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Finding Lack of Bona Fide Intent, TTAB Sustains "MIDDLE EARTH JEWELRY" Oppositions

Pro se Applicant Joseph M. Bumb got the TTABum's rush in his quest for registration of the marks MIDDLE EARTH JEWELRY and ARAGORN for various jewelry items. In light of Bumb's lack of documentation and his own testimony, the Board found the applications to be void ab initio due to Bumb's lack of bona fide intent to use the marks. The Saul Zaentz Company dba Tolkien Enterprises v. Joseph M. Bumb, Opposition No. 91170589 (May 18, 2010) [not precedential].A 2008 Harris poll named Lord of the Rings as the third most popular book of all time. [Can you name the other two? - ed.] Opposer is a film production company that owns "the exclusive world-wide performance, motion picture and ancillary rights in and to the Tolkien works." It has licensed its Tolkein-related marks for many goods (including jewelry), and the films based on the series are the most successful movies in U...continue to full post

Full post as published by The TTABlog on June 09, 2010 (boomark / email).