Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov
`ESTTA89054
`ESTTA Tracking number:
`07/10/2006
`
`Filing date:
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`92032524
`Plaintiff
`GREAT SEATS, LTD.
`
`Proceeding
`Party
`
`,
`
`Correspondence
`Address
`
`IRVING M. WEINER
`WEINER & BURT, P.C.
`635 N. U.S.-23, P.O. BOX 186
`HARRISVILLE, MI 48740
`
`Submission
`Filer's Name
`Filer's e-mail
`Signature
`Date
`Attachments
`
`Other Motions/Papers
`Irving M. Weiner
`iw@wabpc.com
`/imw/
`07/10/2006
`Petitioner's Brief - SGI35SM.pdf ( 38 pages )(324651 bytes )
`Exhibits for Petitioner's Brief SGI35SM.pdf ( 10 pages )(518686 bytes )
`
`

`
`Attorney Docket No. SGI-35-SM
`
`BOX TTAB NO FEE
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`GREAT SEATS, LTD.,
`
`Petitioner,
`
`V.
`
`GREAT SEATS, INC.,
`
`Respondent.
`
`\&\&\é\&\é\&\&%/
`
`Cancellation No. 92/032,524
`Registration No. 2,339,519
`
`PETITIONER’S BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF CANCELLATION
`
`Submitted by:
`Irving M. Weiner (Reg. No. 22,168)
`Attorney for Petitioner
`
`

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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`INDEX OF AUTHORITIES .
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`Page
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`ii-iv
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`. 1
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`I.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORD .
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`II.
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`STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES .
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`III.
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`STATEMENT OF FACTS .
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`B.
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`Relevant Facts .
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`IV.
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`ARGUMENT .
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`Under Section 1 ofthe Trademark Act, the Application maturing into
`the Registration was Void ab initio .
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`A.
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`The related company doctrine does not apply here .
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`The “Confirmatory Assignment” submitted by Respondent during
`these proceedings is fatally defective on its face, and null and Void
`under applicable law .
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`Respondent
`proceeding .
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`is a third party stranger without standing in this
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`4.
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`Respondent’s reckless and cavalier disregard for the truth during
`prosecution of the Application led the PTO to issue a registration
`which it otherwise would have denied, and establishes an intent to
`commit fraud in procuring the Registration which was perpetuated in
`this proceeding .
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`V.
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`CONCLUSION .
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`PROOF OF SERVICE .
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`

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`INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
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`Cases
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`American Forests v. Sanders, 54 USPQ2d 1860 (TTAB 2000)
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`Beach Aircraft Corp. v. Lightning Aircraft Company Inc.,
`1 USPQ2d 1290 (TTAB 1986)
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`Carson Chemical Co. v. Trice Products, Inc., 137 USPQ 457 (TTAB 1963) .
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`Charles F. Stein v. Robert E. Smith, Jr., d/b/a Curtis Contractors, Inc.,
`358 Md. 670, 751 A.2d 504 (2000) .
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`Clorox Co. v. Chemical Bank, 40 USPQ2d 1098 (TTAB 1996) .
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`Daesang Corp. v. Rhee Bros. Inc., 77 USPQ2d 1753 (D.C. MD 2005)
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`First Int’l Services Corp. v. Chuckles Inc., 5 USPQ2d 1628 (TTAB 1988) .
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`Gaia Technologies Inc. v. Reconversion Technologies Inc.,
`39 USPQ2d 1826 (Fed. Cir. 1996) .
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`Huang v. Tzu Wei Chen Food Co., Ltd., 849 F.2d 1458, 7 USPQ2d 1335
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`In re Lativ Systems, Inc., 223 USPQ 1037 (TTAB 1984)
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`In re Packard Press Corp., 1 USPQ2d 1152 (TTAB 1986)
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`In re Silenus Wines, Inc., 194 USPQ 261 (CCPA 1977) .
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`In re The May Department Stores Co., 123 USPQ 414 (TTAB 1959)
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`Medinol Ltd. v. Neuro Vasx Inc., 67 USPQ2d 1205 (TTAB 2003) .
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`Standard Knitting Ltd. v. Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, 77 USPQ2d 1917
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`Torres v. Cantine Torresella S.r.l., 808 F.2d 46, 1 USPQ2d 1483 (Fed. Cir. 1986) .
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`Federal Statutes gcont.[
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`Section 45 of Trademark Act, 15 USC § 1127 .
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`Jan. 2004 Update, p. 81 .
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`-iii-
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`Other Authorities gc0nt.[
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`Maryland Code § 1-404 .
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`. 23
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`_jV_
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`

