303.03 Meaning of the Term "Damage"
The term "damage," as used in Trademark Act § 13 and Trademark Act § 14, 15 U.S.C. § 1063 and 15 U.S.C. § 1064, concerns specifically a party’s entitlement to a statutory cause of action (previously referred to as "standing") to file an opposition or a petition to cancel, respectively. [ Note 1.] A party may establish its entitlement to oppose or to petition to cancel by showing (1) that it is within the zone of interests protected by the statute (i.e., has a "real interest" in the outcome of the proceeding) and (2) damage proximately caused by registration (i.e., a reasonable basis for its belief in damage). [ Note 2.] See TBMP § 309.03(b). To plead an interest within the "zone of interests" a plaintiff must allege a "direct and personal stake" in the outcome of the proceeding. There is no requirement that a plaintiff show a personal interest in the proceeding different from or "beyond that of the general public" in order to establish its entitlement to a statutory cause of action. [ Note 3.] There is also no requirement that actual damage be pleaded or proved in order to establish an entitlement to a statutory cause of action or to prevail in an opposition or cancellation proceeding. [ Note 4.] However, the allegations in support of plaintiff’s belief of damage must have a "reasonable basis in fact." [ Note 5.]
For a discussion of entitlement to a statutory cause of action, see TBMP § 309.03(b).
NOTES:
1. See Corcamore, LLC v. SFM, LLC, 978 F.3d 1298, 2020 USPQ2d 11277, at *4-8 (Fed. Cir. 2020), cert. denied, 141 S. Ct. 2671 (2021); Australian Therapeutic Supplies Pty. Ltd. v. Naked TM, LLC, 965 F.3d 1370, 2020 USPQ2d 10837, at *3 (Fed. Cir. 2020), reh’g en banc denied, 981 F.3d 1083, 2020 USPQ2d 11438 (Fed. Cir. 2020),cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 82 (2021); Ritchie v. Simpson, 170 F.3d 1092, 50 USPQ2d 1023, 1025 n.2 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (construing standing requirements of Trademark Act § 13, 15 U.S.C. § 1063, regarding oppositions and Trademark Act § 14, 15 U.S.C. § 1064 regarding cancellations consistently); Peterson v. Awshucks SC, LLC, 2020 USPQ2d 11526, at *5 n.34 (TTAB 2020); Major League Soccer, LLC v. F.C. International Milano S.p.A., 2020 USPQ2d 11488, at *5 n.18 (TTAB 2020); Spanishtown Enterprises., Inc. v. Transcend Resources, Inc., 2020 USPQ2d 11388, at *1-2 (TTAB 2020).
2. See Corcamore, LLC v. SFM, LLC, 978 F.3d 1298, 2020 USPQ2d 11277, at *4-8 (Fed. Cir. 2020), cert denied, 141 S. Ct. 2671 (2021); Australian Therapeutic Supplies Pty. Ltd. v. Naked TM, LLC, 965 F.3d 1370, 2020 USPQ2d 10837, at *3 (Fed. Cir. 2020), reh’g en banc denied, 981 F.3d 1083, 2020 USPQ2d 11438 (Fed. Cir. 2020), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 82 (2021); Empresa Cubana del Tabaco v. General Cigar Co., 753 F.3d 1270, 111 USPQ2d 1058, 1062 (Fed. Cir. 2014); Ritchie v. Simpson, 170 F.3d 1092, 50 USPQ2d 1023, 1025-26 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
3. Corcamore, LLC v. SFM, LLC, 978 F.3d 1298, 2020 USPQ2d 11277, at *4-8 (Fed. Cir. 2020), cert. denied, 141 S. Ct. 2671 (2021); Australian Therapeutic Supplies Pty. Ltd. v. Naked TM, LLC, 965 F.3d 1370, 2020 USPQ2d 10837, at *3 (Fed. Cir. 2020), reh’g en banc denied, 981 F.3d 1083, 2020 USPQ2d 11438 (Fed. Cir. 2020), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 82 (2021); Empresa Cubana del Tabaco v. General Cigar Co., 753 F.3d 1270, 111 USPQ2d 1058, 1062 (Fed. Cir. 2014); Ritchie v. Simpson, 170 F.3d 1092; 50 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1999) ("The crux of the matter is not how many others share one’s belief that one will be damaged by the registration, but whether that belief is reasonable and reflects a real interest in the issue"). See also Lipton Industries, Inc. v. Ralston Purina Co., 670 F.2d 1024, 213 USPQ 185, 189 (CCPA 1982); Coca-Cola Co. v. Meenaxi Enterprise, Inc., 2021 USPQ2d 709, at *17-18 (TTAB 2021) (entitlement to a statutory cause of action based on registrations of pleaded marks in other countries, the reputation for such marks in the United States, and the sale of products by third party importers), appeal docketed, No. 21-2209 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 9, 2021).
