How to Avoid A Trademark Application Refusal Because of 2(d) Confusion


If your trademark is too much like someone else’s trademark and that someone else registered their trademark with the USPTO or their trademark application was pending before your application, your application is likely to be refused.


USPTO Trademark Examining Attorneys often refuse to register an applicant's mark under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d), on the ground that applicant's mark is likely to cause confusion with the previously registered or pending mark. This is also known as a likelihood of confusion refusal. Other conflicts that cause refusals are based on the likelihood of mistake or deception. Likelihood of confusion is the most common refusal for trademarks or service marks along with common refusals based on goods and services identification problems. Approximately 70% of USPTO trademarks are initially refused registration. ( Thirty percent of all TEAS PLUS applications proceed directly to publication without an office action. See USPTO Trademark Notice) Other reasons for refusal include: Merely Descriptive and Deceptively Misdescriptive; Primarily Geographically Descriptive and Primarily Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive; Primarily Merely a Surname.

There is no mechanical test for determining likelihood of confusion, many legal principles are involved including distinctiveness and distinctive elements; whether a mark is strong or weak; are the goods or services related; whether or not a mark has a pseudo mark; similarity and dissimilarity of the marks and others. A likelihood of confusion determination under Section 2(d) is based on an analysis of all of the probative facts in evidence that are relevant to the DuPont factors bearing on the likelihood of confusion issue.

The USPTO international classification system has been set up for the convenience of trademark offices worldwide, and serves the interest of merchants and manufacturers who own marks in the United States, as well as their trademark counsel. In the United States, a registrant's rights are determined by the wording contained in the identification of goods. By contrast, in countries that permit an applicant to include "all the goods" within a particular class, the classification system is more critical in determining the trademark owner's rights. See Jean Patou, Inc. v. Theon, Inc., 9 F.3d 971, 975, 29 USPQ2d 1771 (Fed. Cir. 1993).



The Thirteen DuPont Factors

 In re E.I. DuPont DeNemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 1361 (CCPA 1973), established a test [the thirteen DuPont factors] for determining whether there is a likelihood of confusion:

In testing for likelihood of confusion . . . the following, when of record, must be considered:

(1) The similarity or dissimilarity of the marks in their entireties as to appearance, sound, connotation and commercial impression.

(2) The similarity or dissimilarity and nature of the goods or services as described in an application or registration or in connection with which a prior mark is in use.

(3) The similarity or dissimilarity of established, likely-to-continue trade channels.

(4) The conditions under which and buyers to whom sales are made, i.e. `impulse' vs. careful, sophisticated purchasing.

(5) The fame of the prior mark (sales, advertising, length of use).

(6) The number and nature of similar marks in use on similar goods.

(7) The nature and extent of any actual confusion.

(8) The length of time during and conditions under which there has been concurrent use without evidence of actual confusion.

(9) The variety of goods on which a mark is or is not used (house mark, `family' mark, product mark).

(10) The market interface between applicant and the owner of a prior mark. . . .

(11) The extent to which applicant has a right to exclude others from use of its mark on its goods.

(12) The extent of potential confusion, i.e., whether de minimis or substantial.

(13) Any other established fact probative of the effect of use.


       


The following section is taken from the USPTO’s TESS Online Help. For more information and specific examples on how to search see: How To Trademark Search Using TESS; How to Search for Marks Published for Opposition; How to Search For Marks on the Supplemental Register.


USPTO Likelihood of Confusion Search Principles

(From TESS Online Help )


Following are the likelihood of confusion search principles used by the USPTO that you may want to consider prior to submitting a trademark application. You must decide which of these search principles may be appropriate for your trademark search. Even if you diligently follow all these search principles, that does not necessarily guarantee that you will find all potential citations under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act.


  1.     Conduct a Thorough Search.
  2.     Search All Forms of all the Distinctive Elements of the Mark.
  3.     Search Each Distinctive Element Alone.
  4.     Search Acronyms AND What They Stand For.
  5.     Search All the Legal Word Equivalents of Terms.
  6.     Search Component Parts of Individual Terms When Necessary.
  7.     Searches for Marks Consisting of Two or More Separate Terms Should be Conducted so that the Two Terms Would be Retrieved Whether They Run Together or are Separate.
  8.     Search Pictorial Equivalents for Distinctive Terms and Vice Versa When Appropriate.
  9.     Search all Phonetic Equivalents
  10.     Search all English Equivalents


________________________________________________________________________________


Trademark Application Checklist


1. Check Inherent Strength  Does your trademark consist of inherently distinctive element(s) that can be claimed for exclusive use?


Marks that are merely descriptive (or worse, generic) are hard to register and hard to protect. Section 2(e) refusals are very common refusals. Whether a trademark is merely descriptive depends on the goods and services description.


2. Check Right to Use  

Does the trademark have a likelihood of confusion with prior-used trademarks (registered or unregistered)?


Likelihood of confusion refusals are very common refusals and lead to many trademark applications going abandoned.


3. Check Right to Register  Does the trademark meet the USPTO rules of registration? (Does not have any grounds for refusal?)


4. Check Specimen  Is the trademark used as a trademark or service mark in the specimen?


Specimen refusals are very common refusals. The right type of specimen for any particular application depends on what the goods or services are.


