throbber
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov
`ESTTA995641
`08/16/2019
`
`ESTTA Tracking number:
`
`Filing date:
`
`Proceeding
`
`Party
`
`Correspondence
`Address
`
`Submission
`
`Filer's Name
`
`Filer's email
`
`Signature
`
`Date
`
`Attachments
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`92063353
`
`Plaintiff
`The Coca-Cola Company
`
`HOLLY HAWKINS SAPORITO
`ALSTON & BIRD LLP
`1201 W PEACHTREE STREET
`ATLANTA, GA 30309
`UNITED STATES
`holly.saporito@alston.com, kelly.branch@alston.com,
`sarah.lafantano@alston.com, marygrace.gallagher@alston.com, crys-
`tal.kelly@alston.com, lauren.timmons@alston.com, marcos.alvarez@alston.com
`404-881-7000
`
`Plaintiff's Notice of Reliance
`
`Holly H. Saporito
`
`kelly.branch@alston.com
`
`/Holly H. Saporito/
`
`08/16/2019
`
`Ex. 7 Part 010 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC.pdf(3049260 bytes )
`Ex. 8 Part 001 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC Version.pdf(5140962
`bytes )
`Ex. 8 Part 002 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC Version.pdf(4778639
`bytes )
`Ex. 8 Part 003 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC Version.pdf(5048209
`bytes )
`Ex. 8 Part 004 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC Version.pdf(5134245
`bytes )
`Ex. 8 Part 005 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC Version.pdf(5058782
`bytes )
`Ex. 8 Part 006 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC Version.pdf(1694881
`bytes )
`Ex. 9 Petitioners Notice of ReliancePUBLIC.pdf(5191193 bytes )
`Ex. 10 Part 1 Petitioners Notice of Reliance PUBLIC.pdf(5691075 bytes )
`
`

