartoon duck in water is generic for duck tour services and therefore these images should play a minimal role in the Pignons analysis of the design marks. The district court, however, did not address this issue directly; instead, it compared the marks with the underlying assumption that all of the elements of Boston Duck's logo were nongeneric.
On appeal, Super Duck contests the district court's implicit conclusion, arguing that the court ignored evidence establishing that virtually every duck tour company in the country uses a cartoon duck in its logo, and many of those use a cartoon duck in conjunction with an image of water. From this evidence, Super Duck argues that the image of a cartoon duck in water merely describes duck tour services rather than a specific provider thereof, and the image, therefore, is generic.
Although many duck tour providers use the image of a duck in water in connection with their products, many others do not. Other than industry use, there is no evidence in the record establishing how the consumer population perceives the image in question. Therefore, we have little basis upon which to conclude that the image of a duck in water is viewed by the public as merely synonymous with the phrase "duck tour," such that it has no source-identifying capacity at all. Moreover, the evidence in the record suggests that there are effective alternatives to the image of a duck in water to identify a source of duck tour services. Accordingly, to grant an entity the exclusive use of such a design, thereby preventing other entities from using a design confusingly similar to it, would not give the first user a significant competitive advantage. Based on these factors, we cannot conclude that the district court clearly erred in its implicit finding that the design is nongeneric. See 2 McCarthy, supra, § 12:20 ("[T]here is only a fine line between describing [a product] and naming [it].").
Although the record does not include the design marks for every duck tour provider in the nation, it does present the design marks for sixteen such providers, excluding both Boston Duck and Super Duck. Of the sixteen providers, seven use the image of a duck in water as part of their design marks.
Our conclusion is limited to analyzing the district court's conclusion based on the evidence in the record. We need not decide here whether the image of a duck in water could ever be deemed generic for duck tour services.
However, although we have insufficient evidence to conclude that the image of a duck splashing in water is generic for duck tour services, we do conclude that the image is highly descriptive for the parties' services, and hence the image has weak source-identifying attributes. See Lawrence v. P.E. Sharpless Co., 203 F. 762 (E.D.Pa. 1913) (finding the image of a cow descriptive for dairy products); In re Eight Ball Inc., 217 U.S.P.Q. 1183 (T.T.A.B. 1983) (finding the picture of an eight ball and a pool cue merely descriptive of billiard parlor services); see also 1 McCarthy, supra, § 7:36 (listing relevant cases). Accordingly, less weight should be given to this specific similarity in the similarity-of-the-marks analysis.
b. Strength of the Composite Mark
Examining the overall strength of plaintiff's composite design mark, which consists of the duck image in conjunction with other design elements and Boston Duck's trade name, we conclude that the conceptual and commercial strength of this design mark are similar to that of Boston Duck's word mark BOSTON DUCK TOURS. Given its widespread recognition and continued use in the Boston area for over a decade, the composite design mark is reasonably strong, despite the fact that it contains elements that have an inherently weak capacity as source-identifiers.
2. Similarity of the Marks
As with word marks, when comparing design marks "similarity is determined on the basis of the total effect of the designation, rather than a comparison of individual features." Pignons, 657 F.2d at 487 (quoting Alpha Indus., Inc. v. Alpha Steel Tube Shapes, Inc., 616 F.2d 440, 444 (9th Cir. 1980)); see 4 McCarthy, supra, § 23:25 ("Obviously, for picture and design marks (as opposed to word marks), similarity of appearance is controlling."). Even if elements of each party's mark overlap, or are visually similar, the marks as a whole may still create a distinct commercial impression, especially if the similarities are limited to generic or descriptive elements. See McNeil Nutritionals, 511 F.3d at 359 ("[F]orceful and distinctive design features should be weighed more heavily because they are more likely to impact the overall impression."); see also First Sav. Bank, F.S.B. v. First Bank Sys., Inc., 101 F.3d 645, 655 (10th Cir. 1996) ("When the primary term is weakly protected to begin with, minor alterations may effectively negate any confusing similarity between the two marks."). Further, the marks should be viewed "sequentially [as if one were] in the context of the marketplace" rather than "in a side-by-side comparison." Louis Vuitton Malletier v. Dooney Bourke, Inc., 454 F.3d 108, 117 (2d Cir. 2006).
