`THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`In the matter of the Application Serial No. 78/784,312
`Published in the Oflicial Gazette on August 22, 2006
`Trademark: MENSTREVE
`
`T T A B
`
`Opposition No. 91 173028
`
`Attn: George Pologeorgis
`
`Bayer Consumer Care LLC,
`
`
`
`
`
`Opposer
`
`V.
`
`APPLICANT’S ADDENDUM TO
`ANSWER OF OPPOSTION
`
`George K. Zoorob,
`
`Applicant
`
`ADDENDUM TO THE RESPONSE TO OPPOSITION # 91173028
`
`The previously filed opposition is being addressed in accordance to comply with Federal
`Rule of Civil Procedure 8(b) and TBMP §3l1.02. The opposing council, Ms. Chelseaa
`Larsen has recognized that I am acting Pro Se, and I am not an attorney or being
`represented by an attorney. She requests in previous oppositions that the answer to the
`opposition comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and I am going to try to do
`the best of my ability.
`
`In response to opposition: Opposer alleges:
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`1.
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`George K. Zoorob (“Applicant”), has an application to register the mark
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`MENSTREVE for “dietary supplement-vitamins” in International Class 5, as evidenced
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`by the publication of such mark in the Oflicial Gazette on August 22, 2006. . Applicant
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`admits that he has an application to register the mark MENSTREVE.
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`2.
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`Applicant is, upon information and belief, and individual, having an
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`address at 1111 E. Fillmore Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Applicant admits that
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`he is an individual with the aforementioned address.
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` 11-08-2006
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`US. Patent &TMOfc/TM Mail Rcpt Dr. #22
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`
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`3.
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`Opposer has, since at least as early as April 25, 1988, used the mark
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`ALEVE in connection with pharmaceutical preparations. Opposer is the owner of, among
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`others, an incontestable registration for the trademark ALEVE (United States
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`Registration No.1,536,042, registered April 25, 1989) for the “anti-inflammatory,
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`analgesic, and antipyretic pharmaceutical preparations” in class 5. Applicant is not
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`aware of the date that ALEVE began use of this mark does not agree with or oppose
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`this statement.
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`4.
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`There is no issue as to priority. Upon information and belief, Applicant
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`has not used the mark MENSTREVE on its goods prior to March 3, 2005, as evidenced
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`by the Applicant’s alleged date of first use in the Application. The date of registration
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`and use of the ALEVE mark is thus well before the alleged date of first use and
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`Applicant’s MENSTREVE mark and the Opposer’s ALEVE mark therefore has priority
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`over the Applicant’s MENSTREVE application. Applicant admits, on information and
`
`belief that he has not used the mark MENSTREVE on its goods prior to March 3,
`
`2005.
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`5.
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`Opposer has sold its goods under the mark ALEVE throughout the United
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`States and has developed exceedingly valuable good will with respect to the mark
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`ALEVE. Applicant respects the opinion of this statement but Applicant is of the
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`belief that this statement is of the opinion of the Opposer and neither denies nor
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`accepts this statement.
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`6.
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`By virtue of its efforts and the expenditure of considerable sums for the
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`promotional and advertising activities and by virtue of the excellence of its goods,
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`Opposer has gained for its mark ALEVE a most valuable reputation and has created, in
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`the minds of the buying public, an exclusive association between ALEVE and its goods.
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`Applicant is of the belief that this statement is of the opinion of the Opposer and
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`neither denies nor accepts this statement.
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`
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`7.
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`The trademark proposed for registration by Applicant, namely
`
`MENSTREVE, is likely to be confused with the Opposer’s mark, ALEVE, because the
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`marks are similar in appearance, sound and overall commercial impression. Applicant
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`denies that MENSTREVE is likely to be confused with the Opposer’s mark,
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`ALEVE. The marks are not similar in appearance, sound and overall commercial
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`impression just by plain observation and reasoning, knowing that ALEVE is a
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`pharmaceutical product and MENSTREVE is an herbal remedy.
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`8.
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`Applicant seeks to register MENSTREVE as a mark in connection with
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`the goods that are substantially similar to the goods of the Opposer and such use so nearly
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`resembles Opposer’s use as to be likely to cause confusion, to cause a mistake or to
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`deceive with in the meaning of 15 U.S.C. §1052 (d). Applicant denies that
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`MENSTREVE is similar to the goods of the Opposer. MENSTREVE is an herbal
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`remedy is designed specifically for menstrual symptoms including but not limited to
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`bloating, cramping, nausea and mood swings. ALEVE is a pharmaceutical product
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`used for generalized pain relief.
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`9.
`
`If Applicant is permitted to use and register the MENSTREVE mark for
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`its goods as specified in the opposed application, COIlfl1Si0Il in trade resulting in damage
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`and injury to Opposer would be caused and would result by reason of the fact that
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`Applicant’s mark is confiisingly similar to Opposer’s mark. Persons familiar with
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`Opposer’s ALEVE mark would be likely to buy Applicant’s MENSTREVE goods as
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`goods offered and sold by Opposer. Furthermore, any defect, objection, or fault found
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`with Applicant’s goods marketed under its MENSTREVE mark would likely reflect upon
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`and seriously injure the reputation that Opposer has established for its goods offered
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`under its ALEVE mark. Applicant denies that if permitted to use the mark
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`MENSTREVE for its goods that their will be confusion in trade, thus it would not
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`cause damage or injury to Opposer. Applicant denies the mark MENSTREVE is
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`
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`confusingly similar due to the facts: MENSTREVE is an all natural herbal
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`supplement for the symptoms of menstruation. ALEVE is a pharmaceutical product
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`and is a generalized analgesic. MENSTREVE has an entirely different target
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`market than the goods sold under the mark ALEVE. MENSTREVE is sold in the
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`natural supplement section of retail stores. ALEVE is sold with other over the
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`counter (OTC) analgesics. MENSTREVE is mainly sold in health food store where
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`ALEVE is not sold. MENSTREVE is not similar in spelling, and or sound to
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`ALEVE.