`

`EXHIBIT 7
`EXHIBIT 7
`PART 10
`PART 10
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`:
`
`Jam 1 man; mm
`'Ji alum!
`_~—_. _
`JSN 511mm: lumm
`‘
`gr
`
`Aaron was saying how weird it was that we were alive when some of these were in
`
`service. I remember, in the 1980’s, machines like this that were then a few decades
`
`old, still operating in the small town grocery stores. Heck, I remember when cigarette
`
`machines looked sort of like this, had no one watching them, and you put coins into
`
`them, pulled a lever, and a packet of cigarettes fell out. Even though I never smoked, I
`
`had some extended relatives who did and as an elementary school kid, they’d have me
`
`go pick up a pack for them.
`
`
`
`The Coca-Cola vault
`
`For 86 years prior to its move here, it was kept safe in the Sun
`
`Trust Bank vault in Atlanta, Georgia. It was also temporarily held in New York City
`
`when it was used as collateral on a bank loan, the bankers requiring physical
`
`possession in exchange for extending funds.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.co m/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`17/37
`
`TCCCOOO460
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`This is cool but somehow, I think I’d rather see the Sun Trust Bank safe where the
`
`actual original recipe was kept for nearly a century. I should try to Visit that bank if I
`
`
`
`
`get a chance on the way back through town
`
`Oooo
`
`their graphic designer did a really good job on the special effects of the faux
`
`security system.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`18/37
`
`TCCCOOO461
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`As we make our way through the Coca-Cola vault, there is all sorts of information on
`
`Pemberton’s process, the formula, the flavor profile. You can spot my reflection in the
`
`magic glass if you look closely. (The special effects were cool. Some of the glass and
`
`mirrored surfaces were distorted so that they appeared 3D, or animated, or would
`
`change as your shifted your position. It was Walt Disney quality.)
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.co m/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`19/37
`
`TCCCOOO462
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`The vault itself, which supposedly contains the original secret Coca-Cola recipe. It’s
`
`great for mystique but, technically, science is advanced enough today reverse
`
`engineering it isn’t a problem. It has vanilla, lime, orange oil, lemon oil, coriander oil,
`
`cinnamon oil, nutmeg oil, and a few other ingredients. It’s the patent and trademark
`
`that do the protecting these days, not secrecy. Though the concentrate
`
`manufacturing locations — where the real stuff that is sent to the bottlers to mix with
`
`carbonated water and sugar — are largely unknown.
`
`
`
`That was a beautiful sight to behold We were touring the bottling plant section and
`
`it began with a General Electric water treatment setup.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`20/37
`
`TCCCOOO463
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`This is what the Coca-Cola Company actually does. It manufactures the syrup
`
`
`
`
`concentrate it sells to its franchisees, the bottlers. Though, these days, they own
`
`most of the bottlers in North America thanks to a mega-deal that went through in
`
`recent years when they bought out their former partners.
`
`The automation was incredible. Everything was slowed down for us. This mini-plant
`
`made 20 bottles per minutes so we could see the process with the human eye. Some
`
`plants run at a rate of 2,200+ bottles a minute.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`21/37
`
`TCCCOOO464
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`A machine automatically checks the integrity and shape of each bottle, rejecting
`
`
`
`
`those that aren’t up to par.
`
`I like machines. I like machines a lot. Until, at least, they become sentient and try to
`take over the world.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`22/37
`
`TCCCOOO465
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`Automation really has changed the world. This would have required an army of
`
`factory workers at one point but now it’s almost completely self-running.
`
`Case in point
`
`look at one of the original carbonated bottling
`
`machines from another exhibit:
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`23/37
`
`TCCCOOO466
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`You had to fill the original Coke bottles and get the pressure just right with a foot
`