5. Check Goods and Services ID   Is the goods/services identification appropriate to distinguish the trademark from a similar trademark with different goods or services?  Definite and accurate? Is the services ID as broad as it should be under the circumstances or will a narrower description distinguish it better?


ID refusals are common too but getting the right description identifies the scope of protection. Too narrow of a description can yield narrow rights. Too broad of a description can result in an unnecessary likelihood of confusion with someone else.


6. Check which application form is the best for your trademark application. TEAS Plus? TEAS Standard?


Need help? Call 1-651-500-7590 or email  W@TMK.law.



Not Just Patents ® and Aim Higher® are registered trademarks of Not Just Patents LLC.



LikelytoCauseConfusion.com

DuPont factors and other facts  & law about Likelihood of Confusion

TMk®


Not Just Patents®

Aim Higher® Facts Matter

W@TMK.law best or


1-651-500-7590    

(Calls are screened for ‘trademark’ and other applicable reasons for the call)




TMk® Email W@TMK.law for U.S. Licensed Attorney for Trademark Searches and Applications; File or Defend an Opposition or Cancellation; Trademark Refusal; Brand Positioning

For more information from Not Just Patents, see our other pages and sites:      

USPTO Trademark Search   TEAS Application TEAS Plus  Where to trademark search?

Trademark e Search  New USPTO Trademark Searching  

Common Law Trademarks   Trademark A-Z

Grounds for Refusal  ITU unit action

Tm1a.com: Why 1(a)? Tm1b.com: Why 1(b) trademark?

Trademark Disclaimers Trademark/Patent Assignment

Examples of Disclaimers FREE Resources

Patent, Trademark & Copyright Inventory Forms

Trademark Search Method TEAS Standard application    

How to Trademark Search

Are You a Content Provider-How to Pick an ID  Specimens: webpages

Self-authenticating specimen? Trademark ID manual

Using Slogans (Taglines), Model Numbers as Trademarks

Which format? When Should I  Use Standard Characters?

Change Trademark or Patent Ownership    

 Opposition Proceeding    

TTAB Discovery Conference Checklist

Lack of standing is not an Affirmative Defense

Trademark Register FAQ  Definition: Clearance Search

teas plus vs teas standard  approved for pub - principal register

Amend to Supplemental Register?


Trademark Search Hack-Use the same method as USPTO   

Experience appearing before the Board (TTAB)

Trademark Specimen  Statement of Use (SOU)

How To Show Acquired Distinctiveness Under 2(f)

Trademark  Refusal  Opposition Period

Which TEAS application is less likely to be refused?

Examples of Composite or Unitary Marks  

TEAS Plus refusal rate  tesssearch  Brand Positioning Help

What Does ‘Use in Commerce’ Mean?    

Grounds for Opposition & Cancellation

Notice of Opposition trademark sample

What is a trademark specimen?     Trademark Searching


TBMP 309 Grounds Opposition/Canc.  

Make Trademark Searching More Thorough

   

What are Dead or Abandoned Trademarks?

Can I Use An Abandoned Trademark?  

3D Marks Trade Dress TTAB Extension of Time  

Can I Abandon a Trademark During An Opposition?

Differences between TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard  

Extension of Time to Oppose

 tess search  Examples of Unusual Trademarks

  Extension of time to answer  

What Does Published for Opposition Mean?

What to Discuss in the Discovery Conference

Overcoming Merely Descriptive Refusal  TmkApp Checklist

Likelihood of Confusion 2d  TMK.law–Knowing the law matters

Acquired Distinctiveness Examples  2(f) or 2(f) in part

Definition: Likelihood of confusion

Merely Descriptive Trademarks  Merely Descriptive Refusals

Definition of Related goods and services for trademarks

ID of Goods and Services see also Headings (list) of International Trademark Classes How to search ID Manual

How to TESS trademark search-Trademark Electronic Search System

Extension of Time to Oppose

Geographically Descriptive or Deceptive

Change of Address with the TTAB using ESTTA

Likelihood of confusion-Circuit Court tests  Trademark Glossary

Pseudo Marks    How to Reply to Cease and Desist Letter

Why Hire A Private Trademark Attorney?

 Merely Descriptive Refusal   Avoid Likelihood of Confusion

Common Law Rights for Domain Names

Steps in a Trademark Opposition Process   

Published for Opposition  What is Discoverable in a TTAB Proceeding Affirmative Defenses  

What is the Difference between Principal & Supplemental Register?   

What is a Family of Marks? What If Someone Files An Opposition Against My Trademark? Statutory Cause of Action (aka Standing)

Tips for responding to tm Refusal  

DIY Overcoming Merely Descriptive Refusals

TESS Trademark Trademark Registration Answers TESS database  

Trademark Searching Using TESS  Trademark Search Tips

©2008-2023 All Rights Reserved. Not Just Patents LLC

Email: W@TMK.law. This site is for informational purposes only and is provided without warranties, express or implied, regarding the information's accuracy, timeliness, or completeness and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney/client relationship exists without a written contract between Not Just Patents LLC and its client. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Privacy Policy Contact Us