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`Petitioner submits its brief in support of cancellation as follows.
`
`1. DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORD
`
`The record in this case includes the file history of the Registration and evidence submitted
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`by both parties.
`
`Petitioner has submitted a Notice of Reliance on the following:
`
`1.
`
`July 15, 2004 discovery Deposition of Enrique Daniel Matta with all of the exhibits
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`forming a part thereof;
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`2. Respondent’s Responses to Petitioner’s First Set of Interrogatories;
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`3. Petitioner’s First Request for Admissions; Corrections to Petitioner’s First Request for
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`Admissions; Respondent’s Answers to Petitioner’s First Request for Admissions; October 26, 2005
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`e-mail by Petitioner’s Counsel to Respondent’s Counsel; and November 7, 2005 e-mail from
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`Respondent’s Counsel to Petitioner’s Counsel;
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`4. Petitioner’s Service Mark Application Serial No. 75/733,290 and Official Filing Receipt;
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`5. October 6, 1999 Office Action in Serial No. 75/733,290;
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`6. Amendment-A in Serial No. 75/733,290;
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`7. June 13, 2000 Office Action No. 2 in Serial No. 75/733,290;
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`8. December 14, 2000 Office Action No. 3 in Serial No. 75/733, 290;
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`9. August 18, 2005 Notice of Suspension in Serial No. 75/733,290;
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`10. The complete file of application Serial No. 75/733,290 which issued as Registration No.
`
`2,339,5 19;
`
`11.
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`January 7, 2002 Answer To Petition For Cancellation;
`
`12.
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`January 7, 2002 Notice of Appearance;
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`13. Copy ofApplication Serial No. 75/278,703 produced by Respondent, especially because
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`Petitioner’s undersigned attorney has been advised that the PTO file or such application may be lost;
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`14. September 17, 2004 Certification by State of Maryland Department ofAssessments and
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`Taxation certifying that Premier Entertainment, Inc., a Maryland Corporation,
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`is not in good
`
`-1-
`
`

`
`standing, and that such corporation was forfeited on October 7, 1999;
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`15. July 7, 1997 Articles of Amendment of Premier Entertainment, Inc. changing its name
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`to Great Seats, Inc.;
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`16. February 7, 2005 Answer to Amended Petition to Cancel;
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`17. February 7, 2005 Respondent’s Response in Opposition to Petitioner’s Motion for
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`Summary Judgment and the exhibits attached thereto;
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`18. Maryland Code 3-503(d) which was attached as Exhibit 24 to the February 22, 2005
`
`Petitioner’s Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment;
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`19. Maryland Code 2-103(2), (5), (6), (8) which was attached as Exhibit 25 to the February
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`22, 2005 Petitioner’s Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment;
`
`20. August 3, 2005 PTO Suspension Inquiry; and
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`21. August 9, 2005 Response to Suspension Inquiry.
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`Petitioner also relies on the May 1, 2006 testimonial Depositions of Enrique Daniel Matta
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`and Steven H. Oram.
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`The exhibit numbers used herein correspond to the above-numbered items of Petitioner’s
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`Notice of Reliance, except as otherwise indicated.
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`Respondent has submitted a Notice of Reliance on the following:
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`- copy of Registration No. 2,339,5 19 prepared and issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
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`Office;
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`- Notice of Recordation of Assignment Document dated November 9, 2004 recorded at
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`Reel/Frame 002972/0091 and supporting assignment documents filed therewith;
`
`'
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`Petitioner’s Answers to Respondent’s First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner dated
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`February 12, 2002 (question and answer no. 3 submitted under sealed cover pursuant to Protective
`
`Order);
`
`- Petitioner’s Answers and Objections to Respondent’s Second Set of Interrogatories to
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`Petitioner dated December 23, 2003; and
`
`