`pedal.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`24/37
`
`TCCCOOO467
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`They had a theater where you could watch advertisements from the company’s 125
`
`year history from around the world.
`
`
`
`
`
`7‘.
`
`We couldn’t wait any longer so we headed for the Taste It exhibit, which features 100
`
`different Coca-Cola products from around the world.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`25/37
`
`TCCCOOO468
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`Each of those pillars coming down from the ceiling represents a different continent.
`
`They are surrounded by soda fountains featuring beverages Coke sells in nations on
`
`that continent. Including tap water7 Coke now has 3.5% market share of all beverages
`
`consumed by humans in any given day. Notice the bottles coming from overhead.
`
`They were from the bottling room we saw earlier and you’ll get to take one before you
`leave.
`
`
`
`The Asian Coca-Cola brands were probably our favorite.
`
`I really like the Japanese
`
`Vegitabeta and the Fanta Melon Frosty from Thailand. The Thumbs Up from India
`
`was weirdly spiced.
`
`I’ve never had anything quite like it.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`26/37
`
`TCCCOOO469
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`The Latin American flavors were okay but there were a few standouts.
`
`I really liked
`
`the Fuze Tea from Venezuela. Though, at this point, it’s not like the sales are doing
`
`Coke any good. Chavez destroyed the country’s economic so completely and
`
`thoroughly, corporate America has basically written the currency off as worthless.
`
`It’s crazy the same script plays out time after time. A socialist comes to power,
`
`confiscates private property under the theory it should be collectively owned, and
`
`then the laws of economics kick in and they lose it all. Time after time. Without
`
`exception. Why can’t they just copy the Nordic model of private market capitalism
`
`combined with regulation and tax policies that prioritize investment in human
`
`capital? Steve Jobs is always going to be able to run a company like Apple better than
`
`some government bureaucrat can. Walt Disney is always going to be better at the
`
`startup game than some intern appointed because of his family’s political connection.
`
`It’s the nature of the universe. You ignore it at your own peril.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`27/37
`
`TCCCOOO47O
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`1 E
`
`urope
`
`you crazy. Especially Italy. I had it before at the world of Coke in Walt
`
`Disney World Epcot but the Beverly beverage? No. You must have a masochistic
`
`streak to enjoy that assault on the tongue.
`
`
`
`Africa was so sweet! I kind of like Bibo Candy from South Africa. It was like a sugar
`
`overload. It wouldn’t be something I could have very often but it was akin to a liquid
`
`pixie stix.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`28/37
`
`TCCCOOO471
`
`’
`
`i
`
`'7:
`
`i'
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`IV
`
`. .
`
`There was a Coca-Cola freestyle area, too, with plain Coke dispensers in the center. I
`
`like the original best, myself.
`
`
`
`
`Later, at the end of the tour, after the tasting room, you see the efforts of the bottling
`
`operation and get to take one with you. The bottles were coming out overhead,
`
`circling around the tasting floor.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`29/37
`
`TCCCOOO472
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`M
`(2-12?“ '5”
`4‘
`l” ‘1‘
`l2
`
`When you leave the exhibit, you enter the giant World of Coca-Cola retail store,
`
`which has a huge selection of everything from bottle openers to picnic supplies,
`
`board games to collectibles, clothing to glassware. It’s magnificent.
`
`These were my favorite. We are picking up a bunch on our way back
`
`home when we come through Atlanta, again
`
`or we might order
`
`them online, instead, to avoid having to carry them with us.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`30/37
`
`TCCCOOO473
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`The Coca-Cola Hutchinson glasses were our favorites. These things are heavy,
`
`wonderfully weighted, and an awesome old-school color. They’ll be great chilled in
`
`the refrigerator and used to serve ice cold Coca-Cola.
`
`I can’t ever imagine wanting to work for someone else but being the
`
`CEO of The Coca—Cola Company is one of the few exceptions to that
`
`rule.
`
`I love the business so much, and feel like it is such an
`
`important part of history, that it would be almost akin to being a
