Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V.Download PDFTrademark Trial and Appeal BoardJul 26, 2012No. 76676618 (T.T.A.B. Jul. 26, 2012) Copy Citation Mailed: July 26, 2012 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ________ Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ________ In re Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V. ________ Serial No. 76676618 _______ REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION _______ Theodore A. Breiner of Breiner & Breiner, L.L.C. for Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V. S. Michael Gaafar, Trademark Examining Attorney, Law Office 116 (Michael W. Baird, Managing Attorney). _______ Before Kuhlke, Bergsman and Wellington, Administrative Trademark Judges. Opinion by Bergsman, Administrative Trademark Judge: Bueno Alimentos, S.A. de C.V. (“applicant”) filed an intent-to-use application for the mark COCO LOCO, in standard character form, for “fruit juices,” in Class 32. Applicant provided an English translation for “Coco Loco” as “The Crazy Coconut.” The examining attorney refused registration under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d), on the ground that applicant’s mark, when used in connection with the fruit juices, so resembles the THIS OPINION IS NOT A PRECEDENT OF THE T.T.A.B. Serial No. 76676618 2 registered mark THE CRAZY COFFEE COMPANY COCO LOCO ESRESSO and design, shown below, for “coffee; tea,” in Class 30, as to be likely to cause confusion.1 The registration includes the following translation statement: “The foreign wording in the mark [COCO LOCO ESPRESSO] translates into English as ‘CRAZY COFFEE.’” Also, registrant disclaimed the exclusive right to use “Coffee,” “Coco,” and “Espresso.” In a decision dated May 29, 2012, the Board affirmed the refusal to register. On June 29, 2012, applicant filed a request for reconsideration. As grounds for reconsideration, applicant argues the following: 1. The Board improperly dissected the mark in the cited registration and did not consider the cited registration in its entirety; and 2. The Board found that registrant’s mark contained two dominant elements, “a ground not relied upon by the Trademark Attorney in refusing registration, and applicant, therefore, has not been accorded due process because 1 Registration No. 3589548, issued March 17, 2009. Serial No. 76676618 3 applicant has never been able to address and respond to this basis for alleged likelihood of confusion.”2 The general premise of a request for consideration is that based on the evidence and the prevailing authorities, the Board erred in reaching the decision on the merits. The request for reconsideration may not be used to introduce additional evidence or to merely reargue points that have been previously made. The request for reconsideration should be limited to a demonstration of an error that the Board made in interpreting the law or the facts. TBMP §§ 543 and 1219.01 (3rd ed. rev. 1 2012). Applicant’s contention that the Board improperly dissected the mark in the cited registration and did not consider the cited registration in its entirety is a reargument of its case. On pages 13 and 14 of its appeal brief, applicant argued that the cited registration must be considered in its entirety, that the prominent portion of the cited registration is the term “The Crazy Coffee Company,” and that the wording “Coco Loco” in the cited registration is not the prominent portion of the mark. In its reply brief, applicant reiterated those arguments, also noting that the Examining Attorney mischaracterized the cited registration by referring to it as COCO LOCO ESPRESSO 2 Request for reconsideration, p. 2. Serial No. 76676618 4 and design (pages 4 and 5) and that the cited registration is THE CRAZY COFFEE COMPANY COCO LOCO ESPRESSO and design (pages 5 and 6). Accordingly, applicant improperly reargued its case through a request for reconsideration. In any event, in our May 29, 2012 decision, the Board specifically considered the registered mark in its entirety. In that decision, the Board made the following finding of fact: In this case, we find that registrant’s mark is comprised of two such memorable and distinctive elements: the term THE CRAZY COFFEE COMPANY and the COCO LOCO ESPRESSO logo. When consumers encounter the memorable and distinctive COCO LOCO marks at issue in this appeal, consumers are likely to believe that the products and services emanate from the same source because they will mistakenly believe that COCO LOCO ESPRESSO is the coffee product line of the COCO LOCO brand of products. May 29, 2012 Decision, pp. 12-13. Thus, the Board considered the mark in the cited registration in its entirety and did not improperly dissect it. Applicant’s argument that it was denied due process because the Board determined that the mark in the cited registration contained two dominant elements, “a ground not relied upon by the Trademark Attorney in refusing registration,” is equally unavailing. First, the ground Serial No. 76676618 5 for the refusal to register was likelihood of confusion pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d). The finding of fact that the registered mark has two dominant features is not a ground for refusal. Second, the Board’s determination of likelihood of confusion under Section 2(d) is based on an analysis of all of the probative facts in evidence that are relevant to the factors bearing on the likelihood of confusion. In re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563, 567 (CCPA 1973) (“In testing for likelihood of confusion under Sec. 2(d), therefore, the following [13 factors], when of record, must be considered.”). Thus, the argument of counsel is a guide that may, or may not, be useful in analyzing the facts that have been made of record. That the Board analyzed and interpreted the facts differently than either applicant or the Examining Attorney is not a new fact to which applicant was denied an opportunity to address. Therefore, applicant was not denied due process. Finally, applicant requests that “the Board remand the application to the Trademark Attorney to allow the applicant due process to address the new basis for finding a likelihood of confusion.”3 As indicated above, applicant 3 Request for reconsideration, p. 5. Serial No. 76676618 6 has not been denied due process. In addition, the Board may only reopen prosecution to enter a disclaimer. Trademark Rule 2.142(g), 37 CFR § 2.142(g). In view of the foregoing, applicant’s request for reconsideration is denied. Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation