throbber
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov
`ESTTA1031546
`01/27/2020
`
`ESTTA Tracking number:
`
`Filing date:
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`Proceeding
`
`92072761
`
`Party
`
`Correspondence
`Address
`
`Submission
`
`Filer's Name
`
`Filer's email
`
`Signature
`
`Date
`
`Defendant
`Magic Snow, LLC
`
`SCOTT J MAJOR
`MILLEN WHITE ZELANO & BRANIGAN PC
`2200 CLARENDON BLVD 14TH FLOOR
`ARLINGTON, VA 22201
`UNITED STATES
`major@mwzb.com, docketing@mwzb.com
`703-243-6333
`
`Motion to Dismiss - Rule 12(b)
`
`Scott J. Major
`
`major@mwzb.com, culver@mwzb.com, docketing@mwzb.com
`
`/Scott J. Major/
`
`01/27/2020
`
`Attachments
`
`Motion to Dismiss 1-27-20.pdf(359495 bytes )
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`Sulbing Co., Ltd.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`
`:
`Magic Snow, LLC
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respondent.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`
`:
`:
`:
`
`Cancellation No. 92072761
`Mark: SUL BING
`
`Reg. No. 5440822
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RESPONDENT’S COMBINED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON CLAIM
`PRECLUSION AND MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE
`CLAIMS UPON WHICH RELIEF MAY BE GRANTED
`
`
`
`
`The Petitioner is seeking cancellation of Reg. No. 5440822 (“the Registration”) on the
`
`grounds of abandonment, likelihood of confusion and fraud. Magic Snow, LLC (“Respondent)
`
`hereby moves for summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 on the ground of
`
`claim preclusion with respect to the likelihood of confusion and fraud claims. Respondent also
`
`moves herein to dismiss the likelihood of cancellation and fraud claims for failure to state a claim
`
`pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).
`
`I.
`INTRODUCTION
`
`
`
`
`The likelihood of confusion claim asserted by Petitioner against the Registration essentially
`
`is the same claim previously asserted by a party in privity with Petitioner in earlier Opposition No.
`
`91226056 (“the Opposition”). The Opposition was dismissed with prejudice by the Board; thus,
`
`the likelihood of confusion claim is barred by the doctrine of claim preclusion, and must be
`
`dismissed. Because the fraud claim in the case at bar is predicated on the same transactional facts
`
`as present in the Opposition, it also must be dismissed on the ground that it is barred by claim
`
`preclusion.
`
`

