704.12(b) When Taken
The Board will take judicial notice of a relevant fact not subject to reasonable dispute, as defined in Fed. R. Evid. 201(b), if a party (1) requests that the Board do so, and (2) supplies the necessary information. [ Note 1.] The request should be made during the requesting party’s testimony period, by notice of reliance accompanied by the necessary information. [ Note 2.] The Board, in its discretion, may take judicial notice of a fact not subject to reasonable dispute, as defined in Fed. R. Evid. 201(b), whether or not it is requested to do so. [ Note 3.]
NOTES:
1. Fed. R. Evid. 201(c). See International Dairy Foods Association v. Interprofession du Gruyère, 2020 USPQ2d 10892, at *17 n.115 (TTAB 2020) (request to take judicial notice of the definition of "gruyere" from Encyclopedia Britannica denied for failure to submit a copy of the webpage containing the entry where instead only web address provided), aff’d, ___ F. Supp. 3d ___, 2021 WL 6286234 (E.D. Va. Dec. 15, 2021), appeal docketed, No. 22-1041 (4th Cir. Jan. 11, 2022); Omaha Steaks International, Inc. v. Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc., 908 F.3d 1315, 128 USPQ2d 1686, 1693 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (party requesting judicial notice be taken must provide the necessary information); United States National Bank of Oregon v. Midwest Savings and Loan Association, 194 USPQ 232, 235 (TTAB 1977); Litton Business Systems, Inc. v. J. G. Furniture Co., 190 USPQ 431, 433 (TTAB 1976).
2. See Litton Business Systems, Inc. v. J. G. Furniture Co., 190 USPQ 431, 434 (TTAB 1976). See also Wright Line Inc. v. Data Safe Services Corp., 229 USPQ 769, 770 n.5 (TTAB 1985); Sprague Electric Co. v. Electrical Utilities Co., 209 USPQ 88, 95 n.3 (TTAB 1980).
3. Fed. R. Evid. 201(c). See Performance Open Wheel Racing, Inc. v. United States Auto Club Inc., 2019 USPQ2d 208901, at *4 n.34 (TTAB 2019) (Board may take judicial notice of dictionary definitions, including online dictionaries that exist in printed format); Threshold.TV Inc. v. Metronome Enters. Inc., 96 USPQ2d 1031, 1037 n.14 (TTAB 2010) (same); In re Red Bull GmbH, 78 USPQ2d 1375, 1378 (TTAB 2006) (Board takes judicial notice of dictionary definitions); Boswell v. Mavety Media Group Ltd,, 52 USPQ2d 1600, 1603 (TTAB 1999) (declined to take judicial notice of slang dictionary definition when submitted as part of rebuttal testimony when could have been submitted with case in chief); University of Notre Dame du Lac v. J. C. Gourmet Food Imports Co., 213 USPQ 594, 596 (TTAB 1982) (Board takes judicial notice of dictionary definitions), aff’d, 703 F.2d 1372, 217 USPQ 505 (Fed. Cir. 1983); United States National Bank of Oregon v. Midwest Savings and Loan Association, 194 USPQ 232, 235 (TTAB 1977); Litton Business Systems, Inc. v. J. G. Furniture Co., 190 USPQ 431, 433 (TTAB 1976).