`
`trustee of a great cultural artifact.
`
`[mainbodyad]
`
`Category: My Day In Pictures
`
`By Joshua Kennon
`20 Comments
`
`February 16, 2015
`
`Tags: Coca-Cola
`
`The Coca-Cola Company
`
`Share this post
`
`1‘
`
`i
`
`Q)
`
`6+
`
`in
`
`PREVIOUS
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.co m/worId-of-coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`NEXT
`
`About That
`
`31/37
`
`TCCCOOO474
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`Visiting Our Friends
`at Otter Banks on
`
`Captiva Island
`
`Proposed One—Time
`$280 Billion Tax on
`
`Foreign Corporate
`
`Profits
`
`Comments
`
`Community
`
`0 Login
`
`(‘9 Recommend 1
`
`B Share
`
`Sort by Newest
`
`Join the discussion...
`
`LOG IN WITH
`
`OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS 6?)
`
`Name
`
`SM ~ 2 years ago
`
`Hi Joshua,
`
`—
`
`I-
`
`Could you please clarify if the Coca-Cola recipe is actually a
`
`trade secret or has it been patented? From all the online
`
`information I could gatherthat it was once patented in 1893
`
`but then the patent was never renewed again after its
`
`expiration and the proportion of its integredients still remain a
`
`trade secret but your article says it is th patent which still
`
`protects the recipe. Could you please confirm? Your inputs
`
`would help settle a long term argument with my friends ;) !!
`
`A
`
`V - Reply - Share >
`
`JB - 3 years ago
`
`—
`
`|II
`
`Joshua, thank you very much for posting the pictures and
`
`sharing yourtour with us. I just might have to make a trip to
`
`Atlanta one of these days.
`
`A
`
`v . Reply - Share)
`
`Steven ' 3 years ago
`
`—
`
`II
`
`Thanks for the post! What an interesting place to visit.
`
`Looking at those robots I do have to wonder about one thing
`
`though. I generally buy cokes in a liter bottle from the grocery
`
`store, and they are not filled to the same level in each
`bottle...what is the deal with that? Seems with all their
`
`automation the outputs would be identical.
`A
`\l
`a Dnnlu - Qkarnx
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-cola-atlanta-georgia/
`
`32/37
`
`TCCCOOO475
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`7
`
`'
`
`I\UPIy ’ Ullalcl
`
`We Visited the World of Coca—Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`{'47,} tawcan * 3 years ago
`
`‘
`
`II
`
`m Very cool tour. The only time I went to Atlanta was because
`
`our flight out of Raleigh got canceled due to snow storm and
`
`we just wanted to get home. Didn't get a chance to tour around
`
`Atalanta at all. Would love to check out Coca Cola plant one
`
`day.
`
`A
`
`v - Reply - Share >
`
`— I-
`Connelly Barnes ~ 3 years ago
`I.
`Q, The only soft drink I've had in the last many years is Kvass (a
`Russian soft drink). Generally I don't drink soft drinks, but I am
`
`happy to see Joshua and everyone else excited about soft
`
`drink companies, and to learn about the great economics of
`
`these companies.
`
`A
`
`v . Reply . Share >
`
`Do
`
`Heath * 3 years ago
`
`_
`
`I-
`
`These pictures look familiar. Oh yes, I was there 24 hrs earlier
`
`on the 15th! ...|'m with you on the Beverly.
`
`A
`
`v ~ Reply . Share)
`
`a Young Professional ' 3 years ago
`
`.A
`
`Joshua,
`
`— II
`
`I began reading your blog after a friend introduced me to it - it
`
`is amazingly informative and fun to read, too! I
`
`I wanted to ask
`
`a question that will hopefully give me and many other young
`
`professionals reading this blog some advice. I am in my early
`
`20's and I am working in NYC in finance. I began investing two
`
`years ago with advice from my parents financial advisor into
`
`two mutual funds with money I had saved from birthday gifts,
`
`lemonade stands, and my personal favorite: finding and selling
`
`golf balls. I also recently found about 30 shares of K0 that my
`
`grandparents bought for me about 20 years ago when l was
`
`very young. I have about 15K total and am looking for advice
`
`in terms of which way I should look to invest for the long-term
`
`as a young professional. This blog has given me a ton of
`
`insight into the beauty of investing smart and young. I'm just
`
`looking for ways to do so!
`
`Thanks!
`
`1 A
`
`v - Reply . Share)
`
`r. y ‘
`
`innerscorecard * 3 years ago
`
`—
`
`II
`
`Love that world drinks fountain!
`mm-ar
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-cola-atlanta-georgia/
`
`33/37
`
`TCCCOOO476
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`‘\___/
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`A
`
`V - Reply - Share)
`
`0 dave (nestle) . 3 years ago
`
`Hey guys!
`
`—
`
`II
`
`If you just keep driving north a bit,
`
`I will treat you to a nice