`

`
`
`Additionally, as to each of likelihood of confusion and fraud, Petitioner has failed to state
`
`a claim upon which relief may be granted. Regarding likelihood of confusion, priority is a
`
`threshold issue that must be properly pleaded and proven by any trademark owner opposing the
`
`registration of a mark on the ground of a likelihood of confusion. Petitioner has failed to allege
`
`prior rights in its alleged mark in the United States; thus, the likelihood of confusion claim must
`
`be dismissed. The Petitioner’s fraud claim also is fatally defective on its face in that it fails to
`
`plead the claim with particularity, and fails as well to allege any facts upon which it may be found
`
`that the Respondent had an intent to deceive the Patent and Trademark Office. This claim
`
`accordingly must be dismissed as well under Rule 12(b)(6).
`
`
`
`A. Summary Judgment for Claim Preclusion
`
`II.
`STATEMENT OF LAW
`
`The granting of summary judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 is appropriate where the
`
`pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions on file, together with any supporting
`
`affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact in dispute, and that the moving party
`
`is entitled to judgment in its favor as a matter of law. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317
`
`(1986). “The burden on the moving party may be discharged by … pointing out … that there is
`
`an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party.” Id. at 322. “[T]he dispute about a
`
`material fact is ‘genuine,’ … if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict
`
`for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
`
`"[T]he mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat
`
`an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there is no
`
`genuine issue of material fact." Id. at 247-48 (emphasis in original). The nonmoving party must
`
`do more than “simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.”
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). “[T]he
`
`nonmoving party must come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for
`
`trial.’” Id. at 587 (emphasis in original, quoting Rule 56(e) pre-2007 amendment). “If the
`
`evidence [favoring the nonmoving party] is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative,
`
`summary judgment may be granted.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50 (citations omitted).
`
`A party generally may not file a motion for summary judgment until it has made its initial
`
`disclosures. Trademark Rule 2.127(e)(1). An exception to this rule is that a motion asserting
`
`claim or issue preclusion may be filed by a party prior to service of initial disclosures on its
`
`opponent. Id.; Zoba Int’l Corp. v. DVD Format/LOGO Licensing Corp., 98 USPQ2d 1106, 1108
`
`n.4 (TTAB 2011) (motion to dismiss on ground of claim preclusion considered as summary
`
`judgment motion).
`
`
`
`Under the doctrine of claim preclusion, “a judgment on the merits in a prior suit bars a
`
`second suit involving the same parties or their privies based on the same cause of action.” Jet Inc.
`
`v. Sewage Aeration Sys., 55 USPQ2d 1854, 1856 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (quoting Parklane Hosiery Co.
`
`v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322, 326 n.5 (1979)); Internat’l Nutrition Co. v. Horphag Research, Ltd., 55
`
`USPQ2d 1492, 1494 (Fed. Cir. 2000). The Federal Circuit has listed three elements necessary for
`
`claim preclusion to operate against a party in the first action: (1) a final judgment on the merits by
`
`a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction; (2) the parties in each proceeding must be the
`
`same or in privity with the prior parties; and (3) the same claims must have been raised (or should
`
`have been raised) in the prior action. See Internat’l Nutrition Co., 55 USPQ2d at 1494. If these
`
`elements are present, the TTAB must give preclusive effect to the prior decision. See, e.g., Miller
`
`Brewing Co. v. Coy International Corp., 230 USPQ 675 (TTAB 1986) (applicant precluded from
`
`registering mark that was substantially similar to mark that had previously been successfully
`
`opposed).
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`Regarding the first prong of the test, the Board has held that a dismissal with prejudice may