`
`-
`
`Great Seats advertisement, New York, December 23-30, 1996, p. 164 (Bates No.
`
`GSL000007).
`
`II. STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES
`
`1. Was the Application maturing into the Registration void ab initio under Section 1 of the
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`Trademark Act, when the named Applicant was not the owner of the mark, there was no assignment
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`of the mark, and the related company doctrine does not apply?
`
`2.
`
`Is the “Confirmatory Assignment” submitted by Respondent during these proceedings
`
`fatally defective on its face when it flies in the face with the facts of record including Respondent’s
`
`own admissions, and is it null and void under Maryland law?.
`
`3.
`
`Is Respondent a third party stranger without standing in this proceeding when it is not
`
`the owner of the Registration?
`
`4. Does Respondent’s reckless and cavalier disregard for the truth during prosecution of
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`the Application, which led the PTO to issue a registration which it otherwise would have denied,
`
`establish an intent to commit fraud in procuring the Registration?
`
`III. STATEMENT OF FACTS
`
`A. Definitions
`
`For brevity and ease of understanding, the following terms are used herein to have the
`
`meanings indicated:
`
`1. “Applicant” and “GS1" both mean the entity named Great Seats, Inc. which:
`
`' filed its Articles of Incorporation on March 12, 1997;
`
`- was assigned Maryland Corporate ID No. D4635660;
`
`- was assigned Federal Employer Identification No. 52-2029710 (“EIN”);
`
`- on April 21, 1997 filed U.S. Service Mark Application Number 75/278,703;
`
`

`
`' on July 7, 1997 changed its name from Great Seats, Inc. to Premier Entertainment,
`
`Inc.;
`
`- on or about July 14, 1997 received an IRS Notice of Acceptance as an
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`S-Corporation stating that the entity’s election to be treated as an S-corporation is effective
`
`March 12, 1997 (the incorporation date of the entity);
`
`- on September 2, 1998 recorded with the State of Maryland its July 7, 1997 change
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`of name from Great Seats, Inc. to Premier Entertainment, Inc.;
`
`- forfeited its legal status effective October 7, 1999; and
`
`- whose President was Enrique Daniel Matta.
`
`2. “Application” means U.S. Service Mark Application Serial Number 75/278,703 filed
`
`April 21, 1997 by Applicant.
`
`3. “Registration” means U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 2,339,519 which is the subject
`
`of this cancellation proceeding.
`
`4. “WTI” means the legal entity named Wholesale Tickets, Inc. which:
`
`' filed its Articles of Incorporation on July 11, 1990;
`
`- was assigned Maryland Corporate ID No. D3048410;
`
`' on May 9, 1994 recorded with the State of Maryland its change of name from
`
`Wholesale Tickets, Inc. to Premier Entertainment, Inc.;
`
`' on July 7, 1997 changed its name from Premier Entertainment, Inc. to Great Seats,
`
`Inc.;
`
`- on September 2, 1998 recorded with the State of Maryland its July 7, 1997 change
`
`of name from Premier Entertainment, Inc. to Great Seats, Inc.; and
`
`- whose President was Enrique Daniel Matta .
`
`5. “PE1” means the entity named Premier Entertainment, Inc. which:
`
`'
`
`came into existence as a result of a name change from WTI to Premier
`
`Entertainment, Inc. recorded May 9, 1994 with the State of Maryland;
`
`- was assigned the same Maryland Corporate ID No. D3048410 as WTI’s;
`
`-4-
`
`

