Case fileReal
Research In Motion Ltd. v. Sanrio Company, Ltd.
The BlackBerry maker challenged Sanrio’s "MOMOBERRY" mark on two fronts at the TTAB, arguing confusion with BLACKBERRY. After years suspended for settlement, Sanrio gave up the marks.
Research In Motion Limited (BlackBerry),
Plaintiff,
v.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. (applicant/registrant),
Defendant.
Docket No.Opposition No. 91182277 · Cancellation No. 92048724
CourtUSPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)
Filed2008
StatusSettled
The record
- Court
- USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Docket No.
- Opposition No. 91182277 · Cancellation No. 92048724
- Filed
- 2008
- Resolved
- 2011
- Sanrio’s role
- Respondent
- Type
- Trademark
- Claims
- Likelihood of confusion / dilution with BLACKBERRY
- Counsel — plaintiff/petitioner
- Novak Druce Quigg LLP — William R. Towns
- Counsel — Sanrio side
- Owen Wickersham & Erickson, P.C. — Noel M. Cook; Linda Joy Kattwinkel
What happened
The BlackBerry maker challenged Sanrio’s "MOMOBERRY" mark on two fronts at the TTAB, arguing confusion with BLACKBERRY. After years suspended for settlement, Sanrio gave up the marks.
Outcome
Settled. Sanrio abandoned the application and surrendered the registration; the Board dismissed both proceedings without prejudice in 2011. Net result favored RIM.
The legal nuance
A clean look at named trademark counsel on both sides, and a rare instance of Sanrio backing down.
Sources of record