`
`operate as a final judgment on the merits. Orouba Agrifoods Processing Co. v. United Food
`
`Import, 97 USPQ2d 1310, 1314-15 (TTAB 2010) (granting summary judgment to registrant on
`
`claim preclusion where petitioner’s prior opposition had been dismissed with prejudice for failure
`
`to prosecute the case); La Fara Importing Co. v. F. Lli de Cecco di Filippo Fara S. Martino S.p.a.,
`
`8 USPQ2d 1143, 1146 (TTAB 1988) (“Issue preclusion operates only as to issues actually
`
`litigated, whereas claim preclusion may operate between the parties simply by virtue of the final
`
`judgment.”). In Orouba, the petitioner in a cancellation proceeding had previously opposed
`
`registration of the respondent’s mark on the ground of likelihood of confusion. Orouba, 97
`
`USPQ2d at 1311-12. The petitioner failed to file a brief on the case, and the Board treated this
`
`failure as a concession of the case, entered judgment for respondent, and dismissed the opposition
`
`with prejudice. Id. at 1312.
`
`In the subsequent cancellation proceeding, the petitioner again asserted a claim of
`
`likelihood of confusion. Id. The Board found that this prior dismissal served as a bar to petitioner’s
`
`cancellation petition, and granted summary judgment in favor of respondent. In doing so, the
`
`Board stated that “even default judgments for failure to answer, or dismissals for failure to
`
`prosecute, where there has been no decision on the merits, can act as a bar under the doctrine of
`
`claim preclusion”. Id. at 1313 (citing Internat’l Nutrition Co., 55 USPQ2d at 1494.
`
`The third prong requires that the same claims must have been raised (or should have been
`
`raised) in the prior action. The doctrine of claim preclusion “has come to incorporate common
`
`law concepts of merger and bar, and will thus also bar a second suit raising claims based on the
`
`same set of transactional facts”. Jet Inc., 55 USPQ2d at 1856 (citing Migra v. Warren City School
`
`Dist. Bd. of Educ., 465 U.S. 75, 77 n.1 (1984)). This bar extends not only to relitigation of claims
`
`raised, but also to those that “could have been raised”, in the earlier action. Allen v. McCurry, 449
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. 90, 94 (1980). Thus, under claim preclusion, a party is barred from a “subsequent assertion
`
`of the same transactional facts in the form of a different cause of action or theory of relief.” Vitaline
`
`Corp. v. General Mills Inc., 891 F.2d 273, 13 USPQ2d 1172, 1173 (Fed. Cir. 1989).
`
`B. Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim upon which Relief may be Granted
`
`A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader
`
`is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(1). Thus, a motion to dismiss made pursuant to Rule
`
`12(b)(6) must be granted where the complaint fails to “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted
`
`as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,
`
`678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is considered
`
`to be “plausible on its face” only when the plaintiff “pleads factual content that allows the court to
`
`draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id.
`
`The allegations must “include enough detail to give the defendant fair notice of the basis
`
`for each claim.” See Bell Atl., 550 U.S. at 570. A plaintiff must allege well-pleaded factual matter
`
`and more than “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
`
`conclusory statements,” to state a claim that is plausible on its face. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
`
`662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atl., 550 U.S. at 555); Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). In a proceeding before
`
`the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the Board may consider certain objective, verifiable facts
`
`available from Office records under a motion to dismiss, such as the filing date, filing basis,
`
`priority date, publication date and Applicant’s name in an opposed application. See Compagnie
`
`Gervais Danone v. Precision Formulations LLC, 89 USPQ2d 1251, 1256 & n.8 (TTAB 2009).
`
`“These are facts not subject to proof, and the Board may look to Office records for such facts to
`
`determine if a party's allegations are well pleaded.” Id.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`