Considering the parties' respective designs as a whole, as they have been depicted in the record, including the colors used, the text, and the various design elements contained therein, we conclude that the parties' design marks are substantially dissimilar. Although each contains the central image of a cartoon duck in water, the ducks are significantly different in overall appearance. Further, the other elements depicted in conjunction with the duck are substantially dissimilar. Together, these differences indicate that the designs are associated with separate, unrelated sources rather than the same one.
To highlight the differences between the marks, we briefly describe the features of each. Boston Duck's logo consists of a purple background enclosed within a black-bordered circle. Encircling the top of the background is the name BOSTON DUCK TOURS in black, in a sans-serif font. Finally, a yellow cartoon duck with a camouflage hat sits in the center of the circle, flapping its wings into some water and causing the blue-and-white-tipped water to splash outside of the contained circle.
A serif is an "accretion at the end of the stems of roman letters." A serif font — such as — contains "serifs" whereas a sans-serif font does not is a common sans-serif font. Phil Baines Andrew Hastam, Type Typography 207 (2005).
By contrast, Super Duck's logo has a blue background, denoting water, and contains several orange elements as an accent. At the top portion of the logo, and getting smaller across the logo to suggest motion from the left portion of the logo to the right portion, the trade name Super Duck Tours is printed in orange, in a serif font. At the center of the logo is a white cartoon duck, shaped to depict an actual duck tour vehicle, and simulating the move from land to water that a tour vehicle makes. The duck is wearing an orange cape and holding up an orange flag with one of its two muscular arms. Passengers crowd together on the deck of the duck, which has "Super Duck Tours" emblazoned on its side. As the duck enters the water, white pockets of water splash into the air.
The many specific differences between the two marks reaffirm our conclusion about the central enquiry: if consumers viewed these two marks sequentially in the marketplace, they would not consider them substantially similar.
3. Evidence of Actual Confusion
Although the record contains evidence that customers confused the parties' services, and perhaps their trade names, we are unable to discern any evidence of actual confusion traceable specifically to the parties' logos. In any event, as we noted above, evidence of actual confusion is not necessary to succeed on a trademark infringement action. See Volkswagenwerk, 814 F.2d at 818.
B. Conclusion on the Likelihood of Confusion Analysis
We consider the above three factors in conjunction with our analysis of the other five Pignons factors undertaken in our discussion of the parties' word marks. Because those five factors focus on the parties themselves, or the goods and services at issue, rather than the marks, the analysis is identical. See supra Part IV.A. Four of those factors — the similarity of the goods; the relationship between the parties' channels of trade; the relationship between the parties' advertising; and the classes of prospective purchasers — weigh in favor of Boston Duck. As noted above, so too does the strength of the mark. However, the absence of bad faith by Super Duck weighs against a finding of infringement. And, most importantly, the designs' overall dissimilarity weighs strongly against a finding of likely confusion. See McNeil Nutritionals, 511 F.3d at 367 (noting that the similarity-of-the-marks factor becomes more important where the products at issue directly compete with one another). Visually, the marks are substantially different. The greatest similarity between them — the image of a cartoon duck in water — is of minimal significance because of its highly descriptive nature. Thus, we conclude that the district court's determination that there is a likelihood of confusion between Boston Duck's design mark and Super Duck's design mark is clearly erroneous. Again, that conclusion means that Boston Duck has failed to establish a likelihood of success on the merits of its infringement claim.
VI.
Although we have concluded that we must reverse the decision of the district court, we have had the luxury of time in reaching our decision in this difficult casea luxury that the district court did not have. Despite those constraints, the district court issued a thoughtful opinion which allowed the parties to focus their arguments in a manner that has been helpful to us.
For the reasons stated herein, Boston Duck failed to establish a likelihood of success on its claims of trademark infringement. Accordingly, the district court should not have issued a preliminary injunction against Super Duck precluding the use of its word and design marks. We reverse the district court's order and remand the matter to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Costs are awarded in favor of Appellant Super Duck Tours.
Our conclusion that the district court's grant of an injunction against Super Duck was an abuse of its discretion renders moot Boston Duck's cross-appeal with respect to the injunction's scope.
So ordered.
