Intellectual Property Law

Second Circuit: If you want a court to order the USPTO, ask in your pleadings, not after you win

By McKee, Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C.

In a recent decision, the Second Circuit affirmed a district court's decision in a trademark case not to enter an order pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1119.  § 1119 permits a court to enter an order regarding registrability and cancellation of marks at the USPTO.  The prevailing defendant asked the district court to order the USPTO to dismiss a related cancellation proceeding.  The party had not requested an order under § 1119 in its counterclaims, but instead sought it by way of a Rule 59(e) motion to amend the final judgment in the case.  The district court denied the motion, concluding the defendant could simply raise the issue as a matter of issue preclusion.

The Second Circuit affirmed.  The court held there was no abuse of discretion in denying the Rule 59(e) motion.  Further, the court noted § 1119 is permissive, such that the court was not required to grant such relief.

More detail of Empresa Cubana del Tabaco v. Culbro Corp. after the jump.

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Full post as published by FileWrapper on September 25, 2008 (boomark / email).