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TTAB Finds "CATELLI" for Pasta Sauce Confusingly Similar to "LOCATELLI" for Cheese

In a "somewhat close" but nonetheless dull case, the Board gave the benefit of the doubt to the Registrant in sustaining a Section 2(d) opposition to registration of the mark CATELLI for "pasta sauces," finding it likely to cause confusion with the registered mark LOCATELLI for "cheese." Gennaro Auricchio S.p.A. v. Trademark Management Company, Opposition No. 91161200 (January 22, 2010) [not precedential].As to the marks, the Board found them "more similar than dissimilar." Although there are readily discernible differences between the marks [Can you identify them? - ed.], "to the extent they may well be seen as Italian surnames, [they] will leave prospective consumers with similar connotations."Of course, the goods need not be identical or even competitive in order to support a finding of likely confusion...continue to full post

Full post as published by The TTABlog on January 26, 2010 (boomark / email).