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`ESTTA Tracking number:
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`ESTTA1273763
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`Filing date:
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`03/22/2023
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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`Proceeding no.
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`92081010
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`Party
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`Correspondence
`address
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`Submission
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`Filer's name
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`Filer's email
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`Signature
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`Date
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`Defendant
`The Giving Back Fund, Inc.
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`REBECCAH GAN
`MUNCY, GEISSLER, OLDS & LOWE, P.C.
`125 S. ROYAL ST.
`ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
`UNITED STATES
`Primary email: rgan@mg-ip.com
`Secondary email(s): maryfran@mg-ip.com, swr@mg-ip.com,
`cemond@mg-ip.com
`703-621-7140
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`Answer
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`Rebeccah Gan
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`rgan@mg-ip.com, maryfran@mg-ip.com, swr@mg-ip.com, cemond@mg-ip.com
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`/rgan/
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`03/22/2023
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`Attachments
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation - 92081010.pdf(306267 bytes )
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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`EDGE GAMES, INC.
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`Petitioner,
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`v.
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`THE GIVING BACK FUND, INC.,
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`Respondent.
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`Cancellation No. 92081010
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`Registration No.: 5,944,855
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`Mark: Shadow’s Edge
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`ANSWER TO PETITION FOR CANCELLATION
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`Comes now The Giving Back Fund, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Respondent”),
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`through counsel, for the Answer to the Petition for Cancellation filed by EDGE Games, Inc.
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`(hereinafter referred to as the “Petitioner”) on November 13, 2022, against the continued
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`registration of the “Shadow’s Edge” mark for goods in International Class 9, as set forth in U.S.
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`Trademark Registration No. 5,944,855, which registered on December 24, 2019 (hereinafter also
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`referred to as the “Petitioned Mark”).
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`Respondent, through counsel, answers, pleads, avers, and alleges as follows:
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`Except as expressly admitted herein, Respondent denies each and every allegation set
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`forth in Petitioner’s Petition for Cancellation, and the allegations admitted herein are only
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`admitted to the extent expressly stated.
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`ANSWERS
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`Answering the introductory paragraph of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent
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`specifically admits the allegations regarding: Petitioner’s name, Petitioner’s legal entity type and
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 1 of 9
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`State where organized, Petitioner’s address, the registration number of the Petitioned Mark, the
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`mark and International Class number of the Petitioned Mark, and that Resonance House LLC
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`was the Registrant of the Petitioned Mark on the registration date. Respondent denies that
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`Petitioner is being and/or will be damaged by the continued registration of the Petitioned Mark.
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`1.
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`Answering Paragraph 1 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegations regarding: Petitioner’s name, Petitioner’s legal entity type and State where
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`organized, and Petitioner’s address. Respondent does not have sufficient knowledge and
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`information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the remaining allegations contained
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`therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`2.
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`Answering Paragraph 2 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegation that Petitioner is the current record owner of the three referenced registrations.
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`Respondent does not have sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth
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`or accuracy of the remaining allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the
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`allegations.
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`3.
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`Answering Paragraph 3 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`4.
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`Answering Paragraph 4 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegations that Petitioner is the record owner of the three referenced registrations, and that
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`the application filing dates of Petitioner’s three referenced registrations were earlier than the
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`claimed first use in commerce date in the record of the Petitioned Mark. Respondent does not
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`have sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`remaining allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 2 of 9
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`5.
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`Answering Paragraph 5 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent admits the
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`allegations.
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`6.
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`Answering Paragraph 6 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegations regarding: the filing date of Petitioner’s referenced application, and that the filing
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`date was earlier than the claimed first use in commerce date in the record of the Petitioned Mark.
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`To the extent any further response were required, Respondent does not have sufficient knowledge
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`and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the remaining allegations
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`contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`7.
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`Answering Paragraph 7 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`8.
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`Answering Paragraph 8 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`9.
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`Answering Paragraph 9 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`10.
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`Answering Paragraph 10 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`11.
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`Answering Paragraph 11 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegations regarding: the addresses of Resonance House LLC and Community Initiatives,
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`and that Resonance House LLC was the original Applicant and Registrant of the Petitioned Mark
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`on the application filing date and registration date. Respondent notes the following: Resonance
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 3 of 9
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`House LLC was a limited liability company, Community Initiatives was a non-profit corporation,
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`and while the referenced assignment was recorded in the USPTO on September 9, 2020, the
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`effective date of that assignment was January 6, 2020.
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`12.
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`Answering Paragraph 12 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations. Respondent’s answer does
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`not in any way validate the admissibility of “Exhibit B” as evidence in this proceeding.
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`13.
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`Answering Paragraph 13 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent admits the
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`allegations.
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`14.
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`Answering Paragraph 14 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegation regarding the claimed first use in commerce date in the record of the Petitioned
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`Mark. Respondent does not have sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to
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`the truth or accuracy of the remaining allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the
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`allegations.
