Not a Lexis+ subscriber? Try it out for free.
LexisNexis® CLE On-Demand features premium content from partners like American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education and Pozner & Dodd. Choose from a broad listing of topics suited for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government entities. Individual courses and subscriptions available.
By Dabney Carr
The Fourth Circuit's recent decision in Rosetta Stone v. Google, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 7082 (4th Cir. April 9, 2012) [enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers], discussed here, has apparently not chilled the EDVA's willingness to grant summary judgment in trademark actions. While acknowledging Rosetta Stone's holding that determining a likelihood of confusion is an inherently factual inquiry, Judge Brinkema of the EDVA did not hesitate to find a lack of a likelihood of confusion and grant summary judgment in a recent case. Wag'N Enters., LLC v. United Animal Nations, Case No. 1:11CV955, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65366 (May 9, 2012) [enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers], found here.
In Rosetta Stone, the Fourth Circuit reversed a decision by Judge Lee of the EDVA granting summary judgment to Google in a trademark infringement action by Rosetta Stone based on Google's AdWords program. In particular, the Fourth Circuit criticized Judge Lee's finding, at the summary judgment stage, that Rosetta Stone had failed to introduce evidence of a likelihood of confusion.
In Wag'N Enterprises, the plaintiff claimed infringement of its registered service mark, "Wag"N Rover Respond'R" and its unregistered shortened form of that mark, "Rover Respond'R" by defendant's use of the term "RedRover Responders" for its volunteer pet rescue program.
Judge Brinkema's detailed decision turned on her assessment of the likelihood of confusion based on the factors set forth in Pizzeria Uno Corp. v. Temple, 747 F.2d 1522, 1527 (4th Cir. 1984) [enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers]. Judge Brinkema's findings on each of those factors were as follows:
Judge Brinkema's ruling is not surprising, given the weakness of the plaintiff's evidence. The decision, however, reaffirms that even after Rosetta Stone, summary judgment remains available for accused trademark infringers, especially where a plaintiff fails to develop evidence of actual confusion or present survey evidence as a substitute for proof of actual confusion.
Copyright © 2012, Troutman Sanders LLP
Virginia intellectual property lawyers & attorneys of Troutman Sanders Law Firm, offering services related to patent litigation, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, service marks and unfair competition, serving Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and the Eastern United States. Troutman Sanders LLP - ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE. CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.Privacy Policy l Disclaimer
....
Lexis.com subscribers can explore/search Trademark Law resources on Lexis.com or access any of these Mathew Bender Trademark Law publications:
Non-subscribers can purchase Trademark Law treatises/resources and Mathew Bender publications from the LexisNexis Bookstore
For more information about LexisNexis products and solutions connect with us through our corporate site.