Although I agree that the preliminary injunction was erroneously issued and must be vacated, I respectfully disagree with the majority's reasoning in reaching that conclusion. We agree on the basic standard for determining infringement, which requires proof that: (1) the asserted trademark is entitled to Lanham Act protection, and (2) "the allegedly infringing use is likely to result in consumer confusion." Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 116. We agree that "duck tours" is a commonly used phrase that means amphibious sightseeing excursions. We also agree that because "duck tours" is a commonly used phrase and is shared by both of the trademarks at issue in this case, that phrase is insignificant in determining whether the marks are likely to cause consumer confusion.
I part company with the majority, however, because the majority separately classifies the phrase "duck tours" as a generic phrase and uses that analysis to conclude that the asserted mark, BOSTON DUCK TOURS, lacks strength, making consumer confusion unlikely. In so doing, the majority has conflated the first and second elements of the trademark infringement standard, which in my opinion should be treated separately. I write separately to explain my conclusion that the preliminary injunction must be vacated.
I.
It is important to begin with a brief review of the procedural history of this case and the posture in which it reached this court. In the district court, the parties agreed that BOSTON DUCK TOURS is a protected mark. The district court recognized this agreement and held, in its order granting the motion for a preliminary injunction, that "there is no challenge to the plaintiff's ownership of a protected mark," Boston Duck Tours, LP v. Super Duck Tours, LLC, 514 F.Supp.2d 119, 124 (D.Mass. 2007). Because the first element of the infringement claim was established, the court was not required to consider whether BOSTON DUCK TOURS is a protected mark. Therefore, the court properly turned to a consideration of the second infringement element, the likelihood of consumer confusion, and reviewed the evidence under the eight Pignons factors.
In support of its motion for a preliminary injunction, Boston Duck focused on the similarity of Super Duck's mark and logo to its own, along with evidence of actual consumer confusion, to show a likelihood of success on its infringement claim. Super Duck responded that Boston Duck was not likely to prove infringement, primarily due to the weakness of its mark. Super Duck argued that part of Boston Duck's mark, the phrase "duck tours," is generic and not entitled to Lanham Act protection. In response, Boston Duck argued that its mark, BOSTON DUCK TOURS, was protected and not generic. Therefore, the parties in the first instance introduced the term "generic" into the analysis of the second element of infringement.
When the party claiming infringement has registered its trademark on the Principal Register, a presumption arises that the mark is entitled to Lanham Act protection. Colt, 486 F.3d at 705. Further, when a mark has become incontestable, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1065, as is the case here, registration is conclusive evidence that the mark merits protection. Park 'N Fly, 469 U.S. 189, 191-192, 105 S.Ct. 658, 83 L.Ed.2d 582.
"Generic" is a term of art used as part of the classification analysis to determine whether a trademark is entitled to Lanham Act protection under the first element of trademark infringement. If the asserted mark is entitled to protection, the second element of the infringement analysis focuses on whether the use of the allegedly infringing mark is likely to cause confusion with the protected mark. Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 116. Following the lead of the parties, the district court conflated the two elements of an infringement analysis. After having stated that Boston Duck's ownership of a protected mark, BOSTON DUCK TOURS, was not disputed, the district court nevertheless analyzed the phrase "duck tours" to determine whether it was a "generic mark," when it considered the eighth Pignons factor, the strength of the mark.
The classifications used to determine whether a mark is protected range along a spectrum of distinctiveness as follows: "(1) generic, (2) descriptive, (3) suggestive, (4) arbitrary, or (5) fanciful." Colt, 486 F.3d at 705.
In considering the eighth factor, the court noted that it was the cornerstone of Super Duck's case and that Super Duck's "argument hinges on the theory that the phrase 'duck tours' is a generic term and thus, not protectable regardless of any actual confusion or similarity of trademarks. As expected, the plaintiff vigorously disagrees." Id. at 126. The court then considered whether the phrase "duck tours" was generic or whether it was protectable under the Lanham Act and concluded: "Although the Court is not convinced that 'duck tours' is a very strong mark it is, at least, not a generic mark. The Court declines to decide at this time whether it is descriptive, suggestive or arbitrary but even if it is a weak descriptive mark, there is persuasive evidence that it has acquired a secondary meaning in the Boston area during the past 13 years." Id. at 127. The court concluded its analysis by finding that "duck tours" was not generic.