`
`' on July 7, 1997 changed its name from Premier Entertainment, Inc. to Great Seats,
`
`Inc.;
`
`- on September 2, 1998 recorded with the State of Maryland its July 7, 1997 change
`
`of name from Premier Entertainment, Inc. to Great Seats, Inc.; and
`
`- whose President was Enrique Daniel Matta.
`
`6. “GS2” means the entity named Great Seats, Inc. which:
`
`- came into existence on July 7, 1997 as result of a name change from PE1 to Great
`
`Seats, Inc.;
`
`- on September 2, 1998 recorded with the State of Maryland its July 7, 1997 name
`
`change;
`
`' was assigned the same Maryland Corporate ID Number D30484l0 as WTI’s and
`
`PEI ’s; and
`
`- whose President was Enrique Daniel Matta .
`
`7. “PE2” means the entity named Premier Entertainment, Inc. which:
`
`- came into existence on July 7, 1997 as a result of a name change from Applicant
`
`to Premier Entertainment, Inc.;
`
`- on September 2, 1998 recorded with the State of Maryland its July 7, 1997 change
`
`of name from Great Seats, Inc. to Premier Entertainment, Inc.;
`
`- was assigned the same Maryland Corporate ID No. D4635660 as Applicant’s; and
`
`- whose President was Enrique Daniel Matta.
`
`8. “Matta” means Enrique Daniel Matta.
`
`9. “Oram” means Steven H. Oram, who:
`
`' was the Incorporator of the Applicant (Matta Dep. Exhibit 23);
`
`'
`
`-
`
`is the attorney who filed the Application (Matta Dep. Exhibit 25);
`
`is Matta’s corporate and business attorney, and has been so since approximately
`
`1989 (Oram Dep. p.4-5); and
`
`'
`
`is the attorney who prepared and recorded the aforementioned name changes
`
`-5-
`
`

`
`(Matta Dep. Exhibit 39).
`
`10. “PTO” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
`
`B. Relevant Facts
`
`For ease of understanding, attached as Exhibit 22 is a Time Line of the following events.
`
`In its Petition to Cancel, Petitioner states that it is likely to be damaged if the Registration
`
`is not cancelled because in Petitioner’s Service Mark Application No. 75/733,290 filed June 21,
`
`1999 for the mark GREAT SEATS, registration was refused under Section 2(d) of the Trademark
`
`Act, 15 U.S.C. § l052(d), on the basis of the Registration. Petitioner’s application claims a date of
`
`first use of the mark in interstate commerce on August 1, 1992 in connection with services identified
`
`as “arranging for ticket reservations for shows and other entertainment events.” Exhibit 4.
`
`The Registration states the owner as being the Applicant, and the date of first use in interstate
`
`commerce as March 1, 1997. The services are recited as “ticket agency services for concerts,
`
`theatrical performances, and sporting events.” The drawing of the mark filed on April 21, 1997
`
`with the Application from which the Registration matured, was as follows:
`
` gap as * ifeisaarés ~‘
`
`.1 ;_
`
`=.
`
`Q
`‘5=$“$$'\‘:s*.§§,1K°:£%;~”ax§:$5e3k‘37$$..sc{s3§‘s
`1
`...m.~»...m..»....w,
`i............
`
`The Application, like the Registration, named the Applicant as the owner of the mark, and a date of
`
`first use of March 1, 1997. See Exhibit 13, a copy of the Application produced by Respondent.
`
`Applicant first came into existence as a corporate entity on March 12, 1997 and was assigned
`
`Maryland Corporate ID No. D4635660 (Exhibit 3, Admission 7). The president, secretary/treasurer,
`
`and sole director of Applicant was Matta, while both he and Julia C. Matta were named as
`
`shareholders (Matta Dep. Exhibit 23, pp. R000381, R000383). By notice dated July 14, 1997, the
`
`-6-
`
`