4. See Cunningham v. Laser Golf Corp., 222 F.3d 943, 55 USPQ2d 1842, 1844 (Fed. Cir. 2000); Books on Tape Inc. v. Booktape Corp., 836 F.2d 519, 5 USPQ2d 1301, 1302 (Fed. Cir. 1987); Jewelers Vigilance Committee Inc. v. Ullenberg Corp., 823 F.2d 490, 2 USPQ2d 2021, 2023 (Fed. Cir. 1987), on remand, 5 USPQ2d 1622 (TTAB 1987), rev’d, 853 F.2d 888, 7 USPQ2d 1628 (Fed. Cir. 1988); International Order of Job’s Daughters v. Lindeburg and Co., 727 F.2d 1087, 220 USPQ 1017, 1020 (Fed. Cir. 1984); Rosso & Mastracco, Inc. v. Giant Food Inc., 720 F.2d 1263, 219 USPQ 1050, 1052 (Fed. Cir. 1983); Selva & Sons, Inc. v. Nina Footwear, Inc., 705 F.2d 1316, 217 USPQ 641, 648 (Fed. Cir. 1983); Lipton Industries, Inc. v. Ralston Purina Co., 670 F.2d 1024, 213 USPQ 185, 189 (CCPA 1982); Federated Foods, Inc. v. Fort Howard Paper Co., 544 F.2d 1098, 192 USPQ 24, 27 (CCPA 1976); Universal Oil Products Co. v. Rexall Drug & Chemical Co., 463 F.2d 1122, 174 USPQ 458, 459-60 (CCPA 1972).
See also Montecash LLC v. Anzar Enterprises Inc., 95 USPQ2d 1060, 1062 (TTAB 2010) ("no requirement that any actual damage be pled or proved to establish standing"); Enbridge, Inc. v. Excelerate Energy L.P., 92 USPQ2d 1537, 1543 n.10 (TTAB 2009) (plaintiff does not have to prove claims or ‘actual damage’ to establish standing); American Vitamin Products Inc. v. Dow Brands Inc., 22 USPQ2d 1313, 1314 (TTAB 1992); Estate of Biro v. Bic Corp., 18 USPQ2d 1382, 1384 (TTAB 1991); Hartwell Co. v. Shane, 17 USPQ2d 1569, 1570 (TTAB 1990); Ipco Corp. v. Blessings Corp., 5 USPQ2d 1974, 1976 (TTAB 1988); Aruba v. Excelsior Inc., 5 USPQ2d 1685, 1686 (TTAB 1987); Bankamerica Corp. v. Invest America, 5 USPQ2d 1076, 1077 (TTAB 1987); BRT Holdings Inc. v. Homeway, Inc., 4 USPQ2d 1952, 1956 (TTAB 1987); American Speech-Language-Hearing Association v. National Hearing Aid Society, 224 USPQ 798, 801 (TTAB 1984); Davco Inc. v. Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Co., 224 USPQ 245, 246 (TTAB 1984).
5. Ritchie v. Simpson, 170 F.3d 1092, 50 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (citing Universal Oil Products v. Rexall Drug & Chemical Co., 463 F.2d 1122, 174 USPQ 458, 459-60 (CCPA 1972) and stating that the belief of damage alleged by plaintiff must be more than a subjective belief); McDermott v. San Francisco Women’s Motorcycle Contingent, 81 USPQ2d 1212, 1215 (TTAB 2006), aff’d unpub’d, 240 Fed. Appx. 865 (Fed. Cir. July 11, 2007), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 1109 (2008).