<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Kevin and Ramon -- thank you for your comments. My initial impression was the same, I'm just thrown off by the TBMP section on pleading priority, which states that the Opposer's filing date for purposes of properly asserting priority must be prior to any date of first use on which the defendant/Applicant can rely:</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">"A plaintiff must plead (and later prove) priority of use. In order to
properly assert priority, a plaintiff must allege facts showing
proprietary rights in its pleaded mark that are prior to defendant’s
rights in the challenged mark. Such
rights may be shown by, for example, ownership of an application with a
filing date (or a registration with an underlying application filing
date)
<b><u>prior to any date of first use on which defendant can rely</u></b>, prior trademark or service mark use, or prior use analogous to trademark or service mark use." <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div>If the defendant/Applicant asserts a date of first use in the opposed application that is earlier than the Opposer's filing date, then that is obviously an earlier date of first use on which the defendant can rely. None of the cases cited in the TBMP section address this particular fact pattern, which is surprising to me.<br></div><div><br></div><div>RL<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div>On Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 2:19 PM Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Right. I don’t have case law for it, but I have to think that the only date that the Opposer would have to plead behind is the filing date, because filing gives presumptive priority as of that date. Any other DOFU claimed by applicant
would be subject to proof of use.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:rgb(15,23,46)">Kevin Grierson</span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:"remialcxesans",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:"template-5QSGLunPEem16QANOhMLNA",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:"zone-1",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:"zones-AQ",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:rgb(15,23,46)"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Ramon G. Vela Cordova via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 8, 2024 11:35 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Ramon G. Vela Cordova <<a href="mailto:rvela@velacordova.com" target="_blank">rvela@velacordova.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Alleging Priority in Notice of Opposition<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:white">EXTERNAL EMAIL<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Robert, <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I don't know the answer, but would ask whether applicant can in fact rely on the use date stated in its application for purposes of a motion to dismiss. They certainly cannot rely on that statement as evidence of use.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best regards,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ramón<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Mar 7, 2024, at 4:27<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>PM, Roberto Ledesma via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All -- I think I know the answer to this, but it isn't entirely clear to me. Here's the question:
<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Is priority properly alleged when the Opposer is relying on the filing date of an earlier pending application (not registered yet -- extensions have been filed for the Statement of Use) against an Applicant's later-filed application but
one that includes an Allegation of Use with a date of first use that pre-dates the filing date of Opposer's prior pending application?<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Based on the pending filings at issue, the Applicant claims priority of use. Opposer's allegations in its Notice of Opposition completely ignore this fact and only mention the parties' application filing dates.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">TBMP section 309.03(c)(2) A. reads:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">"A plaintiff must plead (and later prove) priority of use. In order to properly assert priority, a plaintiff must allege facts showing proprietary rights in its pleaded mark that are prior to defendant’s rights in the challenged mark. Such
rights may be shown by, for example, ownership of an application with a filing date (or a registration with an underlying application filing date)
<b><u>prior to any date of first use on which defendant can rely</u></b>, prior trademark or service mark use, or prior use analogous to trademark or service mark use." Emphasis added.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The earlier date of first use in the Allegation of Use in the Opposed Application is clearly a prior date on which the defendant/Applicant can rely. So it seems the Opposer has failed to properly allege priority to support a likelihood
of confusion claim and the Opposition should be dismissed. Am I missing something here?<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Any thoughts/comments are appreciated.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Roberto Ledesma<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://everythingtrademarks.com/" target="_blank">EverythingTrademarks.com</a>
<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://linkedin.com/in/robertoledesma" target="_blank">Linkedin.com/in/RobertoLedesma</a><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Best regards,<br>
RGVC<br style="font-variant-caps:normal;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
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