II.
In this case, however, "duck tours" is not claimed as a trademark at all. Boston Duck does not allege that Super Duck is infringing its right to the mark "duck tours." Cf. Ty, Inc. v. Jones Group Inc., 237 F.3d 891, 897 (7th Cir. 2001); Ale House Mgmt., Inc. v. Raleigh Ale House, Inc., 205 F.3d 137, 140 (4th Cir. 2000); Boston Beer Co. Ltd. v. Slesar Bros. Brewing Co., Inc., 9 F.3d 175, 179-83 (1st Cir. 1993). Instead, Boston Duck asserts that Super Duck is infringing its registered mark, BOSTON DUCK TOURS, and its cartoon duck logo, by using a confusingly similar mark and logo.
The majority opinion analyzes the separate phrase "duck tours," apart from the asserted mark "BOSTON DUCK TOURS," and determines that the phrase "duck tours" is generic. The question of whether a mark is generic or protected is one that is addressed in the first part of an infringement analysis. See Borinquen Biscuit, 443 F.3d at 116. Because the parties agreed that Boston Duck's mark was protected, the first part of the infringement analysis has no place in this case. See id. Instead, the case turns on the second element, whether there is a likelihood of consumer confusion between Boston Duck's mark and logo and Super Duck's mark and logo, which is determined by applying the Pignons factors, not by considering whether part of a mark is entitled to trademark protection.
Furthermore, the "anti-dissection rule" instructs that composite trademarks, those with more than one word, are considered as a whole for purposes of determining a likelihood of consumer confusion. 3 McCarthy § 23:41. Therefore, when we apply the Pignons factors, "we look at 'the total effect of the designation, rather than a comparison of the individual features.'" Aktiebolaget Electrolux v. Armatron Int'l Inc., 999 F.2d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 1993) (quoting Pignons, 657 F.2d at 487). Despite that rule, the district court and the majority opinion analyze the phrase "duck tours" as if it were a separately claimed mark apart from the mark as a whole. I disagree with that approach, which I believe is contrary to Boston Duck's claim and to an infringement analysis that is supported by this circuit's precedent.
In addition, Super Duck raised the question of whether "duck tours" is generic in the context of the eighth Pignons factor, the strength of the trademark. The parties and the district court then treated that issue as the "cornerstone" of the preliminary injunction analysis. The majority follows that path and analyzes the strength of "duck tours" in the context of the eighth Pignons factor.
In this circuit, however, the strength of a trademark is assessed based on "practical matters and not the legal classification of the mark." Attrezzi 436 F.3d at 40. An argument that a mark is weak based on its legal classification between generic and arbitrary or fanciful "is not a proposition supported by any First Circuit case law and its logic is not apparent to us." Id. Although the majority attempts to distinguish the holding in Attrezzi from the circumstances in this case, I am not persuaded.
The practical matters pertinent to the strength of the mark include "the length of time a mark has been used and the relative renown in its field; the strength of the mark in plaintiff's field of business; and the plaintiff's action in promoting the mark." Equine Techs., Inc. v. Equitechnology, Inc., 68 F.3d 542, 547 (1st Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks omitted). The legal classification of trademarks, from generic to fanciful, is used in the first step of an infringement analysis, for determining whether a mark is protected under Lanham Act. Borinquen, 443 F.3d at 116-17.
In contrast, other circuits do consider where a mark falls on the classification spectrum for purposes of determining the mark's strength. See, e.g., Am. Rice, Inc. v. Producers Rice Mill, Inc., 518 F.3d 321, 330 (5th Cir. 2008); Aronowitz v. Health-Chem Corp., 513 F.3d 1229, 1239-40 (11th Cir. 2008); Banff, Ltd. v. Federated Dep't Stores, Inc., 841 F.2d 486, 491 (2d Cir. 1988). Because this circuit has rejected that analysis, we are bound by that precedent in the absence of intervening circumstances that would warrant a change. See, e.g., Amato v. United States, 450 F.3d 46, 53 (1st Cir. 2006).
