EMAIL: info@okeno-ip.jp
No. 077; Section 4-1-11: confusing similarity refusal;
“UNJOUR STRAWBERRY FIELDS” v. “ENJOUR” or “un jour” logo;
Appeal No. 2014-197 (April 24, 2014)
Bottom line: The Board found that “UNJOUR STRAWBERRY FIELDS” is not similar to “ENJOUR” or
“un jour” logo.
The applicant filed a
trademark application for “UNJOUR STRAWBERRY FIELDS” below designating personal
ornaments, clocks and watches, etc. in Class 14, bags, umbrellas, etc. in Class
18, clothing, footwear, etc. in Class 25 and retail services or wholesale
services for the aforementioned goods in Class 35. The examiner cited five earlier registrations
below and refused the application on the ground that the marks are similar to
each other.
<Applied-for
mark>
<Cited mark
1>
<Cited marks 2 and 3>
<Cited mark 4>
<Cited mark
5>
The designated goods
and services of the applied-for mark are identical or similar to the designated
goods of the cited marks. So the
question is whether the marks are distinguishable or not.
The Board observed
the applied-for mark and found as follows:
- The applied-for
mark is presented in same font and size, and is unified as a
whole.
- Both “STRAWBERRY”
and “FIELDS” in the applied-for mark are a plain English word. Consumers and traders may recognize “UNJOUR”
as a French word for “un jour” is a French term and French is often used in the
fashion industry. Thus, the applied-for
mark consists of French word “UNJOUR” and English term “STRAWBERRY
FIELDS”.
- Neither “UNJOUR”
nor “STRAWBERRY FIELDS” gives a strong impression and both are equivalently
capable of functioning as a source identifier.
Accordingly, “UNJOUR” does not solely function as a source identifier.
The applied-for mark has a sequential
sound [unjour strawberry field] and means a strawberry field of one
day.
- Therefore, it was
not proper that the examiner extracted “UNJOUR” from the applied-for mark and
found it similar to the cited marks.
So the Board reversed
the refusal, and granted registration of “UNJOUR STRAWBERRY
FIELDS”.
In addition to the
similarity refusal, the examiner raised another ground for refusal questioning
veracity of use or intention to use the applied-for mark. The applicant submitted a declaration to show
its intent to use, and the refusal was waived.
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