Opinion ID: 3039101
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kymsta

Text: Kymsta is a clothing manufacturer and wholesaler. Kymsta produces four lines, only one of which is pertinent here: “ROXYWEAR,” a junior contemporary and juniors’ line consisting mostly of “hip” and “trendy” knit tops. Roxanne Heptner co-owns Kymsta with her husband and designs the “ROXYWEAR” line. Heptner initially selected the “Roxy” name, but her trademark search in January, 1992 revealed different variations of Roxy registered to other companies (but not to Quiksilver). Because Heptner and her husband believed that they acquired trademark rights simply by using the “ROXYWEAR” name, they never registered “ROXYWEAR.” The first sale of “ROXYWEAR” product occurred in midJanuary, 1992. Before January 1, 1992, Kymsta never affixed “ROXYWEAR” to any product, never offered for sale or sold any product bearing “ROXYWEAR,” never had product packaging including the “ROXYWEAR” mark, and never participated in any advertisement that included the “ROXYWEAR” mark. When Kymsta displays “ROXYWEAR” on its products, it is on the interior clothing label. Originally, Kymsta displayed “ROXYWEAR BY ROXANNE HEPTNER.” In 1997, Kym- sta changed its label to display “ROXYWEAR BY ROXX.” In 1999, Kymsta again changed its interior label to display QUIKSILVER, INC. v. KYMSTA CORP. 17375 Asian script (meaning “think happy”) on the front and “ROXYWEAR BY ROXX” on the back. Kymsta has never used “ROXYWEAR” on the fabric of its garments or on hangtags, and, in recent years, Kymsta has largely distributed its merchandise as private-label apparel.3