`
`lunch. (we have plenty of ice for your beverages of choice
`
`also)
`
`Joshua (or anyone), do you happen to know off the top of your
`
`head what a Coke share in 1919 (at $40) had for it's earnings
`
`yield? What was the historical 'absolutely safe' investment
`
`alternative back then, and what was it yielding?
`
`Thanks!
`
`A
`
`v - Reply - Share)
`
`I Joshua Kennon
`
`“
`
`: 4 dave (nestle) - 3 years ago— II
`
`I'm sorry I missed your message! When I saw it we
`
`were already on our way down to Florida and I didn't
`
`think about it on the way back until I was already home.
`
`Maybe someday we'll meet in real life! I appreciate the
`
`invite, anyway. We'll take a rain check, haha!
`
`A
`
`V « Reply « Share)
`
`9‘ FratMan 4 dave (nestle) - 3 years ago
`
`Dave,
`
`— II
`
`Coke had a $30 million market cap while making $9.9
`
`million in annual profits so we are talking about a P/E
`ratio of around 3.
`
`My source is this Motley Fool article:
`
`http://www.fool.com/investi...
`
`The US. Treasury yield was somewhere around 5% or
`5.5% or so.
`
`My source is this Credit Suisse picture which was used
`in a Wall Street Journal Article.
`
`US Long-Term Real Yields since 1920
`l
`l
`l
`;
`;
`latent Volcker:
`
`12%
`
`l
`
`a
`2
`Gal,
`Slam : mesa;
`‘
`:
`
`.
`
`Bretthoeds
`
`i
`gee
`:S
`
`see more
`
`4 A
`
`V - Reply - Share)
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-cola-atlanta-georgia/
`
`Greens
`
`pan
`
`l
`1
`'
`
`34/37
`
`TCCCOOO477
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca—Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`dave (nestle) A FratMan ° 3 years ago
`"3'
`$33.2, Hey thanks man!
`
`‘
`
`II
`
`I wasn't sure of when exactly the treasury bill of
`
`today(as we know it) became what it is. War
`
`bonds versus treasuries, etc. That P/E of Coke
`
`would then have dropped below 2 if the shares
`
`were cut in half to $19.(profits remaining
`
`constant?)
`
`Crazy times back then, I guess. Most people
`
`probably didn't have alot of financial capital, but
`
`the bargains (due to the upcoming decades of
`
`American expansion) were outrageous.
`
`on give me just one more 2008/9 cutdown in
`
`the equity markets. Then I will be in peace.
`
`A
`
`v . Reply ~ Share)
`
`Stegner ' 3 years ago
`
`—
`
`II
`
`on my gosh. I was in India in 06, I had totally forgotten about
`
`Thums Up.
`
`I remember drinking it at roadside stalls from glass
`
`bottles. The vendors wouldn't let you walk away with it, you
`
`had to drink it right there and then hand the bottle back so it
`
`could be recycled/refilled. I remember spending a week in a
`
`tiny village in Rajastjan; no electricity, one hand operated
`
`water pump for the whole village; stone mill to grind grain and
`
`yet they STILL had a stall selling coke, sprite etc.. Even though
`
`I was totally financially illiterate at the time, I remember
`
`marvelling at the penetration of Coke.
`
`Wow. What a rush. Thanks fortriggering the memory and
`
`thanks forthe post, as usual.
`
`PS. Pepsico's Lays chips had some crazy flavours in India too,
`
`if my memory serves me correctly.
`
`A
`
`v . Reply . Share)
`
`In"
`
`Joshua Kennon w
`
`~ A Stegner ’ 3 years 390
`
`i
`
`I"
`
`‘T No problem! I hadn't seen the different potato chips.
`
`Personally, for me, Nestle makes all these weird Kit Kat
`
`flavors in Asia I want to try so badly (I'm hoping to if we
`
`do end up going to Seoul or thereabouts in the next
`
`year ortwo). I mean, look at them!
`
`
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`35/37
`
`TCCCOOO478
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`
`
`Investing for
`
`Beginners By
`
`Important
`
`Information and
`
`Joshua Kennon
`
`Disclaimers
`
`Since 2001, Joshua
`
`IMPORTANT LEGAL
`
`Kennon has been the
`
`INFORMATION: This
`
`In vesting for
`
`Beginners Expert at
`About.c0m. In the
`
`going-0n two
`decades since he
`
`first published for
`
`the network, he has
`
`built up a body of
`work of more than
`
`1,000 articles, essays,
`and lessons that are
`
`available to read for
`
`free, covering
`
`is a personal blog
`intended for
`
`academic,
`
`educational, and
`
`social engagement
`
`among members of a
`like-minded
`
`community. Nothing
`on this site is
`
`intended or should
`
`be construed as
`
`investment advice,
`
`financial advice, tax
`
`everything from how
`
`advice, or legal
`
`to analyze a balance
`
`advice. You are solely
`
`sheet to strategies
`
`for portfolio risk
`reduction. More
`
`responsible for your
`own financial
`
`decisions, agree that
`
`you will seek the
`formally structured
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`36/37
`
`TCCCOOO479
`
`