`

`1. pleading likelihood of confusion
`
`With respect to a claim for likelihood of confusion, Trademark Act Section 2(d) states that
`
`a mark must be refused registration if it “so resembles a mark registered in the Patent and
`
`Trademark Office, or a mark or trade name previously used in the United States by another and
`
`not abandoned, as to be likely, when used on or in connection with the goods of the applicant, to
`
`cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.” 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d) (emphasis added).
`
`Because the express wording of this provision requires prior use of a mark or trade name in the
`
`United States, failure by an opposer or petitioner claiming likelihood of confusion to assert prior
`
`use of its alleged mark compels dismissal of the claim.
`
`Recognition in the United States is not the same as prior use in the United States. In this
`
`regard, the “well-known mark” doctrine does not provide an independent basis for establishing
`
`priority in inter partes proceedings before the Board. See Green Spot (Thailand) Ltd. v. Vitasoy
`
`Int’l Holdings Ltd., 86 USPQ2d 1283, 1284-85 (TTAB 2008) (the fact that a mark is well-known
`
`in other countries “cannot establish priority in the United States”).
`
`2. pleading fraud
`
`Fraud occurs in the trademark registration process occurs only “when an applicant for
`
`registration knowingly makes a false, material representation of fact in connection with the
`
`application with the intent to deceive the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”),
`
`thereby obtaining a registration to which it is otherwise not entitled.” Daniel J. Quirk, Inc. v.
`
`Village Car Co., 120 USPQ2d 1146, 1148 (TTAB 2016) (citing In re Bose Corp., 580 F.3d 1240,
`
`91 USPQ2d 1938, 1941 (Fed. Cir. 2009)). A party seeking cancellation of a trademark registration
`
`on the ground of fraud in its procurement bears a heavy burden of proof. Bose, 91 USPQ2d at
`
`1939, (citing W.D. Byron & Sons, Inc. v. Stein Bros. Mfg. Co., 377 F.2d 1001, 153 USPQ 749,
`
`750 (CCPA 1967)). “[T]he very nature of the charge of fraud requires that it be proven ‘to the
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`hilt’ with clear and convincing evidence. There is no room for speculation, inference or surmise
`
`and, obviously, any doubt must be resolved against the charging party.” Id. at 1939.
`
`Because a false statement is one of the critical elements in proving fraud, a fraud claim that
`
`does not include an allegation of a false statement is insufficient on its face. Swiss Watch Int’l v.
`
`Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, 101 USPQ2d 1731, 1746 (TTAB 2012).
`
`Where a petitioner alleges fraud in execution of the declaration oath for the application
`
`underlying the challenged registration on the basis that respondent knew of and failed to disclose
`
`petitioner’s allegedly prior, superior rights, the petitioner must prove that (1) it was the user of the
`
`same or a confusingly similar mark at the time the oath was signed; (2) it had legal rights superior
`
`to the respondent’s rights at the time the respondent signed the application underlying the
`
`registration; (3) the respondent knew that the petitioner’s rights in the mark were superior to the
`
`respondent’s and either believed that a likelihood of confusion would result from the respondent’s
`
`use of its mark or had no basis for believing otherwise; and that (4) the respondent, in failing to
`
`disclose these facts to the USPTO, intended to procure a registration to which it was not entitled.
`
`Daniel J. Quirk, 120 USPQ2d at 1149 (citing Qualcomm Inc. v. FLO Corp., 93 USPQ2d 1768,
`
`1770 (TTAB 2010)).
`
`Regarding use in commerce, the Lanham Act extends to all commerce which Congress
`
`may regulate. Christian Faith Fellowship Church v. adidas AG, 841 F.3d 986, 120 USPQ2d 1640,
`
`1646 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (citing Larry Harmon Pictures Corp. v. Williams Rest. Corp., 929 F.2d 662,
`
`18 USPQ2d 1292, 1295 (Fed. Cir. 1991)). “[O]ne need not direct goods across state lines for
`
`Congress to regulate the activity under the Commerce Clause, there is likewise no such per se
`
`condition for satisfying the Lanham Act’s ‘use in commerce’ requirement.” Christian Faith
`
`Fellowship Church, 120 USPQ2d at 1647. Further, “[i]t is not required that such services be
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`rendered in more than one state to satisfy the use in commerce requirement.” Larry Harmon
`
`Pictures Corp., 18 USPQ2d at 1295.
`
`III.
`ARGUMENT
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner has alleged three grounds for cancellation. Although the abandonment claim is
`
`weak, it is not addressed in this motion. As set forth below, each of the likelihood of confusion
`
`and fraud claims must be dismissed on the grounds of claim preclusion and failure to state a claim
`
`upon which relief may be granted.
`
`A.
`
`Likelihood of Confusion
`
`1.
`
`claim preclusion
`
`The Registration was
`
`issued from underlying Application No. 86357240 (“the
`
`Application”). The Application had been opposed by Sun Hee Jung in Opposition No. 91226056
`
`(“the Opposition”; copies of original Notice of Opposition and Second Amended Notice of
`
`Opposition (each without exhibits) at Exhibit 1). Sun Hee Jung v. Magic Snow, LLC, Opposition
`
`No. 91226056 (March 1, 2018). The Opposition was dismissed with prejudice by the Board in an
`
`order dated March 1, 2018 (copy of order at Exhibit 2) after the opposer failed to respond to an
`
`order to show cause. Moreover, in a prior order in the Opposition issued September 20, 2017
`
`(copy of order at Exhibit 3), the Board had dismissed the opposer’s likelihood of confusion and
`
`non-use in commerce claims under Rule 12(b)(6).
`
`The affidavit submitted as Exhibit D to the Petition for Cancellation indicates that
`
`Petitioner “was founded in 2013 in Busan City by Sun Hee Jung” (¶ 3 of Affidavit of JunWon
`
`Cho). All or most of the foreign registrations in Exhibit E upon which Petitioner attempts to rely
`
`as a basis for establishing rights in the SULBING mark in the United States are shown as being
`
`owned by Sun Hee Jung.
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`