Other circuits determine the strength of a mark by considering both its "conceptual strength," meaning where it falls along the legal classifications of distinctiveness from generic to fanciful, and its commercial strength. See, e.g., Ut. Lighthouse Ministry v. Found, for Apologetic Info. Research, 527 F.3d 1045, 1056 (10th Cir. 2008); Synergistic Int'l, LLC, v. Korman, 470 F.3d 162, 173-74 (4th Cir. 2006). As Attrezzi explains, the second element of the infringement analysis, whether using the accused mark is likely to cause consumer confusion, requires consideration of real life, practical, marketplace evidence of the likelihood of confusion. 436 F.3d at 40. Where a mark is classified on the spectrum of distinctiveness is not evidence of the choices and decision-making that a consumer faces in the marketplace. Instead, the second element considers the actual use of the allegedly infringing mark and its likely effect on commerce. Therefore, I read Attrezzi as establishing an analytical framework that is different from that followed in other circuits and that distinguishes between the legal issue of a mark's conceptual strength and the practical issue of its commercial strength.
III.
Despite the cited differences of opinion, I reach the same result under the following analysis.
A. Likelihood of Consumer Confusion — Pignons Factors
Trademark infringement requires proof that consumers are likely to be confused as to the source of the product they are buying. I.P. Lund Trading ApS v. Kohler Co., 163 F.3d 27, 43 (1st Cir. 1998). The potential for confusion is measured by considering the Pignons factors:
(1) the similarity of the marks; (2) the similarity of the goods; (3) the relationship between the parties' channels of trade; (4) the relationship between the parties' advertising; (5) the classes of prospective purchasers; (6) evidence of actual confusion; (7) the defendant's intent in adopting its mark; and (8) the strength of the plaintiff's mark.
Borinquen, 443 F.3d at 120 (citing Pignons S.A. de Mecanique de Precision v. Polaroid Corp., 657 F.2d 482, 487 (1st Cir. 1981)). The eight factors provide guidance and may be given more or less weight depending on the particular circumstances of the case. Beacon Mut. Ins. Co. v. One-Beacon Ins. Group, 376 F.3d 8, 15 (1st Cir. 2004).
1. Similarity of the Marks
The similarity of marks must be determined by comparing the total effect of each mark, not their separate parts. Astra Pharm. Prods., Inc. v. Beckman Instruments, Inc., 718 F.2d 1201, 1205 (1st Cir. 1983). Nevertheless, if the most dominant feature of both marks is the same or similar, then that similarity may cause confusion. Beacon Mut., 376 F.3d at 18. Words that were disclaimed in the course of trademark registration ordinarily are not the dominant part of a composite word mark. See 4 McCarthy § 23:42; see also Country Floors, Inc. v. P'ship Composed of Gepner Ford, 930 F.2d 1056, 1065 (3d Cir. 1991); Pizzeria Uno Corp. v. Temple, 747 F.2d 1522, 1530 (4th Cir. 1984); Giant Brands, Inc. v. Giant Eagle, Inc., 228 F.Supp.2d 646, 653 (D.Md. 2002). In addition, a logo or additional distinguishing features used with a mark may reduce the likelihood of confusion. Int'l Ass'n of Machinists Aerospace Workers v. Winship Green Nursing Ctr., 103 F.3d 196, 203 (1st Cir. 1996).
SUPER DUCK TOURS and BOSTON DUCK TOURS both include the phrase "duck tours" which makes that part of the marks identical. Boston Duck disclaimed both "duck" and "tours" during the registration process and Super Duck disclaimed "duck tours." In addition, the term "duck tours" is commonly understood to mean an amphibious sightseeing excursion. Therefore, "duck tours" should not be considered the dominant part of their marks.
Instead, the marks' first words are their most salient features. "Super" refers to the characteristics of the tour, while "Boston" suggests its geography. The overall impression, therefore, suggests a similar tour offered by different enterprises.
The logos reinforce the differences. Boston Duck's logo consists of a white oval within which is a circle with a black border framing a yellow cartoon duck. The duck sits on blue water facing out directly from the center of the circle with a purple back-drop. Written around the top of the circle is the name BOSTON DUCK TOURS in uniform black lettering. The yellow cartoon duck wears a camouflage hat and is flapping its wings into water, causing the blue-and-white-tipped water to splash outside of the circle.