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`15.
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`Answering Paragraph 15 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`16.
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`Answering Paragraph 16 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegation.
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`17.
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`Answering Paragraph 17 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`18.
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`Answering Paragraph 18 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 4 of 9
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`19.
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`Answering Paragraph 19 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`20.
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`Answering Paragraph 20 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`21.
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`Paragraph 21 contains paragraph and allegation incorporation language from Petitioner,
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`which does not require an answer from Respondent.
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`22.
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`Answering Paragraph 22 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`23.
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`Answering Paragraph 23 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`24.
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`Answering Paragraph 24 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`25.
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`Answering Paragraph 25 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`26.
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`Answering Paragraph 26 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`27.
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`Answering Paragraph 27 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`28.
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`Paragraph 28 contains paragraph and allegation incorporation language from Petitioner,
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`which does not require an answer from Respondent.
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 5 of 9
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`29.
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`Answering Paragraph 29 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent specifically admits
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`the allegations regarding: the filing date of the Petitioned Mark, the fact that the Petitioned Mark
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`registered, the claimed first use in commerce date in the record of the Petitioned Mark, and the
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`mark of the Petitioned Mark. Registrant specifically denies the allegation regarding the goods
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`applied for in the Petitioned Mark on February 23, 2018. Respondent notes that the goods listed
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`in Paragraph 29 were not the goods as applied-for on February 23, 2018, but rather are the
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`currently registered goods of the Petitioned Mark. Respondent’s answer does not in any way
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`validate the admissibility of “Exhibit A” as evidence in this proceeding.
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`30.
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`Answering Paragraph 30 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`31.
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`Answering Paragraph 31 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`32.
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`Paragraph 32 contains paragraph and allegation incorporation language from Petitioner,
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`which does not require an answer from Respondent.
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`33.
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`Answering Paragraph 33 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent does not have
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`sufficient knowledge and information as to form a belief as to the truth or accuracy of the
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`allegations contained therein, and accordingly denies the allegations.
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`34.
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`Answering Paragraph 34 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`35.
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`Answering Paragraph 35 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`36.
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`Paragraph 36 contains paragraph and allegation incorporation language from Petitioner,
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`which does not require an answer from Respondent.
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 6 of 9
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`37.
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`Answering Paragraph 37 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegation.
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`38.
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`Answering Paragraph 38 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`39.
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`Answering Paragraph 39 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`40.
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`Answering Paragraph 40 of the Petition for Cancellation, Respondent denies the
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`allegations.
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`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
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`In order not to waive any affirmative defenses, and in order to preserve such defenses,
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`Respondent, through counsel, pleads the following affirmative defenses:
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`1.
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`Respondent affirmatively alleges that Petitioner’s Petition for Cancellation fails to state
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`a claim upon which relief can be granted.
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`2.
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`3.
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`Petitioner’s claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable doctrine of laches.
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`Petitioner’s claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable doctrine of
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`acquiescence.
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`Petitioner’s claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable doctrine of estoppel.
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`Petitioner’s claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable doctrine of waiver.
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`Respondent reserves the right to assert other affirmative defenses as this action proceeds,
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`and which may be revealed through discovery.
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`AMPLIFYING DENIALS
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`1.
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`Respondent has not committed any fraud, and Respondent has never had any intent to
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`deceive the Trademark Office.
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 7 of 9
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`2.
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`Respondent alleges that it has acceptable use in commerce of its Petitioned Mark, and has
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`always maintained an intent to use its Petitioned Mark in commerce.
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`3.
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`In the alternative, Respondent alleges that it has use analogous to trademark use in
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`commerce of its Petitioned Mark.
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`CONCLUSION
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`WHEREFORE, based on the foregoing and Respondent having fully answered each and
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`every allegation of Petitioner’s Petition for Cancellation, Respondent prays that Petitioner’s
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`Petition for Cancellation be dismissed with prejudice, and that the Petitioned Mark be allowed to
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`remain registered as it currently stands.
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`Dated: March 22, 2023
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`Mary Fran Love, Esq.
`Rebeccah Gan, Esq.
`Counsel for Respondent
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`MUNCY, GEISSLER, OLDS & LOWE, P.C.
`125 S. Royal St.
`Alexandria, VA 22314
`Telephone: 703-621-7140
`Emails: maryfran@mg-ip.com, swr@mg-ip.com,
`rgan@mg-ip.com, cemond@mg-ip.com
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 8 of 9
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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`I, Christopher Emond, hereby certify that on this 22nd day of March 2023, a true and
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`complete copy of the foregoing Answer to Petition for Cancellation, has been served on
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`Petitioner, Tim Langdell of EDGE Games, Inc., via electronic mail (as prescribed by law),
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`addressed as follows:
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`edgegames@gmail.com
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` /Christopher Emond/
` Christopher Emond
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`Answer to Petition for Cancellation
`Cancellation No. 92081010
`Page 9 of 9
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