Trademark Searching - LexisNexis



Trademark Searching

By Jeffrey H. Greene

A. What is a Trademark?

1. A trademark can be anything that indicates the source of a product or service and distinguishes that product or service in the marketplace from those of others.

2. Trademarks can be words, phrases, logos, smells, musical tones (the NBC chimes), colors (the pink of fiberglass insulation), animation (the TriStar Pictures Pegasus) the shape of a product or its container, or the distinctive decorative features of a restaurant or store.

B. What Makes a Trademark "Good"?

1. "A mark is good if it communicates something about the product" -- There is an age-old tension between trademark lawyers and business people. Each approaches the notion of branding from a different perspective. A mark is "good" to marketing personnel when it communicates to the purchaser what the product or the nature of the product is. By contrast, trademark lawyers warn clients regarding descriptive marks. The best marks to trademark lawyers are those marks that have no other meaning or purpose whatsoever, EXCEPT to indicate the source of the product or service at issue. KODAK has no other meaning except as a trademark. As a result, KODAK belongs to the strongest class of trademarks, i.e. the coined or fanciful marks.

a. Consult with business/marketing teams early.

C. The Spectrum of Trademark Distinctiveness.

1. The level of distinctiveness of a mark (inherent distinctiveness as well as distinctiveness in the marketplace) determines the scope of protection to be afforded to the mark. The stronger, or more distinctive, the mark, the broader its scope of protection.

2. A mark will fall within one of the following five classifications:

a. GENERIC: Generic terms can never function as trademarks (e.g., ELEVATOR or ASPIRIN).

b. DESCRIPTIVE: A descriptive term can be protected as a trademark once it acquires "secondary meaning." Surnames and geographic terms are considered 'descriptive." as are laudatory terms (e.g. CHAPSTICK for lip balm).

c. SUGGESTIVE: Marks that suggest, but not describe, the nature of the product or service is an inherently strong mark (e.g., GREYHOUND for bus lines).

d. ARBITRARY: Marks that are arbitrary as applied to the goods are even stronger marks than suggestive marks (e.g. APPLE for computers).

e. FANCIFUL: The strongest marks are "made-up" fanciful terms with no other meaning other than as a source identifier (e.g., KODAK for film).

3. How Crowded is the Pool? Even an inherently strong trademark will have a limited scope of protection if it exists in a "crowded field" of similar marks.

D. Processes and Procedures for Handling Search Requests.

1. Receiving the search request.

2. Designate an individual or office to receive requests; it reduces duplication, creates institutional memory and offers someone prepared with all the right questions and answers.

3. Responsibilities of attorney obtaining instructions (the "Originator"):

a. Ask why the search is being conducted: Availability? Registrability? Enforceability? Obtain from the "client" a full understanding of the mark and goods and/or services to be searched.

(i) Verify spelling of mark, including any punctuation, number of words, etc.

(ii) Determine if mark contains a design element or stylized lettering.

(iii) Ask if the mark has been registered anywhere before (e.g., as a domain name).

(iv) Is there any geographic significance?

(v) Does the mark have any significance in the relevant trade and industry for such goods/services?

(vi) Is the mark comprised of a foreign word or words? If so, what is the translation?

(vii) Is the mark already in use? If so, since when, to what extent and where geographically?

(viii) Are there any marks of which client is aware which are similar?

b. What are the goods/services to be covered?

(i) What are the goods/services used for?

(ii) Are there goods/services for which the client may want to use the mark in the future?

(iii) Are there goods/services with which the immediate product/services are marketed or used?

c. Procedure/Timing.

(i) Are there other marks to be searched? If so, should such searches be done concurrently or sequentially?

(ii) Scope of search.

(a) Federal only.

(b) Federal and state.

(c) Comprehensive.

(d) Foreign searches.

(iii) Determine the "client's" wishes regarding turnaround, taking into account scope of search. Comprehensive searches can be expedited for an additional fee.

(iv) Who should do the search?

(v) Originator should determine the client's wishes regarding method of reporting results so that searcher may prepare an appropriate report regarding the search results.

