<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><font color="#000000">Dear Shabnam,</font></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><font color="#000000"><br></font></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><font color="#000000">I have no case citations for you, and I'm not 100% sure that I follow the specifics of your application's rejection, but I just won an office action fight on whether my client's application involving a mark for, let's call it "Goods 1" was confusingly similar to an identical mark for "Goods 2." Here's the standard language that I personally have included a few times in successful office action responses:</font></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><font color="#000000"><br></font></span></span></div><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000" style=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif">While Applicant acknowledges that the USPTO's allowance of
prior third-party registrations is not per se binding on <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span>later
applicants (see e.g. </font><i style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span>In re Primo Water Corporation</i><font face="Times New Roman, serif">, Serial No. 78684820 (TTAB
2008)), nevertheless, the Federal Circuit \u201cencourages the PTO to achieve a
uniform standard for assessing registrability of marks.\u201d </font><i style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span>In Re Nett Designs</i><font face="Times New Roman, serif">,
236 F.3d 1339, 1342 (Fed. Cir., 2001). Here, Applicant has identified </font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">[X]</span><font face="Times New Roman, serif"> pairs
of marks in which a mark for </font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span><font face="Times New Roman, serif">[<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">G</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">oods 1] </span><font face="Times New Roman, serif">was allowed to coexist with a similar
or identical mark for </font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"></span><font face="Times New Roman, serif">[<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">G</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">oods 2]</span><font face="Times New Roman, serif">. </font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"> </span><font face="Times New Roman, serif">Wherever the line between
\u201crandom collection of unrelated results\u201d and \u201cthe standard policy and practice
of the PTO\u201d might lie, the unrelatedness of </font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">[</span><span class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif">G</font></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">oods 1]</span><font face="Times New Roman, serif"> to </font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif">[Goods 2]</span><font face="Times New Roman, serif"> has unquestionably crossed to the latter side of that line.</font></font></p></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"times new roman",serif"><font color="#000000"><br></font></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><font color="#000000"></font><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:16px">And then I put into evidence a bunch of pairs of registrations to prove my point (15 pairs, in my case just now). A couple isolated instances of inconsistency isn't likely to cut it, but if you can find one or two dozen that are in your favor, then it's not out of bounds to argue, "Hey, you're way off base."<div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><font color="#000000">Cheers,</font></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="font-size:16px"> </span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);font-size:12pt">Sam<span> Castree, III</span></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:tahoma;font-size:medium"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);font-size:12pt"><br></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:medium"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0);font-size:12pt"><span><i>Sam Castree Law, LLC</i></span></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0)"><span><span style="font-size:12pt"><i>3421 W. Elm St.</i></span></span></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0)"><span><span style="font-size:12pt"><i>McHenry, IL 60050</i></span></span></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="times new roman, serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,102,0)"><span><span style="font-size:12pt"><i>(815) 344-6300</i></span></span></span></font></div></div></div></div></span><br></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:18\u202fPM John Dugger via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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Hi Shabnam,</div>
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I agree with Bob. You will almost certainly get the instant \u201cnot bound by other decisions\u201d response. Based on your short description, you may have an argument for dilution. If they have allowed other marks with the same or similar terms before, that would weaken
the strength of any registration(s). Just a thought.</div>
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All the best,</div>
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John Dugger</div>
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<b>From: </b>E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> on behalf of Robert Reynolds via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Date: </b>Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 1:11\u202fPM<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>Robert Reynolds <<a href="mailto:rreynolds@kandrip.com" target="_blank">rreynolds@kandrip.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject: </b>Re: [E-trademarks] Inconsistent examination\u2014case law?<br>
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<span style="font-size:11pt">Hi Shabnam,</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> Making that argument is just steering your ship directly into the rocks. Every examiner will just copy+paste the \u201cwe are not bound by other decisions\u201d citation and uphold their own rejection. I\u2019m not aware of anyone
who\u2019s directly made that challenge and succeeded.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> I\u2019ve pivoted to just making the strongest legal argument I can and not even mentioning the inconsistent treatment of marks. The closest I ever get is having a single throwaway paragraph that starts with \u201cIn addition
to the other evidence, the USPTO itself also does not typically [hold that same argument]. For example, in 324 other instances where the USPTO has examined this position, it has found differently and has only expressed a similar position 11 times.\u201d Obviously,
you change the facts and argument according to the evidence you present.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> Even that seems to be a waste of time, honestly. I\u2019ve only had one examiner bite on that argument, and that was over a phone call where we were discussing things in an academic sense. If I ever enter that argument
I don\u2019t track my time to charge it to the client, if that lets you know how little I believe in its success.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> Hope that helps a bit, interested in the listserv\u2019s opinions as well.</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14pt"><b>Bob Reynolds</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14pt"><b>Senior Counsel</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:16pt"><b>Klintworth & </b></span><span style="font-size:16pt;color:rgb(192,0,0)"><b>Rozenblat</b></span><span style="font-size:16pt;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-size:16pt"><b>IP </b></span><span style="font-size:10pt"><b>LLP</b></span></p>
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direct 773.770-2554 fax 773.570.3328</p>
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<span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><u><a href="mailto:rreynolds@kandrip.com" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank">rreynolds@kandrip.com</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:blue"><u><a href="http://www.knrllp.com" style="color:blue;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank">www.knrllp.com</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> 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>Shabnam Malek via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 12, 2025 1:00 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:E-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">E-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Shabnam Malek <<a href="mailto:shabnam@brandandbranch.com" target="_blank">shabnam@brandandbranch.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [E-trademarks] Inconsistent examination\u2014case law?</span></p>
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Hi brain trust,</p>
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I\u2019m wondering if any one has ever tried to argue inconsistent examination (with or without success) in response to a refusal? Along the lines of \u201cthe office has not issued a likelihood of confusion refusal consistently in examining several other applications
that contain the same or identical terms and in the instant case, it is now refusing registration based on a likelihood of confusion.\u201d And if so, do you have any case citations you\u2019d be willing to share? </p>
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I know we often get the response, essentially saying what happens in one application has nothing to do with any other application\u2026 but hoping someone has made an argument nonetheless. </p>
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Thank you! </p>
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</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">
Shabnam Malek</p>
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<br>
<br>
</p>
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BRAND & BRANCH, PC</p>
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1531 17th Ave.<br>
San Francisco, CA 94122</p>
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<span style="color:blue"><u><a href="tel:%28510%29%20984-4285" style="color:blue;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank">(510) 984-4285</a></u></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">
<span style="color:blue"><u><a href="mailto:shabnam@brandandbranch.com" style="color:blue;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank">shabnam@brandandbranch.com</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:blue"><u><a href="http://www.brandandbranch.com/" style="color:blue;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank">www.brandandbranch.com</a></u></span></p>
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<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">
<b>Have you heard about the International Cannabis Bar Association? </b><span style="color:blue"><b><u><a href="http://www.canbar.org/" style="color:blue;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank">Check
us out</a></u></b></span><b> and use my name MALEK for a 15% discount on membership and events.</b></p>
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