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Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial Decision

The plaintiff argued that the registered mark resembled the dominant elements of earlier registrations 1 through 9. Those elements combine two opposing “e” shapes, open at the outer sides and without a central horizontal line. The registered mark instead depicts the eighth Greek letter, theta.

2010 Heo 1695 Trademark registration invalidation
Earlier registered marks 1–5Earlier registered marks 6 and 7Earlier registered marks 8 and 9Registered trademark
MarkIllustration: Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial DecisionIllustration: Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial DecisionIllustration: Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial DecisionIllustration: Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial Decision

[Similarity of the marks]
The plaintiff argued that the registered mark and the dominant elements of earlier marks 1–9 Illustration: Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial Decisionwere similar. The court disagreed.Illustration: Trademark Similarity: Examining a Judicial DecisionThe earlier device consists of two opposing “e” shapes, open on the outer sides and without a continuous horizontal line through the middle. The registered mark consists of two adjoining theta-like shapes, closed on both sides and crossed by a horizontal line, resembling sleepy eyes. These differences create clearly different overall impressions. The registered mark has no particular pronunciation or concept that can be compared with those of the earlier marks.
[Decisions]
The marks are visually dissimilar and therefore not similar, regardless of whether their designated goods are similar.

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