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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">The PTO is required to accept \u201cclothed\u201d consent/coex agreement prepared in good faith by the two parties if they contain at least five persuasive reasons why confusion is unlikely.
Not required, but a good idea, is to also include language reflecting the parties\u2019 intent to work cooperatively to avoid confusion and to correct it if it does occur. Good cases to review and cite in support are:
<i>In re Four Seasons</i> (Fed. Cir. 1993), <i>In re American Cruise Lines, Inc.</i> (TTAB 2018),
<i>In re Dare Foods, Inc.</i> (TTAB, 2022), and <i>In re Waterloo Sparkling Water Corp.</i> (TTAB, 2024). Also stress the point (if true) that the marks have coexisted in use for several years without confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Amanda Conley via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 4, 2024 9:33 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Amanda Conley <amanda@amandaconleylaw.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [E-trademarks] Unusual Consent Agreement Situation - Will the USPTO Accept It?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="background:yellow"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:red;background:white">[EXTERNAL MESSAGE: This email originated from outside of the firm. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender
and know the content is safe.]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello Braintrust, <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Seeking advice on how folks think the USPTO might respond to a consent agreement in a rather unusual situation.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My client previously operated a business with a partner under the name UNIQUE MARK. Several years ago, the partners agreed to go their separate ways, signing an agreement that dealt only very cursorily with the use of UNIQUE MARK. The agreement
essentially stated that both partners would share equal ownership over UNIQUE MARK, but did not address registration. At the time of the agreement, no applications had been filed for UNIQUE MARK.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Fast forward to several months ago, my client learned that its former partner had filed USPTO trademark applications <span style="color:black">in its own name</span> for three marks, let\u2019s call them: (1) UNIQUE MARK; (2) UNIQUE MARK BROOKLYN;
and (3) UNIQUE MARK ATLANTA. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I\u2019ll skip over the details of the dispute that ensued. The issue now is this: the partner has agreed to withdraw the application for UNIQUE MARK alone, without a geographical indicator, but wants to retain (2) and (3) in its individual
name. My client is ok with this in principle, but wants to file an application for UNIQUE MARK OAKLAND in its own name. The goods are identical (many customers still assume that the partners are working together) and while the parties\u2019 physical locations are
on opposite coasts, their customers originate from all over, and they are not interested in agreeing to geographic restrictions on their use beyond physical locations. Also, each of these marks are stylized in an identical manner, making them obviously related. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The former partner has agreed to consent to my client\u2019s registration of UNIQUE MARK OAKLAND. But I am very concerned that the USPTO is not going to accept this consent under these unusual circumstances. The marks have identical stylization
and differ only by the inclusion of geographic indicators. The goods are identical. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I\u2019ve proposed various solutions as a contingency in case the USPTO does not accept the former partner\u2019s consent, (e.g., joint ownership, ownership by a jointly owned LLC, etc.) but they are not open to these. Counsel for the former partner
insists that the USPTO will accept the consent agreement if the parties believe confusion isn\u2019t likely, but I\u2019m not convinced, and am still pushing for us to build in a contingency.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And so I\u2019d love to hear from folks on this thread: am I being overly conservative in my expectations of the USPTO? I understand that consent agreements are often accepted as long as they have some teeth, but this is such a unique situation
that it gives me serious concerns. Any insight would be much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Raleway-Medium",serif;color:black">Amanda R. Conley</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Raleway;color:#6A8D65">Conley Law, P.C.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Raleway-Regular",serif;color:#6A8D65">p: (510) 500-5210 </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Raleway-Regular",serif;color:#6A8D65">e: <a href="mailto:amanda@amandaconleylaw.com">amanda@amandaconleylaw.com</a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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