E. The Comprehensive Search.

1. Searches are only as good as the searcher search strategy. A "thorough" search is one that implements a creative and exhaustive search strategy and utilizes resources appropriate to the product or service at issue and the jurisdiction.

a. Select a company with which you are comfortable. The format/quality of comprehensive searches can vary among providers.

b. Contents of a comprehensive search: Comprehensive searches can be ordered from several sources, including NameProtect, Thompson & Thompson, CCH CorSearch, and several online vendors. Originator should specify if there is a preference.

(a) Common law searching may be more limited than computerized searching. Search providers tend to limit search strategies to prefixes and suffixes and will not always search variations that may be important. Be sure to review the search strategy used to determine whether the search was adequately broad in scope. If the provider has missed important aspects of the search, the provider should be contacted to run the additional search strategy.

(i) Federal pending trademark applications;

(ii) Federal trademark registrations;

(iii) Abandoned applications/cancelled or expired registrations;

(iv) State trademark registrations;

(v) SHEPARDS citations;

(vi) Domain name data;

(vii) Common law (unregistered) uses (databases, Dun & Bradstreet, Brands and Their Companies, Thomas Register, ABI, phone books, trade directories);

(viii) Internet uses; and

(ix) Business names.

2. Analyzing the Results.

a. Keep in mind who the client/owner/user of the mark will be; what the client's need is; and how risk averse the client is.

b. Identify marks sufficiently similar in sight, sound, and/or meaning (e.g., CYCLONE and TORNADO). Do not just look for exact hits.

c. Review goods/services for relationship to those searched.

d. Determine whether follow up searches/investigations are needed. For the most pertinent marks, you may decide to get the application history/file wrapper; conduct an Internet search; secure corporate and financial reports, etc.

(i) Relevant state references almost always require additional investigation: most state applications are not examined; a lot of deadwood; and rules differ in each state.

(ii) Investigation resources: yourself; the client; and an outside investigator such as the search firm.

F. Searching Strategies.

1. Resources.

a. TrademarkScan (through Dialog/Saegis): Databases for U.S. (Federal and state), several national databases and databases for European Community and International Trademarks.

b. Lexis offers several trademark-related databases.

c. Examples of additional international and national trademark databases,

(i) United States: Boolean search capability, .

(ii) International Registrations: WIPO's "Madrid Express" Database covering pending applications, registrations, and extensions can be found at wipo.int/madrid/en/madrid_express.htm.

(iii) Australia: the ATMOSS database is available online. .au. IP Australia also enables searching images.

(iv) Canada: Canadian Trade-Marks Database available through cipo.gc.ca.

(v) Hungary: free searching of English language trademark records from 1996 on. hpo.hu.

d. There are other national trademark resources. There is an international intellectual property resource at . This resource is updated periodically.

e. Internet-based searchable databases and search services.

(a) MicroPatent has a proprietary, searchable trademark database, .

(b) Lycos Multimedia: searching for pictures (audio or video). .

(c) Betterwhois: search for domain names through a fairly comprehensive database,

(d) Netcraft allows you to search for character strings in domain names,

2. How do I Search?

a. Search Strategy.

(i) Keep in mind what you should be finding during your search. The issues are likelihood of confusion and dilution.

(ii) Be creative. Do not limit to exact spelling, use phonetics. Be creative.

(iii) When searching a mark with "corrupted" spelling, always search the correct grammatical spelling.

(iv) Where appropriate, consider searching for synonyms and/or homonyms.

(v) Search abbreviations when appropriate (e.g. "MOM" and "MOTHER").

(vi) Be mindful of changes in spelling due to pluralization.

(vii) Look at active/inactive marks.

(a) Inactive marks may contain valuable information.

(b) When limiting search to active marks, consider reviewing inactive marks for dead-ons or other pertinent inactive references.

(viii) Goods/Services.

(a) Search key words for goods/services without limitation to

(b) Search class(es) containing related services and include class(es) for related goods when practicable.

b. If you encounter a knock-out reference, do you stop searching?

3. Search Limitations.

a. Errors in the databases,

(i) PTO.

(ii) State records.

