New York Trademark Attorney Blog
A Consent Agreement is a written agreement between two trademark owners where typically one party agrees that the other party can use and register its mark. It is usually triggered by a refusal issued in an Office Action by the USPTO. See our web page entitled, Resolving Trademark Disputes Without Litigation, for general information regarding how a Consent Agreement can aid in registering a trademark or in facilitating a resolution in a trademark dispute. In a recent case before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) it was determined that the parties’ Consent Agreement was not sufficient to avoid a likelihood of confusion between the sources of the trademarks. See In re Bay State Brewing Company, Inc., Serial No. 85826258 (TTAB February 25, 2016) [precedential], where the Board in a precedential decision determined that despite the parties’ Consent Agreement, consumer confusion was likely to occur.
Bay State Brewing Company, Inc. (the “Applicant”) filed an application for the mark TIME TRAVELER BLONDE in standard characters for beer. The Examining Attorney refused the application on the grounds that when the mark TIME TRAVELER BLONDE is used with the Applicant’s goods it causes a likelihood of confusion with a previously registered word mark, TIME TRAVELER for beer, ale, and lager. There was a final refusal issued and an appeal followed.
Under a 2(d) analysis, all the du Pont factors that are relevant to the facts in evidence are considered. The Applicant offered a Consent Agreement for consideration. It is relevant because it relates to the market interface between the Applicant and the Registrant. Regarding the relatedness of the goods, both parties are using the trademarks to brand beer. Therefore the goods are identical with respect to beer. Because the goods are in part identical, the trade channels and classes of consumers are presumed to be the same. Another factor weighing in favor of finding a likelihood of confusion is the condition of sale. Beer is inexpensive and often subject to impulse purchases.