`
`
`Given the Board’s holding in Orouba, it is clear that the decision in the Opposition
`
`constitutes a “final judgment on the merits” for the purpose of the test for claim preclusion. It also
`
`is clear from the undisputed facts as stated in Petitioner’s own affidavit and a related exhibit of
`
`trademark registrations for the SULBNG mark that the parties in this proceeding are the same or
`
`in privity with the prior parties in the Opposition. Finally, the same likelihood of confusion claim
`
`raised in the Opposition has been asserted in this cancellation proceeding.
`
`In summary, it is clear that there was a judgment on the merits in the Opposition; that
`
`Petitioner in the case at bar is the same party, or at least in privity with, the opposer in the
`
`Opposition; and the likelihood of confusion claim in this case arises from the same transactional
`
`facts as those present in the Opposition. Respondent submits that Petitioner must be barred herein
`
`from a “subsequent assertion of the same transactional facts in the form of a different cause of
`
`action or theory of relief.” Vitaline Corp., 13 USPQ2d at 1173. Accordingly, claim preclusion
`
`compels dismissal of the likelihood of confusion claim on summary judgment.
`
`
`
`2.
`
`Failure to assert priority of right
`
`In a failed effort to support its likelihood of confusion claim, Petitioner provides
`
`background regarding the use history of its alleged SULBING mark in Korea and in other countries
`
`around the world; details social media uses of the mark; provides information on its promotion of
`
`franchising opportunities under the mark; and references a portfolio of foreign trademark
`
`registrations (Petition for Cancellation at ¶¶ 3-17).
`
`The Application of Respondent had been filed on an intent-to-use basis under Section 1(b)
`
`of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051(b), on August 5, 2014. Thus, that date serves as
`
`Respondent’s constructive date of first use in commerce of the SUL BING mark that is the subject
`
`of the Registration.
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`The express wording of Section 2(d) requires prior use of a mark or trade name in the
`
`United States in order for Petitioner to have a claim. Even viewing the allegations set forth in the
`
`Petition for Cancellation in the light most favorable to Petitioner, it is beyond argument that such
`
`allegations fail to show or even suggest activities in or directed to the United States under the
`
`alleged SULBING mark that would have vested in Petitioner rights in the mark in this country that
`
`predate August 5, 2014. In consideration of the failure by Petitioner to assert prior use of its
`
`alleged mark in the United States, its likelihood of confusion claim must be dismissed under Rule
`
`12(b)(6).
`
`B.
`
`Fraud
`
`It appears that Petitioner has alleged fraud on two bases: (1) that Respondent’s
`
`representative falsely declared in the Application as filed on August 5, 2014 that “no other party,
`
`to the best of his knowledge and belief, has the right to use such mark in commerce either in the
`
`identical form of the mark or in such near resemblance to the mark as to be likely, when used on
`
`or in connection with the goods of such party, to cause confusion, mistake, or deception”; and (2)
`
`that Respondent submitted with its Allegation of Use (“AAU”) as filed on May 8, 2015 only one
`
`specimen of use, “offered no additional specimen to corroborate the true nature of the services
`
`listed in the” Application and, as such, engaged in the “purposeful submission of the Specimen
`
`that does not show use of the mark in commerce for the Registered Mark”. Petition at ¶¶ 48-60.
`
`As set forth below, the claims are barred under claim preclusion, and also must be dismissed under
`
`Rule 12(b)(6).
`
`
`
`
`
`1.
`
`Claim preclusion
`
`The fraud allegations are based on the statutorily required averment in the declaration
`
`supporting the Application and on the claim of use in commerce made in the AAU for the
`
`Application. Both the filing of the Application and the filing and approval of the AAU by the
`
`
`
`10
`
`