`
`IRS approved Applicant for treatment as an S-Corporation, under EIN 52-2029710, effective as of
`
`Applicant’ s incorporation date ofMarch 12, 1997 (Exhibit 3 , Admission 40; Matta Dep. Exhibit 28).
`
`On July 7, 1997, shortly after filing the Application, the Applicant changed its name from
`
`Great Seats, Inc. to PE2 (Exhibit 3, Admission 27; Matta Dep. Exhibit 38, p. R000362). More than
`
`a year later, on September 2, 1998 Applicant recorded this name change with the State of Maryland
`
`(Matta Dep. Exhibit 38, p. R000403). Applicant did not inform the Examining Attorney that it had
`
`changed its name to PE2 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 39, 114). Nor did Applicant alert the Examining
`
`Attorney that its alleged date of first use in the Application, March 1, 1997, preceded the date
`
`Applicant came into existence on March 12, 1997 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 7, 19-22, 114).
`
`On October 7, 1999 Applicant ceased to exist when it was forfeited as a corporation by the
`
`State of Maryland (Exhibit 3, Admissions 114, 226; Exhibit 14).
`
`The Respondent in this proceeding is an entirely separate corporation from the Applicant.
`
`When Respondent first came into existence as a Maryland corporation on July 1 1, 1990, its original
`
`name was WTI (Exhibit 3, Admission 1; Matta Dep. Exhibit 1, p. R000306).
`
`It was assigned
`
`Maryland Corporate ID No. D3 0448 1 0 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 2, 4; Matta Dep. Exhibit 1, p.
`
`R0003 08). On May 9, 1994 WTI recorded with the State of Maryland its change of name to PE1
`
`(Exhibit 3, Admissions 3, 4; Matta Dep. Exhibit 3, p. R000317).
`
`On July 7, 1997 Respondent changed its name again, to GS2 , on the same day that Applicant
`
`changed its name to PE2 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 27, 118; Exhibit 15). The two corporations thus
`
`effectively switched names. Over a year later, on September 2, 1998, Respondent eventually
`
`recorded the name change with the State of Maryland — on the same day that Applicant recorded its
`
`name change from Great Seats, Inc. (Exhibit 3, Admission 118; Matta Dep. Exhibit 37, 38). The
`
`president and sole director ofRespondent corporation is Matta, but unlike the Applicant corporation,
`
`Respondent’s corporate secretary is Anna Maria Matta and the sole shareholder was Matta (Exhibit
`
`3, Admission 118; Matta Dep. Exhibit 1, pp. R000343, R000345).
`
`On December 24, 1997, Office Action No.
`
`1 was mailed in the Application, refusing
`
`registration under Trademark Act §2(d), and further stating that:
`
`-7-
`
`

`
`The drawing displays the mark as GREAT SEATS INC. with other informational
`matter. However, this differs from the display of the mark on the specimens, where
`it appears as GREAT SEATS. The applicant cannot amend the drawing to conform
`to the display on the specimens because the character of the mark would be
`materially altered. 37 C.F.R. Section 2.72(a); TMEP section 807.14(a). Therefore,
`the applicant must submit substitute specimens which show use of the mark as it
`appears on the drawing.
`37 C.F.R. Section 2.51; TMEP section 807.14. The
`applicant must verify, with an affidavit or a declaration under 37 C.F.R. Section
`2.20, that the substitute specimens were in use in commerce at least as early as the
`filing date of the application. 37 C.F.R. Sections 2.59(a) and 2.72(b); TMEP section
`905.10.
`
`Matta Dep. Exhibit 31, pp. R000499, R000501 (emphasis added).
`
`On June 9, 1998 a Substitute Power of Attorney appointing P. Jay Hines and the law firm
`
`of Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. to prosecute the Application was executed
`
`by Matta as president of “Great Seats, Inc.” (Matta Dep. Exhibit 34, pages R000486-487). The
`
`Substitute Power was thus signed by Respondent, not Applicant, because by this time Respondent
`
`had changed its name to GS2 on July 7, 1997 — the same day Applicant changed its name to PE2
`
`(Exhibit 3, Admissions 27, 45, 118).
`
`On June 24, 1998, a Response to the December 24, 1997 Office Action was filed by “Great
`
`Seats, Inc.” (Matta Dep. Exhibit 34). Nowhere in the Response was the Examining Attorney
`
`informed that the Applicant had changed its name from Great Seats, Inc.
`
`to PE2, nor that
`
`Respondent, the former PE1, had changed its name to GS2 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 19-21, 24, 25,
`
`39, 1 18). Yet, Respondent admits that the Response was filed by GS2, and not by the applicant GS1
`
`which had previously changed its name to PE2 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 48, 64, 118).
`
`Submitted with the June 24, 1998 Response were: recent advertising materials, a substitute
`
`sample of use agreeing with the mark as applied for, and a Declaration Under Rule 2.20 to Support
`
`Substitute Specimens executed by Matta on behalf of “Great Seats, Inc.” (Matta Dep. Exhibit 34).
`
`Respondent admits that the recent advertising materials were advertising materials of GS2, and not
`
`ofApplicant GS1 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 53, 54). Likewise, Respondent admits that the substitute
`
`sample of use was not a sample of use by the Applicant (Exhibit 3, Admission 56), and that Matta
`
`executed the Declaration on behalf of GS2, and not the Applicant GS1 (Exhibit 3, Admission 68).
`
`

