MY LIFE, MY CARD, MY REVERSE CONFUSION

July 2, 2004: Stephen Goetz’s alleged date of first use of MY LIFE, MY CARD for computer software for financial credit/debit card content management.

September 1, 2004:  American Express registers mylifemycard.com as domain name.

September 8, 2004:  Goetz files use-based trademark application for MY LIFE, MY CARD.

September 15, 2004: American Express files ITU trademark application for MY LIFE. MY CARD for range of credit and travel card services.

November 2004:  American Express launches MY LIFE. MY CARD advertising campaign.

The NY Times reports today that Goetz has sued Amex.  The article contains this quote:

Yet even if Mr. Goetz came up with “My life. My card.” the tagline may be too general for him to make a strong ownership claim.

“Unless you have an association beyond its words, you don’t have anything,” said Thomas F. Holt Jr., a lawyer at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart who is not involved in the case. “It’s not until American Express brings its magic to the naming process does that mark have any vitality.”

Given that the Lanham Act was written by Muggles, magic is not a required element for protection. 

As to ‘association,’ the speaker was likely using ‘association’ to mean either trademark strength or secondary meaning.  A descriptive term will acquire protection only after it has obtained secondary meaning – that is, an association between the term and the source of the goods (AMERICAN AIRLINES for example).

On that point, neither Goetz’ nor Amex’ applications for the term received descriptiveness objections, so the term MY CARD, MY LIFE may well be inherently registrable (and proof of secondary meaning will not be required).  If Goetz proves priority, Amex has issues.

As to strength of the senior user’s mark, or lack thereof, a senior ‘small’ trademark owner has challenges with regard to proving damages when protesting use by a junior ‘large’ trademark owner, where the reputation of the mark has been created by the junior user’s efforts.  Whether the junior user adopted the mark with knowledge of the small senior user or not, it likely didn’t take the mark with an intent to willfully infringe the senior user’s reputation, because there is none.

That said, reverse confusion is potentially a potent argument, and some of the largest (trial) damages ever awarded arose under this theory (such as the THIRST-AID and BIG FOOT cases). A rationale for the theory is that the senior user is damaged because it will be perceived as a copy-cat.

Judge Posner has challenged this rationale in Peaceable Planet v. Ty, however he leaves in place other plausible rationales for a finding of reverse confusion.  A small senior user may well be damaged by a large junior user – if damaged, it should be made whole.  Whether it should be a big payday is another matter.

For more on willful infringement, see here, and for more on reverse confusion, see  here.

The 5 Day Life Of The Unattractive Domain Name

Computer Business Review Online:  “Pay-per-click Speculation Market Soaring.”  Hundreds of thousands of domain names are being registered, then tested during their 5 day grace period, to determine whether they will generate more than the $7 or so registration fee, in Yahoo or Google keyword ad revenue (and then are deleted if they don’t).  There are approximantely 44 million .com and .net names registered.

Montana v. LAST BEST PLACE

State of Montana upset about Nevada business filing trademark applications for LAST BEST PLACE, via Billings Gazette.  I’m not sure what is meant by the statement in the article that people can obtain about 150 types of trademarks.

Other slogans for Montana include Big Sky country and the Treasure State.

MEGADEATH singer v. MEGADEATH bass player

NY Lawyer:  Dispute over use of MEGADEATH by former band member.

Defamation and Trademark Claims Dismissed Againt 'RIp Off Report"

Whitney Information Network v. Xcentric Venture, 2005 WL 1677256 (M.D. la. Jul 14, 2005) – Defamation and trademark causes dismissed against ‘consumer critique’ site. Discussion on Technology & Marketing Law Blog.

PTO on TEAS and TEAS Plus

From the US PTO site,  explaining when to use TEAS or TEAS PLUS when filing trademark applications electronically:

DOORS drummer v. DOORS guitarist and keyboardist

NY Lawyer article on lawsuit regarding use of THE DOORS by surviving memebers of the band.

Jim Morrison chose the name THE DOORS based on Aldous Huxley’s book, THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION which itself is named from a line in a William Blake poem.

Payola Links

NY Attorney General press release on settlement of payola charges with Song BMG.

FCC Regulations requiring disclosure when matter has been broadcast in exchange for payment.

New Yorker article from last year describing ‘spot buys,’ whereby record companies purchase radio spots and play singles during the spot.

Wikipedia discussion of payola scandal of the 50′s.

BURN BABY BURN brand hot sauce

FortWayne.com editorial on use of BURN BABY BURN for hot sauce.

New Anti-Piracy Position Created At Commerce

U.S. Department of Commerce:  Chris Israel, currently Deputy Chief of Staff for the Secretary of Commerce, has been named by President Bush as the new Coordinator of International Intellectual Property Enforcement.