(iii) Searching company.

b. U.S. "blind spot" -- up to six-week delay from filing application in PTO until information is available for searching.

c. Foreign "blind spot" -- foreign entity filing under the Paris Convention has six months relation back priority (15 U.S.C. 1126(d)), and if a foreign entity files a Madrid application at the end of the six months priority period, as many as eight months may elapse after filing of the basic application before information on U.S. extension application is made available to the PTO.

d. Errors in search process.

e. Design marks.

f. Assignments may not be recorded.

g. "Gone but not forgotten" -- may have no use for years, but may have intent to resume use. See, e.g. Exxon Corp. v. Humble Exploration Co. Inc., 695 F.2d 96 (5th Cir. 1983), after remand, 592 F. Supp. 1225 (N.D. Tex. 1984); and Saratoga Vichy Spring Co., Inc. v. Lehman, 625 F.2d 1037 (2d Cir. 1980).

h. In the U.S. and in other "common, law" countries (countries that recognize unregistered rights) there is no requirement to register a mark.

4. Madrid Protocol.

a. The period of uncertainty or "blind spot" (i.e., the delay in reporting/processing trademark filings which results in searching uncertainty) has been increased.

b. Even if the client is seeking to clear a mark in the U.S. only, searching the WIPO online records (wipo.int/madrid/en/madrid_express.htm) or subscribing to a CD-based service called ROMARIN, which would reveal applications for extension of rights to the U.S. is a prudent addition, as it lessens the uncertainty (WIPO must place application information in its system within three (3) days of receipt of same). The PTO would normally receive from the International Bureau information regarding applications for extension of rights to the U.S. much later.

c. Consider conducting follow-up searches of the Federal and International Registers to locate conflicting Madrid filings with priority. These searches should be done about eight months after filing in order to avoid the "blind spot."

d. For international trademark screening, WIPO searches should not replace searches through the country registries. Moreover, the WIPO Gazette is the only official publication for International Registrations.

G. The Opinion.

1. A search opinion for the same mark for the same services may differ in conclusion and tone from client to client. Examples of variables are: risk aversion; commitment (already using); intended use (long time user vs. client who will use the mark for 6 months as a seasonal brand, and then dump it).

a. Oral Opinions.

(i) Pros

(1) Some clients prefer it;

(2) Less expense; and

(3) Quicker.

(ii) Cons

(1) Can be misinterpreted;

(2) Clients may only hear what they want to hear;

(3) May not be able to rely upon the advice in litigation;

(4) Provides more opportunity for disagreement; and

(5) No record created.

b. Written Opinions.

(i) Pros/cons

(a) Creates a record;

(b) Can be relied upon -- but note three part test:

(1) Must seek advice before using mark;

(2) Must adequately disclose details of proposed use;

(3) Must act in accordance with counsel's advice. Cuisinarts, Inc. v. Robot-Coupe Int's Corp., 580 F. Supp. 634, 638 (S.D.N.Y. 1984). See Berkshire Fashions. Inc. v. Sara Lee Corp., 729 F. Supp. 21, 22 (S.D.N.Y. 1990); Ross Bicycles, Inc. v. Cycles USA, Inc., 765 F.2d 1502, 1508 (11th Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1013 (1986); Parenting Unlimited Inc. v. Columbia Pictures Television, Inc., 743 F.Supp. 221, 230 (S.D.N.Y. 1990);

(c) Allows for communication without distortion;

(d) Helps explain new or difficult concepts; and

(e) Aids the opinion writer -- forced to think the advice through carefully.

c. Content of Opinions.

(i) Give the client advice and a recommendation.

(ii) Reach a conclusion and provide constructive/creative comments,

(iii) Distinguish between use/registrability/protectibility.

(a) Keep declaration (not application) in mind -- may be fraud if signed with knowledge of another's superior right to the mark as applied to the goods/services. Fraud test is clear and convincing evidence. V&V Food Products Inc. v. Cacique Cheese Co., 683 F. Supp. 662 (N.D. Ill. 1988).

(b) Dead wood may prevent/delay registration, but should not affect use.

(c) Client does not have to wait for registration to commence use.

(iv) A mark may be available for use and registrable but ultimately not be protectible. See Miller Brewing Co. v. Schlitz Brewing Co., 203 U.S.P.Q. 642 (7th Cir. 1979) together with In re Miller, 226 U.S.P.Q. 666 (TTAB 1985).