`

`USPTO occurred prior to the filing of the Opposition, but no fraud claim was asserted in the
`
`Opposition. It is beyond argument that the fraud claims arise from the same transactional facts
`
`present in the Opposition. Indeed, the allegation of fraud based upon the averment in the
`
`declaration for the Application is a mere variation on the failed likelihood of confusion claim
`
`asserted in the Opposition (and again in this proceeding). Similarly, the fraud claim, rooted in
`
`alleged defects in the specimen submitted with the AAU and a lack of use in commerce of the SUL
`
`BING mark by Respondent, is a mere variation on Petitioner’s failed lack of use in commerce
`
`claim set forth – and re-pleaded multiple times, to no avail -- in the Opposition.
`
`Petitioner long ago waived its right to assert fraud with respect to an averment in the
`
`declaration supporting the Application and in the filing of the AAU. In short, there clearly was a
`
`judgment on the merits in the Opposition; Petitioner in the case at bar is the same party as, or at
`
`least in privity with, the opposer in the Opposition; and the fraud claims in this case arise from the
`
`same transactional facts as those present in the Opposition. Once again, Petitioner must be barred
`
`herein from a “subsequent assertion of the same transactional facts in the form of a different cause
`
`of action or theory of relief.” Vitaline Corp., 13 USPQ2d at 1173. Accordingly, claim preclusion
`
`compels dismissal of the fraud claims on summary judgment.
`
`
`
`2.
`
`failure to assert a claim upon which relief may be granted
`
`As an additional, independent basis for dismissal, Petitioner fails to state a claim for fraud
`
`upon which relief may be granted.
`
`With respect to the execution of the declaration oath for the Application, Petitioner must
`
`be able to prove that (1) it was the user of the same or a confusingly similar mark at the time the
`
`oath was signed; (2) it had legal rights superior to the Respondent’s rights at the time the
`
`respondent signed the application underlying the registration; (3) Respondent knew that the
`
`Petitioner’s rights in the mark were superior to Respondent’s and either believed that a likelihood
`
`
`
`11
`
`

`

`of confusion would result from the Respondent’s use of its mark or had no basis for believing
`
`otherwise; and that (4) Respondent, in failing to disclose these facts to the USPTO, intended to
`
`procure a registration to which it was not entitled. Daniel J. Quirk, 120 USPQ2d at 1149. As set
`
`forth above, Petitioner has failed to assert, and cannot in good faith assert, prior use of its alleged
`
`SULBING mark in the United States. Thus, even assuming arguendo that the first factor of the
`
`test set forth in Daniel Quirk favors Petitioner, its fraud claim must fail because Petitioner cannot
`
`possibly establish that it has superior legal rights for the purpose of this proceeding. This compels
`
`dismissal of the claim under 12(b)(6).
`
`In its second fraud claim, Petitioner appears to be alleging that Respondent’s use of the
`
`SUL BING mark was limited to intrastate use at the time it filed the AAU, and that Respondent’s
`
`allegation of use in commerce in the AAU was a knowingly false and material misrepresentation
`
`to the USPTO. As part of its allegation, Petitioner suggests that Respondent was under an
`
`obligation to submit more than one specimen of use “to corroborate the true nature of the services
`
`listed in the Registration as claimed to have been advertised and rendered in more than one state”.
`
`Petition at ¶ 57. This an absurd claim. Generally, only one specimen is required per International
`
`Class of goods/services in an application or AAU. Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure
`
`§904.01. Whether an additional specimen might be required in a particular circumstance is a
`
`matter between the USPTO Examiner and the applicant, and cannot form the foundation of a basis
`
`for attack in a later opposition or cancellation. Marshall Field & Co. v. Mrs. Fields Cookies, 11
`
`USPQ2d 1355, 1358 (TTAB 1989) (the insufficiency of the specimens, per se, does not constitute
`
`grounds for cancellation); Century 21 Real Estate Corp. v. Century Life of Am., 10 USPQ2d 2034,
`
`2035 (TTAB 1989) (the adequacy of specimens is solely a matter of ex parte examination).
`
`Moreover, Petitioner has failed to allege, nor could it in good faith allege, that
`
`Respondent’s rendering of its services, in the aggregate, did not have an effect on commerce that
`
`
`
`12
`
`