`

`11/29/2017
`
`We Visited the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
`
`than the content on
`
`advice of your own
`
`this personal blog,
`
`qualified professional
`
`they are a fantastic
`introduction to the
`
`basics of wealth
`
`building and asset
`
`management for new
`
`and experienced
`investors alike.
`
`advisors, agree that
`
`you, and you alone,
`
`are solely
`
`responsible for any
`financial
`
`consequences or
`
`losses as a result of
`
`your actions, and use
`of the site
`
`constitutes your
`
`agreement that you
`
`will not rely upon
`
`any information
`
`found on the site,
`
`including the
`
`comments. All text,
`
`images, and
`resources are
`
`provided on an “as is”
`basis with no
`
`guarantee of
`
`accuracy and with no
`
`obligation to update
`or correct
`
`information. For
`
`more information,
`
`read the terms and
`
`conditions.
`
`Copyright Joshua
`
`Kennon. All Rights
`Reserved.
`
`https://www.joshuakennon.com/world-of—coca-coIa-atlanta-georgia/
`
`Copyright
`© Joshua
`
`Kennon.
`
`All Rights
`Reserved.
`
`37/37
`
`TCCCOOO480
`
`

`

`EXHIBIT 8
`EXHIBIT 8
`PART 1
`PART 1
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`In The Matter of: Registration No. 4,205,598
`Mark: THUMS UP
`Issued:
` September 11, 2012
`
`In The Matter of: Registration No. 4,205,597
`Mark: LIMCA
`Issued:
` September 11, 2012
`
`
`THE COCA-COLA COMPANY,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`v.
`
`Petitioner,
`
`MEENAXI ENTERPRISE, INC.,
`
`
`
`Registrant.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cancellation Nos. 92063353 (parent)
` 92064398
`
`
`
`AFFIDAVIT OF MICHAEL PITTMAN
`
`I, Michael Pittman, hereby state and aver as follows:
`
`1.
`
`I am of legal age and competent to testify in this matter. I submit this affidavit in
`
`connection with the above-referenced consolidated opposition proceedings.
`
`2.
`
`I am the current Marketing Director, Sparkling Brands Platform Innovation for The
`
`Coca-Cola Company (“TCCC”). Prior to assuming this role, I was the Senior Brand Manager for
`
`Portfolio Strategy & Planning as part of TCCC’s Venturing and Emerging Brands business unit.
`
`In connection with these roles, I am very familiar with TCCC’s brands and the company’s efforts
`
`with product development in the United States.
`
`Coca-Cola’s Global Brands
`
`3.
`
`TCCC was founded in the year 1892 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Over
`
`a period of more than 130 years since its inception, TCCC has grown steadily and today, it is the
`
`1
`
`