H. Domain Names.

1. A mark may available for use and registration as a mark, but the .com (or another) domain name many already be taken.

2. Is a domain name being used as a mark in content? Is there use analogous to trademark use?

3. Are domain names capable of functioning as a mark?

I. Foreign Availability.

1. Know your client's business and plans.

2. If the mark is available for use and registration in the U.S., but not in Europe, does that impact on the overall value of the mark?

J. Legal Obligation.

1. There is no legal requirement to search. Rosso and Mastracco Inc. v. Giant Food. Inc., 720 F.2d 1263 (Fed. Cir. 1983); Money Store v. Harriscorp Finance Inc., 689 F.2d 666 (7th Cir. 1982); V&V Food Products, Inc. v. Cacique Cheese Co., 683 F.Supp. 662 (N.D. Ill. 1988). International Star Class Yacht Racing Ass'n. v. Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A., Inc., 1999 W.L. 108739 (S.D.N.Y. 1999). Failure to conduct a search does not constitute bad faith as a matter of law. Jeri-Jo Knitwear, Inc. v. Club Italia, Inc., No. 98 Civ. 4270. 1999 WL 500146 at *4 (S.D.N.Y. July 15, 1999).

2. However, failure to conduct a search, taken in conjunction with other facts, can weigh "significantly" in favor of a finding of bad faith. Id.; see also First Jewellery Co. of Canada v. Internet Shopping Network LLC, 53 U.S.P.Q.2d 1858. 4 1843 (S.D.N.Y. 2000) (failure to conduct the "very obvious and simple precaution of a trademark search is relevant to the issue of good faith).

3. Failure to react to the search results appropriately may result in a finding of bad faith. Bear USA, Inc. v. Kim, 71 F. Supp.2d 237 (S.D.N.Y.):

"Defendant's actions upon learning of a prior user's rights in a mark can be an important indicator of good or bad faith. When a defendant faced with such information neither fully explore(s) others' rights to [the mark in question] nor cease(s) its infringing behavior, that defendant cannot lay claim to a good faith belief that it was not infringing. [FN 108]

International Star Class Yacht Racing Ass'n v. Tommy Hilfiger, U.S.A., 80 F.3d 749,754 (2d Cir. 1996).

Of course, it is not Bing Chuan's failure to accurately to predict another's rights in a trademark which suggests bad faith. As a judge in this court has pointed out, courts have disagreed with counsel's opinion in trademark infringement matters, but not found defendants to have acted in bad faith [FN 109]. Instead, it is the failure to address the issue at all that is telling."

4. Failure to seek advice of counsel may imply intent to infringe. Conopco Inc. v. May Dept. Stores Co., 784 F. Supp. 648 (E.D. Mo. 1992); Ambrit v. Kraft Inc., 1 U.S.P.Q.2d 1611 (11th Cir. 1986) cert. denied 481 U.S. 1041 (1987).

- Search and knowledge of plaintiff's mark is relevant to good faith. W.W.W. Pharmaceutical Co. v. Gillette Co., 808 F.Supp. 1013 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), aff'd, 984 F.2d 567 (2d Cir. 1993).

- The search report is discoverable; the advice may not be. Amerace Corp. v. USM Corp., 183 U.S.P.Q. 506 (T.T.A.B. 1974); 8 in 1 Pet Products, Inc. v. Swift & Co., 218 F. Supp. 253, 137 U.S.P.Q. 777 (S.D.N.Y. 1963)

5. If a client chooses not to conduct a search, it is prudent for counsel to note such fact in writing, e.g., "This will confirm that you wish to proceed with an application and have not instructed us to conduct a search."

Trademark Searching

Jeffrey H. Greene, Esq.

Why Do We Search?

- Availability

- Registrability

- Enforceability

- Corporate Name Clearance

- Design - How Will it Look in Use?

- Major Product Introduction/Limited Purpose

- Is the Mark Already in Use?

- Advertising Use Only?

- Cease and Desist Issues

- Due Diligence for a Transaction

Do We Have To?

- Failing to search does not inevitably result in a finding of bad faith, but is considered when evaluating the adoption of a mark - "willful indifference," "intentional blindness," "blind disregard."

Why You Should

- Commercially Reasonable - Customary

- Affirmation of Good Faith

- Cost

Procedure

- Have a process

- Ask questions:

- Verify spelling

- Determine whether mark contains design element or stylized lettering

- Is the mark already registered?