`

`is regulable by Congress at the time of the filing of the AAU. See Christian Faith Fellowship
`
`Church, 120 USPQ2d at 1646-47. As Petitioner has failed to allege facts that would permit a
`
`determination that Respondent’s mark was not in use in commerce, it certainly has failed to state
`
`a claim for fraud predicated upon an allegedly false claim of use in commerce. Accordingly
`
`Petitioner again fails to state a claim for fraud upon which relief may be granted.
`
`IV.
`CONCLUSION
`
`For the reasons set forth above, Respondent submits that the Board must grant summary
`
`judgment in its favor under Rule 56 as to Petitioner’s likelihood of confusion and fraud claims on
`
`the ground that each is barred by claim preclusion. In addition, Respondent submits that the
`
`dismissal of the likelihood of confusion and fraud claims is warranted for failure to state a claim
`
`upon which relief may be granted under Rule 12(b)(6).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dated: January 27, 2019
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respectfully Submitted,
`
`By Millen White Zelano and Branigan, P.C. on behalf of
`MAGIC SNOW, LLC
`
`
`/Scott J. Major/
`_________________________________
`Michael S. Culver
`
`Scott J. Major
`Adam D. Mandell
`Millen White Zelano and Branigan, P.C.
`2200 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 1400
`Arlington, VA 22201
`Telephone: (703) 243-6333
`Fax: (703) 243-6410
`major@mwzb.com; docketing@mwzb.com
`
`Attorneys for Magic Snow, LLC
`
`
`
`13
`
`

`

`
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`It is hereby certified that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was filed electronically with
`the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board on January 27, 2020, and was emailed to counsel for the Petitioner at
`ckc@slepatents.com on that same date.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/Scott J. Major/
`_________________________________
`Scott J. Major
`
`14
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`EXHIBIT 1
`EXHIBIT 1
`
`

`

`Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov
`ESTTA723247
`01/27/2016
`
`ESTTA Tracking number:
`
`Filing date:
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`Notice of Opposition
`
`Notice is hereby given that the following party opposes registration of the indicated application.
`
`Opposer Information
`
`Name
`
`Granted to Date
`of previous ex-
`tension
`
`Address
`
`Attorney informa-
`tion
`
`Sun Hee Jung
`
`01/27/2016
`
`Sajik Xi Apt., Sajik-dong102-704, 36, Sajik-ro, Dongnae-gu
`Busan, 47866
`KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
`
`Sang Ho Lee
`Novick, Kim & Lee, PLLC
`1604 Spring Hill RoadSuite 320
`Vienna, VA 22182
`UNITED STATES
`docket@nkllaw.com
`
`Applicant Information
`
`Application No
`
`86357240
`
`Publication date
`
`09/29/2015
`
`Opposition Filing
`Date
`
`Applicant
`
`01/27/2016
`
`Magic Snow, LLC
`4130 River Forth Dr.
`Fairfax, VA 22030
`UNITED STATES
`
`Opposition Peri-
`od Ends
`
`01/27/2016
`
`Goods/Services Affected by Opposition
`
`Class 035. First Use: 2015/01/30 First Use In Commerce: 2015/01/30
`All goods and services in the class are opposed, namely: Dessert shop and self-serve frozen yogurt
`shop services
`
`Grounds for Opposition
`
`Priority and likelihood of confusion
`
`Trademark Act section 2(d)
`
`Marks Cited by Opposer as Basis for Opposition
`
`U.S. Application
`No.
`
`79157509
`
`Application Date
`
`08/20/2014
`
`Registration Date
`
`NONE
`
`Word Mark
`
`SULBING
`
`Foreign Priority
`Date
`
`08/08/2014
`
`

