Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/14pdf/13-352_c0n2.pdf
Page Number: 26.0

Cite as:  575 U. S. ____ (2015) 

1 

GINSBURG, J., concurring 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 13–352 
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B & B HARDWARE, INC., PETITIONER v. HARGIS 

INDUSTRIES, INC., DBA SEALTITE BUILDING 

FASTENERS, DBA EAST TEXAS 

 FASTENERS ET AL. 

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 

APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
 

[March 24, 2015]

 JUSTICE GINSBURG, concurring. 
The  Court  rightly  recognizes  that  “for  a  great  many
registration  decisions  issue  preclusion  obviously  will  not
apply.”  Ante,  at  14–15.  That  is  so  because  contested 
registrations  are  often  decided  upon  “a  comparison  of  the
marks  in  the  abstract  and  apart  from  their  marketplace 
usage.”  6 J. McCarthy, Trademarks and Unfair Competi-
tion §32:101, p. 32–247 (4th ed. 2014).  When the registra-
tion  proceeding  is  of  that  character,  “there  will  be  no 
[preclusion]  of  the  likel[ihood]  of  confusion  issue  . . .  in  a
later  infringement  suit.”    Ibid.  On  that  understanding,  I 
join the Court’s opinion.