Opinion ID: 3039101
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Quiksilver

Text: Quiksilver is a global company that manufactures sportswear for young men and women. In 1989, Quiksilver decided to launch a juniors’ clothing line for teenage girls. As the name for its juniors’ line, Quiksilver chose either “QUIKSILVER ROXY” or “ROXY.”1 Quiksilver intended to begin its juniors’ line with swimwear and beach cover-ups, and expand into sportswear. 1 Whether Quiksilver opted for “QUIKSILVER ROXY” or “ROXY” is a matter of some dispute. QUIKSILVER, INC. v. KYMSTA CORP. 17371 To design its juniors’ line, Quiksilver hired Jill Williams (now Jill Williams Dodd), who began designing the first juniors’ line in January or February of 1990, for the 1991 season. Quiksilver used Dodd’s designs to create its first promotional poster, featuring a logo displaying “QUIKSILVER” in corporate script on the left, a “Bali-ohm” woman’s figure in the middle, and “ROXY” on the right. See Figure 1. Figure 1 In September, 1990, Quiksilver debuted its juniors’ line for the 1991 season at a trade show. Quiksilver decorated its showroom with the poster and distributed the poster to its retail customers for display. Quiksilver also took orders for its 1991 juniors’ line, shipping its first orders in January, 1991. A hangtag displaying the Bali-ohm logo was attached to each garment shipped.2 From January to September, 1991, Dodd designed the juniors’ line for the 1992 season. This line included two denim items: a vest displaying a patch with “ROXY” in large letters above “QUIKSILVER” in corporate script, see Figure 2, and a “graffiti short” displaying “ROXY” on the right back pocket and “QUIKSILVER” wrapping around from the left front pocket to the left back pocket. See Figures 3 and 4. 2 A hangtag is a dangling paper tag that displays information associated with the company. 17372 QUIKSILVER, INC. v. KYMSTA CORP. Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 QUIKSILVER, INC. v. KYMSTA CORP. 17373 These denim items were featured in a second promotional poster that was displayed at various trade shows and distributed in 1991. This poster also featured a logo with “ROXY” above “QUIKSILVER.” See Figure 5. Figure 5 Quiksilver sold the denim items beginning in September, 1991. A hangtag was affixed to these and all other juniors’ apparel Quiksilver sold from the fall of 1991 through 1992. The hangtag for the 1992 line displayed “QUIKSILVER” in corporate script above “ROXY” in a different font. See Figure 6. Figure 6 In 1996, Quiksilver applied for trademark registration for the “QUIKSILVER ROXY” mark. In its application, Quiksilver cited a first-use date of “at least as early as January, 17374 QUIKSILVER, INC. v. KYMSTA CORP. 1992.” The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) issued the registration in July, 1997. In 1998, Quiksilver applied for a trademark registration for the “ROXY” mark. In that application, Quiksilver also cited a first-use date of “at least as early as January 1, 1992.” The PTO issued this registration in February, 2001 over Kymsta’s objection.