`

`Design Mark
`
`Description of
`Mark
`
`Goods/Services
`
`The mark consists of the wording "SUL" appearing above "BING" written in black
`to the upper left of a black outline of a soup bowl shaded in white with black
`Chinese characters and a red square with a white Chinese character superim-
`posed therein, all appearing to the left of 5 6-pointed black stars.
`
`Class 043. First use: First Use: 0 First Use In Commerce: 0
`Cafe services featuring red bean ice flakes (Patbingsu); restaurant services fea-
`turing red bean ice flakes (Patbingsu);restaurant services featuring sweet red-
`bean porridge; self-service restaurants; western style restaurants; snack-
`bars;restaurant services; canteen services; catering services; food and drink ca-
`tering; cafes; cafeterias; coffee house services; fast-food restaurants; Korean
`restaurant services; cafe services featuringrice cakes; restaurants; hotels; tourist
`homes
`
`U.S. Application
`No.
`
`86739365
`
`Application Date
`
`08/27/2015
`
`Registration Date
`
`NONE
`
`Word Mark
`
`NONE
`
`Foreign Priority
`Date
`
`NONE
`
`

`

`Design Mark
`
`Description of
`Mark
`
`Goods/Services
`
`The mark consists of two Korean characters that transliterate to "SUL BING" in
`black and a red square with a white Chinese character superimposed therein
`appearing above the second Korean character in a smaller font.
`
`Class 043. First use: First Use: 0 First Use In Commerce: 0
`Cafe services featuring red bean ice flakes (Patbingsu); Restaurant services
`featuring red bean ice flakes (Patbingsu);Restaurant services featuring sweet
`redbean porridge; Self-service restaurants; Western style restaurants; Snack-
`bars;Restaurant services; Canteen services; Catering services; Food and drink
`catering; Cafes; Cafeterias; Coffee house services; Fast-food restaurants;
`Korean restaurant services; Cafe services featuringrice cakes; Restaurants; Ho-
`tels; Tourist homes
`
`U.S. Application
`No.
`
`86739405
`
`Application Date
`
`08/27/2015
`
`Registration Date
`
`NONE
`
`Word Mark
`
`NONE
`
`Foreign Priority
`Date
`
`NONE
`
`

`

`Design Mark
`
`Description of
`Mark
`
`Goods/Services
`
`Attachments
`
`The mark consists of Chinese charactersthat transliterate to "XUE BING" in
`black and a red square with a white Chinesecharacter superimposed therein ap-
`pearing above the second Chinese character in a smaller font that transliterate
`to "XUE.".
`
`Class 043. First use: First Use: 0 First Use In Commerce: 0
`: Cafe services featuring red bean ice flakes (Patbingsu); Restaurant services
`featuring red bean ice flakes (Patbingsu); Restaurant services featuring sweet
`red bean porridge; Self-service restaurants; Western style restaurants; Snack-
`bars; Restaurant services; Canteen services; Catering services; Food and drink
`catering; Cafes; Cafeterias; Coffee house services; Fast-food restaurants;
`Korean restaurant services; Cafe services featuring rice cakes; Restaurants; Ho-
`tels; Tourist homes
`
`79157509#TMSN.png( bytes )
`86739365#TMSN.png( bytes )
`86739405#TMSN.png( bytes )
`LL2490040-Notice of OppositionHN4.pdf(139573 bytes )
`Exhibit1-TESS-SULBING.pdf(190229 bytes )
`Exhibit1-TESS-SULBING(KoreanCharacters).pdf(183620 bytes )
`Exhibit1-TESS-SULBING(ChineseCharacters).pdf(183942 bytes )
`Exhibit2.pdf(201276 bytes )
`Exhibit3-Domain Registration Certificate.pdf(190010 bytes )
`Exhibit4.pdf(130040 bytes )
`
`Certificate of Service
`
`The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of this paper has been served upon all parties, at their address
`record by First Class Mail on this date.
`
`Signature
`
`/Sang Ho Lee/
`
`Name
`
`Date
`
`Sang Ho Lee
`
`01/27/2016
`
`

`

`

`

` Opposer’s Matter No: LL2490040
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE

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