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`10.
`
`The mark ALEVE is distinctive and famous throughout the United States,
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`and has become closely associated with the goods of Opposer. The ALEVE mark
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`became famous prior to the filing of Applicant’s current application for MENSTREVE
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`and prior to Applicant’s alleged commencement of use of the mark MENSTREVE.
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`Applicant believes that this is an opinion set forth by the opposer and does not
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`accept or deny this statement.
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`11.
`
`The trademark proposed for registration by Applicant, namely,
`
`MENSTREVE, is likely to dilute and actually dilutes Opposer’s Aleve mark and reduces
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`the capacity of the famous ALEVE mark to identify the goods of Opposer. Applicant
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`denies that the use of MENSTREVE will dilute the Opposer’s ALEVE mark, thus
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`not reducing the capacity of the ALEVE mark to identify the goods of the Opposer.
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`The products associated with the mark MENSTREVE are not in any way similar to
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`the goods related to the Opposer’s mark ALEVE as described in paragraph 9.
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`12.
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`If Applicant is granted the registration herein opposed, such registration
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`would be a source of damage and injury to Opposer. Applicant denies that if granted
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`registration of the mark MENSTREVE it would cause damage or injury to the
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`Opposer due to the differences in the products, their intent to use for different
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`symptoms, the types of retail stores they are sold, the aisles they are sold, the
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`
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`different spelling, different target market, and all natural versus over the counter
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`(OTC) analgesic.
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`In previous correspondence Ms. Larsen’s stated that she intended to contest and
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`oppose any name and/or mark containing “EVE”. To further affirm Ms. Larsen’s
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`comments‘, her actions of opposing our other marks PROLEVE, RESPREVE, and
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`ESTROLEVE in addition to MENSTREVE, confirm her intentions of opposing any
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`marks with “EVE” in them.
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`For the foregoing reasons, Applicant respectfully requests that the Trademark
`
`Trial and Appeal Board grant the request to uphold the answer to the opposition to the
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`mark MENSTREVE, and let this response serve as an addendum to the first response to
`
`the opposition #91 173028.
`
`I believe that this opposition is frivolous and an attempt to monopolize the
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`unregistrable word “relieve”. A large company with deep pockets should not be the only
`
`company allowed the use of a word that covers such a broad spectrum. The trademark act
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`was developed specifically to avoid these types of situations and allow any company the
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`chance to prosper.
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`The applicant prays that the trademark MENSTREVE will be issued since it does
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`not have any resemblance or target market as the mark ALEVE. And also prays that the
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`opposition by Bayer Consumer Care LLC will be dismissed.
`
`2
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`Res egfly submitted,
`
` I 64/‘$.________,____....,.._,_..-..-.,,, _.
`
`// Geo e
`
`.Zoorob
`
`Dated November 7, 2006
`
`‘ Ms. Larsen is also opposing DERMALLEVE by Calgenex, which is a topical cream, a completely
`different descriptor than the mark ALEVE. The applicant has no afiiliation with Calgenex.
`
`
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I certify that a copy of the foregoing APPLICANT’S RESPONSE TO THE
`OPPOSITION #91173028 was sent by First Class Mail on November 7, 2006 to Chelsea
`E. Larson and Bayer Consumer Care, LLC at the following addresses:
`
`Chelseaa E. Larsen
`
`Heller Ehrman LLP
`
`333 Bush Street
`
`San Francisco, CA 94104
`
`Bayer Consumer Care, LLC
`36 Columbia Rd.
`
`Morristown, NJ 07962
`
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE
`THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`In the matter ofthe Applicafion Serial No. 78/784,312
`Published in the Oflicial Gazette on August 22, 2006
`Trademark: MENSTREVE
`
`Opposition No. 91 173028
`
`Attn: George Pologeorgis
`
`Refer Consumer
`
`with
`
`Opposer
`
`v.
`
`George K. Zoorob,
`
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`
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`
`Applicant
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`
`Dear Mr. Pologeorgis,
`
`I have enclosed a copy ofthe proof of service ofthe answer on plainfifl; as required by
`Trademark Rule 2.119 (a).
`
`Sincerel
`
`
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I certify that a copy ofthe foregoing APPLICAN'I"S RESPONSE TO THE
`OPPOSITION #91173028 was sent by First Class Mail on October 15’, 2006 to Chelsea
`E. Larson and Bayer Consumer Care, LLC at the following addresses:
`
`Chelseaa E. Larsen
`Heller Ehrman LLP
`
`333 Bush Street
`
`San Francisco, CA 94104
`
`Bayer Consumer Cate, LLC
`36 Columbia Rd.
`
`Motristown, NJ 07962
`
`
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