`

`world’s largest beverage company, serving more than 1.6 billion consumers each day, in more than
`
`200 countries around the world. TCCC currently offers over 500 brands, numerous of which are
`
`famous worldwide, and fifteen (15) of which are billion-dollar brands. Two of the brands in
`
`TCCC’s global beverage portfolio are the Thums Up and Limca brands.
`
`4.
`
`Through its subsidiary Coca-Cola India, TCCC sells its beverage products to
`
`consumers in India and Southwest Asia. Its brands are some of the most preferred and most sold
`
`beverage products in India, with Thums Up and Limca being among the company’s top selling
`
`brands in India.
`
`5.
`
`Thums Up is a carbonated cola product with a distinctly strong, fizzy, and spicy
`
`taste. Through its predecessors-in-interest, TCCC has been selling Thums Up beverages in India
`
`since 1977. Thums Up is currently the top selling sparkling beverage in India and is one of the
`
`world’s best-selling beverages. Thums Up is set to be TCCC’s next billion-dollar brand.
`
`6.
`
`Samples of TCCC’s Thums Up products are shown below and are available at
`
`https://www.coca-colaindia.com/thums-up-brand.
`
`7.
`
`Limca is a lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink that is also extremely popular
`
`in India. Through its predecessors-in-interest, TCCC has been selling Limca in India since 1971.
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Since 1971, Limca has remained unchallenged as India’s No.1 Sparkling Drink in the Cloudy
`
`Lemon Segment.
`
`8.
`
`Samples of TCCC’s Limca products are shown below and are available at
`
`https://www.coca-colaindia.com/brands/limca/limca.
`
`
`
`
`
`Advertising and Sales of the Thums Up and Limca Brands to U.S. Consumers
`
`9.
`
`TCCC advertises its Thums Up and Limca products extensively throughout the
`
`world and has invested tremendous time, money, and effort to promote these brands on a
`
`widespread basis. As for its advertising and marketing to U.S. consumers, the Thums Up and Limca
`
`brands are advertised and marketed via their respective websites and social media platforms as well
`
`as by third party retailers who sell Thums Up and Limca in the U.S.
`
`10.
`
`Exemplary advertising of Thums Up and Limca to U.S. consumers includes the
`
`following:
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`A. Advertising of Thums Up:
`
`a) TCCC’s websites (e.g., https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/explore/explore-
`inside/explore-taste-it, http://www.coca-colacompany.com/brands/thums-up, and
`http://www.coca-colaindia.com/brands/thums-up/thums-up);
`
`b) TCCC’s Thums Up Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thumsupfan);
`
`c) TCCC’s Thums Up Twitter account
`(https://twitter.com/thumsupofficial?lang=en); and
`
`d) TCCC’s Thums Up YouTube channel
`(http://www.youtube.com/user/ThumsUpOfficial).
`
`B. Advertising of Limca:
`
`a) TCCC’s websites: (e.g., http://www.coca-colacompany.com/brands/limca,
`http://www.coca-colaindia.com/limca-brand and http://www.coca-
`colaindia.com/brands/limca/limca);
`
`b) TCCC’s Limca Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LimcaIndia); and
`
`c) TCCC’s Limca YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/LimcaIndia).
`
`11.
`
`Attached as Exhibit A are true and accurate printouts of the foregoing, which were
`
`printed on March 19, 2014 and December 4, 2017, and produced as TCCC000085-88, 100-101,
`
`491-93, 500-01, 504-08, 716-17, 732-42, 749-51, 752-758, 985, and 999. TCCC has advertised its
`
`Thums Up and Limca brands to consumers over the Internet for more than a decade.
`
`12.
`
`Consumers in the U.S. may also visit Coca-Cola India’s product websites for
`
`TCCC’s Thums Up and Limca brands, which are available at <https://www.coca-
`
`colaindia.com/thums-up-brand> and <https://www.coca-colaindia.com/limca-brand>. Attached as
`
`Exhibit B are true and accurate printouts of the foregoing, which were printed on December 4,
`
`2017, and produced as TCCC000485-87, 488-490, 718-719, 722-23, 759-61, 762-63. These pages
`
`describe the Thums Up and Limca products, the target market for these products, product
`
`information, and the brands’ respective product and marketing histories.
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`Distribution and Sales of TCCC’s Thums Up and Limca Products in the United States
`
`13.
`
`It is my understanding that since at least as early as 2005, third parties have imported
`
`TCCC’s authentic Thums Up and Limca beverage products from countries outside of the U.S. for
`
`subsequent resale in the U.S. These authentic products are sold at various points of sale through
`
`the U.S., including specialty stores that cater to Indian and Southeast Asian consumers, such as
`
`Illinois-based Salwan Trading, Inc.
`
`14.
`
`Attached as Exhibit C are true and correct printouts of the Salwan Trading, Inc.
`
`website from 2011 to 2018, available at <salwantrading.com> and through archive.org, which
`
`show TCCC’s Thums Up and Limca beverage products available for purchase, produced as
`
`TCCC005270-5278.
`
`15.
`
`It is my understanding that TCCC’s authorized bottlers, through their authorized
`
`distributors, have sold and are currently selling authentic TCCC Thums Up and Limca products to
`
`retailers and third parties globally. These Thums Up and Limca products are resold by third parties
`
`in Indian grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail outlets in the U.S.
`
`16.
`
`By way of example, TCCC’s authentic Thums Up and Limca products are currently
`
`available for sale including at Patel Brothers (https://www.patelbros.com/), Cherians International
`
`Groceries in (http://cherians.com/BEVERAGES-COLD-DRINKS/) and Botiwalla Indian Street
`
`Food Grill (https://www.botiwalla.com/menu), all of which are located in Atlanta, Georgia.
`
`17.
`
`It is my understanding that U.S. consumers may also purchase TCCC’s Thums Up
`
`and Limca products online through third party retailers, including Amazon. Exemplary websites
`
`where consumers may purchase these products include https://www.amazon.com/Thums-Up-
`
`Soda/dp/B07RPPVXSH/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_325_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DSH51T
`
`5
`
`

