D10: Market Interfaces
Tipping the Balance Against Identical Marks with Detailed Consent Agreements
AMERICAN CONSTELLATION // CONSTELLATION
2(d) Refusal Reversed
A curated index of ex parte appeal decisions where the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) reversed a Section 2(d) refusal. These case summaries break down the winning arguments, evidentiary strategies, and DuPont factor analyses that successfully overcame examiner findings of a likelihood of confusion.
D1: Similarity of Marks
TTAB Reverses 2(d) Refusal Based on Grammatical and Structural Dissimilarity
I’M SMOKING HOT // SMOKIN’ HOT SHOW TIME
2(d) Refusal Affirmed
Descriptive Additions and Overlapping Channels Fail Section 2(d) TTAB Appeal
TWISTED FORK BRUNCH COMPANY // THE TWISTED FORK
2(d) Refusal Affirmed
Broad Identification Encompasses Niche Market: TTAB Affirms 2(d) Refusal
FUNTASYA // FUNTASIA THE ADULT SHOP
D6: Third-Party Uses
Commercial Weakness Overcomes Relatedness of Services and Similarity of Marks
SYCAMORE GROWTH GROUP // SYCAMORE CAPITAL
D10: Market Interfaces
Double Entendre Prevails Against Likelihood of Confusion Refusal
COUSABLANCA // CASABLANCA
D1: Similarity of Marks
Overlap in Goods and Trade Channels Outweighed by Conceptual Weakness and Design Elements in 2(d) Reversal
EQUIPKEYCO // KEYCO
D2: Similarity of Goods or Services
Complementary Yet Not Related: How Granular Product Identifications Overcame a 2(d) Refusal
VERSAMAX // VERSAMAXX
D1: Similarity of Marks
How a Unitary Mark and Elevated Consumer Care Reversed a 2(d) Refusal
LADY MOSS BOSS // LADYBOSS
D1: Similarity of Marks
Slaying a 2(d) Refusal: Commercial Impression Outweighs Related RPG Manuals and Board Games
DRAGONSLAYER || DRAGON SLAYERS CONQUERORS OF DARKNESS REV.12:7-11
D13: Market Reality / Other
Shades of Green: How Pantone Designations Saved a Color Trademark Appeal
Green (Pantone 2274C) // Green (Pantone 7488U)
D1: Similarity of Marks
Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents Defeated, Leading to 2(d) Refusal Reversal
FLAT EARTH SURF CLUB // TERRA PLANA