- Is the mark already in use?

- Does the mark have any significance in the relevant trade or any geographic significance?

- Are there any similar marks currently in use?

- What are the goods/services to be covered?

- What are the goods/services used for?

Timing

- Communicate with marketing/the client

- Turnaround

- Who will perform the search?

- Method of reporting the search results

What Type of Search?

- Internet Search

- Is an online search ever enough?

- Preliminary Trademark Search

- "Knock out" Searches: Do you stop after a "knock out"?

- US Comprehensive Search

- Design Searches

- Foreign Searches

Where Do I Search?

-

- Dialog/Saegis

- Name Protect/CCH-Corsearch/T&T

- Determine strategy

- Define the search for the vendor

- U.S. or broader geographic scope

Search Strategies

- Keep your searching goal in mind

- Be creative; use phonetics

- Search homonyms, synonyms and abbreviations

- Corrupted spelling

- Don't ignore inactive references

Design Searches

- Design Codes

- Colors

- Smells

- Sensory marks have no "drawing"

- Description

The Comprehensive Search

- Search strategy

- Contents

- Federal applications/registrations

- State registrations

- Shepards citations

- Common law (unregistered uses)

- Domain names

- Internet uses

- Business names

Registering Domain Names and Trademarks

- PTO says that you cannot register URLs (e.g., ) unless also used as a mark (e.g., )

Analyzing Search Results

- Keep in mind who the client/owner/user of the mark is/will be

- Analyze search strategy

- Likelihood of confusion

- Similarity of Marks

- Strength of Marks

- Similarity of Goods/Services

- Similarity of Channels of Trade

- Similarity of Purchasers/Users

- Purchaser/User Sophistication

- Evidence of Actual Confusion

- Intent in Adopting the Mark

Analyzing Search Results

- Review goods and services for relationship to those searched

- Dilution

- Mark must be "famous" to qualify for protection.

- Such mark is protected from dilution by blurring or tarnishment.

- Dilution is the lessening of the capacity of a mark to function as an identifier of a single source.

Analyzing Search Results

- Descriptiveness: does the mark merely describe the nature, purpose or characteristic of the product or service (e.g., CHAPSTICK for lip balm)?

- Genericy: does the relevant public understand the term to indicate the genus of the goods/services (e.g., ELEVATOR or ASPIRIN)?

- Functionality: is the mark a useful product feature (e.g., the shape of a coffee filter)?

Analyzing Search Results

- Deceptiveness

- A mark is deemed deceptive if it communicates something about the product that is false and the statement is likely to be believed by purchasers and the false impression is material to the purchase.

Analyzing Search Results

- Crowded field?

- Addition of housemark?

- Aggressiveness of trademark owner

- Abandoned applications and cancelled registrations

- Domain Names

- Determine whether follow up searches/investigations are needed

- Foreign availability

Madrid Protocol

- Longer period of uncertainty

- Even if the mark is being cleared in the U.S., searching for International applications for extension of rights to the U.S. may be prudent

- Consider follow-up

- WIPO searches should not replace local country searches

Investigating References

- Resources

- Internet; google; whois domain name searches

- lexis/nexis; D[B] state corporation records

- private investigation services

-file wrappers ( - "view documents")

- litigation/administrative proceedings in TTAB

- phone calls

Search Limitations

- Errors in the databases

- At the PTO

- In the State records

- Searching company

- U.S. delay

- Foreign delay

- Design marks

- Assignments

- "Gone but not forgotten"

Reporting the Search Results

- Oral - may be quicker and cheaper, but may be misinterpreted and may not be relied upon in litigation (no record).

- Written - creates a record, may be relied upon, can explain new or difficult concepts, less chance of misinterpretation - What should it look like?

- Use of Search Guide

The Art of the Search Opinion

- Identify databases searched, scope and currency

- List the most relevant references

- Reach a conclusion and give a recommendation

- % Likelihood of success

- Reasonable/Moderate business risk?

- Distinguish between use, registrability and protectability

- Address the client's plans - e.g., foreign plans?

Conclusions

- Keep up to date

- Have a process

- Communicate with marketing/the client

- Increase value

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