Super Duck's logo is a blue oval with darker blue accents, denoting water. Toward the top of the logo, and getting smaller across the logo to suggest motion from left to right, the trade name SUPER DUCK TOURS is printed in orange. "SUPER" is the largest and most prominent feature of the mark as used in the logo. At the center of the logo is a duck tour vehicle with a cartoon duck head and wings on the front and a duck tail on the rear of the vehicle. The duck vehicle with its wheels depicted is moving from a black road into the water. On the front of the vehicle are the head and shoulders of a cartoon duck with an orange cape flowing behind and over the vehicle. With one of its two muscular wings, the duck is holding up an orange flag with the words "Charlestown, MA" on it. Passengers crowd together along the side of the duck vehicle, which has "Super Duck Tours" written on its side. As the duck vehicle enters the water, white water splashes into the air.
Although both logos show cartoon ducks, the ducks are used differently. Super Duck's logo emphasizes its super hero theme and its new vehicle, while Boston Duck's logo focuses on the duck's head with a camouflage hat, a reference to the World War II vehicles used by Boston Duck. The obvious differences between the marks and logos strengthen the conclusion that they are not confusingly similar. If consumers viewed the marks and logos in the marketplace, without prior exposure to only Boston Duck's mark and logo, they would not be confused.
2. Similarity of Services
The tour services offered by Boston Duck and Super Duck are similar, and the district court found them to be virtually identical. Super Duck does not challenge that part of the district court's order.
3. Channels of Trade, Advertising, and Customers
The third, fourth, and fifth Pignons factors are often considered together. Attrezzi, 436 F.3d at 39. The parties do not dispute that they share channels of trade, customers, and advertising.
4. Actual Confusion
Evidence that consumers are actually confused by similar marks provides the best proof of the likelihood of future confusion. Id. at 40. Evidence of actual confusion, however, may be the result of external factors unrelated to the similarity of the marks. Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. L L Wings, Inc., 962 F.2d 316, 320 (4th Cir. 1992). While trademarks are intended to protect against unfair competition, they are not intended to perpetuate product monopolies. Id.
Boston Duck provided evidence that some consumers were confused when Super Duck began operations in Boston in the summer of 2007. Some consumers would buy tickets for Super Duck tours and then arrive at Boston Duck's departure sites for tours. Taken in the proper context, however, the confusion that has occurred between Super Duck and Boston Duck during the first few weeks of Super Duck's operations in the Boston area was more likely caused by Boston's Duck unique position during the thirteen years that it operated the only amphibious tour service in the Boston area. As a result, Boston Duck has enjoyed a monopoly in that segment of the tour service industry in the Boston area. In contrast, if several amphibious tour services had been operating in the Boston area when Super Duck began operations, a duck tour would be less likely to be associated with a single company.
The record also suggests that confusion may have been exacerbated by the company Super Duck hired to sell its tickets.
For example, consumers would not confuse "Boston Pizza" with "Super Pizza" because they expect a variety of pizza businesses to co-exist.
Trademark laws, however, cannot be used to perpetuate a product monopoly if the competing trademarks are not otherwise confusingly similar. Because I conclude that Boston Duck's and Super Duck's marks and logos are not confusingly similar, I am unpersuaded by the evidence of actual confusion.
5. Intent
Whether the defendant acted in bad faith in adopting its mark is another factor to be considered in determining the likelihood of consumer confusion. Attrezzi, 436 F.3d at 40. Evidence that the defendant intended to take advantage of the plaintiffs reputation, goodwill, and promotion of its product by adopting a similar mark is probative of the likelihood of consumer confusion. Star Fin. Servs., Inc. v. AASTAR Mortgage Corp., 89 F.3d 5, 11 (1st Cir. 1996). Evidence of the defendant's good faith in adopting its mark, however, does not show that consumer confusion is unlikely. Id.
Boston Duck argues that Super Duck intended to trade off of Boston Duck's goodwill by using SUPER DUCK TOURS as its mark. In support of that theory, Boston Duck contends that Super Duck was aware of Boston Duck's trademark, its logo, and its associated reputation when it moved its operations from Portland, Maine to Boston. Those circumstances, Boston Duck asserts, support an inference of Super Duck's bad faith.
The evidence shows, however, that Super Duck adopted its mark when it began operating in Portland six years before it moved to Boston. Boston Duck does not contend that use of the mark in Portland infringed its trademark. The circumstances here do not support an inference of bad faith.