`
`On July 6, 1998, a Notice of Abandonment issued in the Application (Matta Dep. Exhibit
`
`35). No petition to revive the Application was filed and, as presently advised, the record of the
`
`Application reveals no reason why the July 6, 1998 Notice of Abandonment was ignored.
`
`Nonetheless, on November 4, 1998, Office Action No. 2 was mailed in the Application
`
`(Matta dep. Exhibit 41). In the Office Action, the Examining Attorney refused registration under
`
`Trademark Act § 2(e)(l) on the basis of descriptiveness, stating:
`
`Applicant’s mark is GREAT SEATS Inc. and other informational matter for ticket
`agency services
`for concerts,
`theatrical performances and sporting events.
`Applicant’s mark merely describes a significant characteristic, feature and quality
`of the services, i.e., the ability to sell desirable seating for various events.
`In
`particular, the term GREAT is merely a laudatory term modifying the remaining
`term in the mark.... Similarly, the term, SEATS, merely describes the purpose of
`applicant’s service, i.e., providing seats to concerts, theater and sporting events.
`Together the terms leave no doubt that a consumer would require no thought,
`imagination or perception to understand the exact nature of applicant’s services.
`Accordingly, registration is refused pursuant to Section 2(e)(l) of the Trademark
`Act.
`
`Matta Dep. Exhibit 41, p. R000473.
`
`In the November 14, 1998 Office Action, the Examining
`
`Attorney also continued the prior refusal under Trademark Act § 2(d) (Matta Dep. Exhibit 41, p.
`
`R000474). The Office Action reflects no indication that the Examining Attorney had any idea that
`
`Applicant had changed its name to PE2, and that its original name of Great Seats, Inc. had been
`
`taken by Respondent (Matta Dep. Exhibit 41).
`
`Sometime in early 1999, Respondent filed its 1998 U. S. Income Tax Return under the name
`
`“Great Seats, Inc. (formerly Premier Entertainment, Inc.)”, and EIN 52-1689606 (Matta Dep.
`
`Exhibit 55).
`
`On April 28, 1999 a Response to the November 4, 1998 Office Action was filed together
`
`with a Declaration executed on March 23, 1999 by Matta on behalf of “Great Seats, Inc.”(Matta
`
`Dep. Exhibit 47, pp. R000461-463). Item 2 of the Declaration states that “Great Seats, Inc. has used
`
`the mark GREAT SEATS (& DESIGN) in commerce since at least as early as March 1, 1997"
`
`(Matta Dep. Exhibit 47, p. R000461), yet the Applicant did not come into existence until March 12,
`
`1997. As Respondent admits, Matta signed the Declaration on behalf of GS2 and not the Applicant
`
`(GS1), so that the averments in the ten paragraphs of the Declaration all apply to GS2, and not the
`
`-9-
`
`

