Court Opinion

ID: 9478869
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 07:01:21.267777+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:40.557790
License: Public Domain

RALPH B. GUY, Jr., Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
While I agree with the majority’s conclusion that APPALACHIAN LOG STRUCTURES is a geographically descriptive mark, I dissent because I believe the majority erred in finding no secondary meaning had been established. When the Patent and Trademark Office registers a proposed mark, that mark is presumptively valid. The Second Circuit, in Aluminum Fabricating Company of Pittsburgh v. Season-All Window Corp., 259 F.2d 314 (2d Cir.1958), made explicit its belief that one chai-*598lenging a registered mark must submit very persuasive evidence on its behalf:
We are of the opinion that [15 U.S.C. § 1057(b) ] means not only that the burden of going forward is on the contestant of the registration but there is a strong presumption of validity so that the party claiming invalidity has the burden of proof and in order to prevail it must put something more into the scales than the registrant. In a case such as this, where [both sides are strong], the courts should not overrule the action of the Patent Office to whose care Congress has entrusted the preliminary determination as to whether a mark fulfills the requirements of the statute.
259 F.2d at 316. This passage was cited approvingly by the court for the Western District of Tennessee in Tigrett Industries, Inc. v. Top Value Enterprises, Inc., 217 F.Supp. 313 (W.D.Tenn.1963). This court used similar language in Wynn Oil Company v. Thomas, 839 F.2d 1183 (6th Cir.1988), in which we recognized that, absent strong evidence from the challenger, district courts should accept the judgment of the Patent and Trademark Office, “which is undoubtedly expert in these matters.” At 1190. Not only does this general presumption exist, but when the PTO approves a mark under 15 U.S.C. § 1052(f), it has necessarily determined that the mark has acquired a secondary meaning. Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. v. Better Business Bureau of South Florida, 200 U.S.P.Q (BNA) 282 (1978); Iowa Farmers Union v. Farmers’ Educational and Coop. Union, 247 F.2d 809 (8th Cir.1957).
There is thus a strong presumption in favor of the PTO’s finding that BPB established secondary meaning, and the district court could find the defendant to have rebutted this presumption only if the defendant offered convincing proof that the PTO determination was erroneous. Here, Appalachian Log Homes’ only real evidence is the fact that BPB used its mark for a relatively short time before approval. While the length of time the mark has been used is undoubtedly a relevant factor, it is only one of several to be considered. American Footwear Corp. v. General Footwear Co., Ltd., 609 F.2d 655 (2d Cir.1979); Union Carbide Corp. v. Ever-Ready, Inc., 531 F.2d 366 (7th Cir.1976); King-Size, Inc. v. Frank’s King Size Clothes, Inc., 547 F.Supp. 1138 (S.D.Tex.1982); 1 J. McCarthy, Trademarks and Unfair Competition § 15.20. Here, the other relevant factors, such as extent of advertising, the company’s success, and widespread recognition, argue in favor of a finding of secondary meaning. Additionally, the relatively short period of use was certainly a factor the PTO must have considered in deciding whether to approve the mark for registration. The PTO found a secondary meaning had been established, and Appalachian Log Homes offered only very weak evidence to dispute that finding. I would REVERSE the district court on its ruling as to secondary meaning.