6. Strength of the Mark
The last Pignons factor evaluates the relative strength of the marks based on practical considerations. Attrezzi, 436 F.3d at 40. Strength is measured by considering "the length of time the mark has been used, the trademark holder's renown in the industry, the potency of the mark in the product field (as measured by the number of similar registered marks), and the trademark holder's efforts to promote and protect the mark." Borinquen, 443 F.3d at 121.
The evidence shows that Boston Duck Tours has used its trademark and logo since 1994. Super Duck began to use its mark seven years later, in 2001, in Portland, Maine. The first duck tour apparently began in Wisconsin just after World War II. Indeed, Boston Duck acknowledges on its website that it is not the first or the only duck tour. Therefore, although Boston Duck has more longevity than Super Duck, Boston Duck was not the first duck tour nor is it apparently the longest running duck tour in the industry. Boston Duck demonstrates that it is renowned in the Boston area for its sightseeing tours. Its fame is due at least in part, however, to the position it has enjoyed as the only duck tour service in the Boston area. Boston Duck's recognition in tour magazines and the awards it cites are focused on its unique Boston service. As such, the evidence does not show that Boston Duck has unusual renown in the industry as a whole, when compared to amphibious tours offered elsewhere.
The record evidence shows that many other amphibious vehicle sightseeing companies, outside of Boston, provide the same service, use the term "duck" or "duck tour" in their names or in describing their services, and show a cartoon duck in their logos. Even Boston Duck's means of conveyance, the World War II DUKWs, is not unique. The record also shows that other duck tour companies have applied to register names with the term "duck tours," including Super Duck, and that other trademarks which include the term "duck tours" have been registered with the PTO.
In fact, this is not the first dispute about similar services that has landed a duck tour company in court. See, e.g., Ride the Ducks of Phil. LLC v. Duck Boat Tours, Inc., 2005 WL 1583514 (3d Cir. July 6, 2005); City of Key West v. Duck Tours Seafari, Inc., 972 So.2d 901 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 2007); Dells Boat Co., Inc. v. Village of Lake Delton, 2001 WL 1512763 (Wis.Ct.App. Nov. 29, 2001); Old South Duck Tours, Inc. v. Mayor Aldermen of Savannah, 272 Ga. 869, 535 S.E.2d 751 (2000).
Boston Duck protected its mark by registering its word mark and its logo with the PTO in 2002. Boston Duck represents that its declarations for use and incontestibility of the mark were accepted by the PTO in July of 2007. In its registration, however, Boston Duck disclaimed the right to use the word "duck" and the word "tours" apart from its mark, BOSTON DUCK TOURS. Boston Duck states that it promotes its mark and logo by using them on its website, on its ticket sales booths, and on the tour vehicles.
Despite Boston Duck's recognition in the Boston tour industry and its registration and promotion of its mark and logo, given the common use of the term "duck tours" to describe the service Boston Duck provides, BOSTON DUCK TOURS is not a strong mark.
7. Weighing the Pignons Factors
Although several of the pertinent factors for determining whether Boston Duck has shown a likelihood of consumer confusion between its mark and logo and Super Duck's mark and logo are conceded, those that are contested, when viewed under the appropriate standard, weigh strongly against finding a likelihood of consumer confusion. Boston Duck Tours is not a strong mark, particularly because its reputation is built at least in part on having introduced the amphibious tour service to Boston and having been the only such tour in Boston for thirteen years. Duck tours, however, have been and continue to be available in other cities in this country and internationally.
Despite their shared use of the phrase "duck tours," the overall impression of the Boston Duck and Super Duck marks and logos is that they are not similar. Although Boston Duck provided evidence of actual consumer confusion, such confusion is likely more the result of Boston Duck's unique position in Boston rather than any similarity in the marks and logos. Finally, the record does not support an inference that Super Duck adopted its name in bad faith to trade off of Boston Duck's reputation. In sum, Boston Duck has not shown that it is likely to succeed on its infringement claim by showing a likelihood of consumer confusion between the marks and logos.
B. Injunction
Therefore, Boston Duck was not entitled to the injunction that was issued. New Comm Wireless Servs., 287 F.3d at 9.
Exhibit