`
`Applicant. Exhibit 3, Admissions 75, 77.
`
`Item 3 of the March 23, 1999 Declaration states:
`
`At the time of changing its name from Premier Entertainment, Inc. to Great Seats,
`Inc., the business doubled in size due to our customers’ recognition of Great Seats,
`Inc. as a source for sold-out and hard to find tickets.”
`
`Matta Dep. Exhibit 47, p. R000461. By Respondent’s own admission, the antecedent of “its” in
`
`Item 3 is third-party Respondent, and not the Applicant . Exhibit 3, Admissions 77, 118.
`
`In Item 4 of the March 23, 1999 Declaration, the estimated dollar sales under the mark from
`
`the 1“ quarter of 1997 through the 4th quarter of 1998 do not apply to Applicant, which did not come
`
`into existence until March 12, 1997. Instead, as Respondent admits, all dollar sales stated apply to
`
`GS2 (Respondent). Exhibit 3, Admissions 77, 84, 118. At the time of changing its name from PE1
`
`to GS2 on July 7, 1997, in the 3“ quarter of 1997, Respondent’s business did not double in size as
`
`sworn to in the Declaration, as shown by the dollar sales in Item 4 of the Declaration (Matta Dep.
`
`Exhibit 47, pp. R000461-462).
`
`The phrase “our customer’s recognition” in Item 3 of the Declaration does not relate to any
`
`customers of the Applicant, which never changed its name to Great Seats, Inc., and by this time had
`
`changed its name to PE2, and instead relates to GS2 (Respondent). Exhibit 3, Admissions 77, 118.
`
`Item 7 of the March 23, 1999 Declaration states: “On Jan 1997, Great Seats, Inc. established
`
`
`a website at ‘WW‘W. n*eatsea.ts.co1n. Our intemet service provider indicates that to date, we have
`
`received 1,032,026 number of hits.” (Matta Dep. Exhibit 47, p. R000462). However, on Jan. 1997
`
`the Applicant was not even in existence, and Respondent admits that the Applicant did not establish
`
`the website in Jan. 1997 (Exhibit 3, Admissions 7, 81).
`
`Turning to Item 10 of the March 23, 1999 Declaration, it states that:
`
`Great Seats, Inc. ’s customers have come to associate the source of its services with
`Great Seats, Inc. by means of extensive exposure to the GREAT SEATS mark and,
`as a result, said mark has become distinctive. (Matta Dep. Exhibit 47, p. R000463).
`
`By Respondent’s own admission, it was GS2's customers which were declared to have come to
`
`associate the source of its services with GS2 by extensive exposure to the mark, so as to make the
`
`mark distinctive, while the declaration is entirely silent as to any customers of the Applicant or any
`
`-10-
`
`

`
`association in their minds with Applicant as the source of the services under the mark. Exhibit 3,
`
`Admission 77.
`
`Likewise, the April 28, 1999 Response to the November 4, 1998 Office Action (Matta Dep.
`
`Exhibit 47) enclosing Matta’s March 23, 1999 Declaration was not filed by the Applicant, but rather
`
`by the Respondent. The Response states:
`
`The Declaration confirms that at the time of changing its name to Great Seats Inc.
`in early 1997, Applicant’s business doubled in size due to its customers’ recognition
`of Great Seats Inc. as a source for sold-out and hard to find tickets. Since early 1997,
`Applicant’s quarterly estimated sales have risen from $484,000 to well over
`$1,000,000 per quarter.
`
`(Matta Dep. Exhibit 47, p. R000457). However, Applicant never changed its name to Great Seats
`
`Inc., and GS2 did not do so until July 27, 1997, in the 3“ quarter of 1997, not “in early 1997.”
`
`Instead of doubling in size as alleged in the Response and attested to in the Declaration, GS2's dollar
`
`sales of $806,000 in the 3“ quarter of 1997 increased by only roughly 25% over the following five
`
`quarters up to the 4”‘ quarter of 1998, when dollar sales were $1,085,000. Matta Dep. Exhibit 47,
`
`p. R000462.
`
`Matta, the person most knowledgeable about the affairs ofboth Applicant and the third party
`
`Respondent (Exhibit 2, Interrogatory Answer 4; Exhibit 3, Admission 153), testified at his July 15,
`
`2004 deposition that he is clueless as to why Applicant changed its name from Great Seats