Opinion ID: 518087
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: baa's right to run

Text: 26 Defendants argue that they should prevail because BAA's marks are entitled to no protection for two reasons: 1. Boston Marathon has become a generic term inasmuch as it now refers to both the race and the services rendered by BAA; and 2. defendants' use of Boston Marathon on shirts from 1978 constitutes a prior usage. 27 With respect to genericness, defendants rely on Anti-Monopoly, Inc. v. General Mills Fun Group, 611 F.2d 296 (9th Cir.1979), appeal after remand, 684 F.2d 1316 (1982), cert. denied sub nom. CPG Products Corp. v. Anti-Monopoly, Inc., 459 U.S. 1227, 103 S.Ct. 1234, 75 L.Ed.2d 468 (1983). In its first opinion, the Ninth Circuit concluded its summary of the law of genericness by stating that when members of the consuming public use a game name to denote the game itself, and not its producer, the trademark is generic and, therefore, invalid. 611 F.2d at 304 (footnote omitted). In its second opinion, the court relied heavily on a survey, which measured the motive of purchasers in selecting a Monopoly game, in deciding that Monopoly was a generic term. 684 F.2d at 1324-1326. These holdings, however, were subsequently nullified by Congress. In 1984, Congress amended Sec. 14(c) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1064(c), specifically because of the Ninth Circuit case. See S.Rep. No 627, 98th Cong., 2d Sess., reprinted in 1984 U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News 5708, 5718-5728. The amendment added the following to the section: 28 A registered mark shall not be deemed to be the common descriptive name of goods or services [i.e. a generic] solely because such mark is also used as a name of or to identify a unique product or service. The primary significance of the registered mark to the relevant public rather than purchaser motivation shall be the test for determining whether the registered mark has become the common descriptive name of goods or services in connection with which it has been used[.] 29 The burden of proof is on the party seeking to have a registered mark declared a generic to show that it has become so under the above test. 3 R. Callman, The Law of Unfair Competition, Trademarks, and Monopolies Sec. 18.25 at 231 (L. Altman 4th ed. 1983) (hereinafter _ Callan Sec. _). Here, the defendants have introduced no evidence on the issue of primary significance and thus, have failed to meet the burden of proof. 30 With respect to prior usage, it is axiomatic that registration does not create the underlying right in a trademark. That right, which accrues from the use of a particular name or symbol, is essentially a common law property right.... Keebler Co. v. Rovira Biscuit Corp., 624 F.2d 366, 372 (1st Cir.1980); see also Volkswagenwerk, 814 F.2d at 815-816 (quoting Keebler ). Therefore, BAA's failure to register its marks until the mid-1980s is not dispositive. Furthermore, a mark provides protection not only for the product or service to which it is originally applied but also to related items or services. See 3 Callman Sec. 19.23. 31 Here, the uncontradicted evidence, consisting mainly of media references 2 to the race, especially newspaper and magazine articles, shows that: 1. the race was originally called the Boston Athletic Association or Boston A.A. Marathon; 2. since 1917, the race has also been called the Boston Marathon; and 3. since at least 1977, a year before defendants' prior usage, BAA used the names B.A.A. Marathon and Boston Marathon interchangeably. 3 This use by BAA undercuts defendants' prior use claim as to the words per se. As for the use of the words on shirts and other running apparel, such apparel is related to the service provided by BAA, the race, and BAA is entitled to enjoin use of its marks on such items. Cf. Volkswagenwerk, 814 F.2d 812 (holder of trademark for Beetle with respect to car sales entitled to enjoin defendant's use of the same name with respect to car repairs). We agree with the district court that BAA has had valid and enforceable marks for the entire relevant time frame. 32