`

`QFXHJ5W1E3XY59
`
`
`
`and
`
`https://www.amazon.com/Limca-Soda-300-
`
`ml/dp/B00ZRAUAEE/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=limca&qid=1565623206&s=grocery&sr=1-3.
`
`18.
`
`TCCC also offers its Thums Up beverage products in person to consumers at the at
`
`the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta and the Coca-Cola Store Orlando. TCCC has had Thums Up
`
`available at the World of Coca-Cola since April of 2013 as part of its “Taste the World” consumer
`
`experience. The World of Coca-Cola Atlanta has over 1.2 million annual visitors. In addition,
`
`TCCC’s Coca-Cola Store Orlando has had Thums Up available for purchase as an individual
`
`beverage or as part of a tasting tray since its opening in approximately July of 2016. Attached as
`
`Exhibit D are photos of TCCC’s Thums Up product at the World of Coca-Cola and articles
`
`describing the product at the World of Coca-Cola, produced as TCCC000435-439, 440-43, 995-
`
`998, 5028-29.
`
`19.
`
`The concentrate for the Thums Up sold at the World of Coca-Cola Atlanta and
`
`Coca-Cola Store Orlando is manufactured in India and thereafter shipped to the United States,
`
`where it is made into syrup at TCCC’s Atlanta Syrup Plant located at 3791 Browns Mill Rd SE,
`
`Atlanta, GA 30354. Attached as Exhibit E is a true and accurate sample record of such a shipment
`
`from 2007, produced as TCCC000484.
`
`TCCC’s Thums Up and Limca Brands Are Famous Among Indians and Indian-Americans
`
`20.
`
`Given the many number of years which TCCC has been selling its Thums Up and
`
`Limca-branded beverage products and the large number of units which have been sold around the
`
`world, TCCC considers these brands to have an extremely high degree of consumer recognition
`
`and renown not just in India, but to consumers of Indian descent living around the world, including
`
`in the United States, who are aware of the fame of these brands in India.
`
`6
`
`

`

`21.
`
`It is my understanding that the THUMS UP and LIMCA brands are extremely
`
`popular and well-received by consumers in the U.S., particularly Indian-American consumers, due
`
`to the fame of the THUMS UP and LIMCA brands in India and throughout the world.
`
`22.
`
`There are numerous fan sites and articles published by U.S. consumers familiar with
`
`TCCC’s THUMS UP and LIMCA brands. The THUMS UP and LIMCA brands have also received
`
`extensive media coverage in the United States due to their growing popularity with consumers
`
`here. Examples of such fan sites and media coverage include:
`
` https://food52.com/blog/19021-don-t-drink-soda-these-two-indian-sodas-might-change-
`your-mind
`
` https://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/07/thums-up-india-cola-vs-coke-classic-taste.html
`
`23.
`
`There are numerous specialty stores in the United States which cater to specific
`
`ethnic groups. Indian grocers, which sell products from India to consumers in the United States,
`
`fall into this category.
`
`24.
`
`Ethnic foods have increasingly become sought out by consumers of all backgrounds
`
`as they become more exposed to the cuisines of the world through cooking shows, social media
`
`and the growing presence of globally influenced foodservice offerings.
`
`25.
`
`TCCC is aware of the popularity of its Thums Up and Limca products both globally
`
`and with U.S. consumers, particularly Indian-American consumers.
`
`26.
`
`It is my understanding that according to the 2010 United States Census, the Asian
`
`Indian population in the United States grew from approximately 1.6 million in 2000 to over 2.6
`
`million in 2010, a nearly 60% increase, and is currently one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in
`
`the United States. See https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2012/dec/c2010br-11.html Further,
`
`according to the Pew Research Center, this number has climbed to over 3.8 million as of 2015. See
`
`https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/fact-sheet/asian-americans-indians-in-the-u-s/.
`
`7
`
`

`

`27.
`
`TCCC is aware of these market trends among consumers and plans to sell authentic
`
`Thums Up and Limca products through e-commerce websites as well as through its customers and
`
`on-premise food service partners.
`
`28.
`
`TCCC wants to ensure that any consumer searching for its authentic Thums Up and
`
`Limca beverage products get the products that they are familiar with, namely, TCCC’s Thums Up
`
`and Limca beverage products, not a Thums Up- or Limca-branded beverage produced by a third
`
`party.
`
`Registrant’s Sales of Thums Up and Limca Products and Harm If Registrant’s Infringing
`Activities Continue
`
`29.
`
`I am aware that Meenaxi Enterprises, Inc. (“Meenaxi”) has registered THUMS UP
`
`and LIMCA in the United States, and that these registrations cover the same goods as those TCCC
`
`sells in connection with the marks THUMS UP and LIMCA.
`
`30.
`
`Specifically, both Meenaxi and TCCC use the THUMS UP and LIMCA marks in
`
`connection with their flavored cola and a lemon-and-lime flavore

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket