Opinion ID: 786352
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Strength of the Owner's Mark

Text: 70 The record supports the district court's finding that this factor weighs in favor of Kos. The court properly analyzed both the conceptual and commercial strength of the ADVICOR mark. Andrx argues that this factor does not favor Kos because ALTOCOR and ADVICOR are similarly distinctive and have similar strength in the marketplace. But the relative strength of the Andrx's mark is not relevant here. The second Lapp factor looks to the strength of the owner's mark. Lapp, 721 F.2d at 463 (emphasis added). Under the Lanham Act, stronger marks receive greater protection because they carry greater recognition, [so that] a similar mark is more likely to cause confusion. A & H, 237 F.3d at 222. It would not serve the purposes of the Lanham Act for trademark owners to receive less protection from strong infringing marks than weak ones. Indeed, it might be argued that a stronger junior mark is more likely to cause confusion, at least where, as here, both marks are being used in the same market. 71