Firm Update No. 2026-17本所动态 2026-17 号
In re Opposition No. XXXX7317 (OWLVISION): A Registered VISIONOWL Owner Challenges a Reversed-Word Application异议案第XXXX7317号（OWLVISION）：VISIONOWL注册商标所有人对词序颠倒的申请提出异议
- Practice领域
- Intellectual Property知识产权法
- Jurisdiction管辖
- Trademark Trial and Appeal Board美国商标审判与上诉委员会
- Our role本所角色
- Counsel to the opposer异议人律师
- Status进展
- Pending; discovery open, closes Feb. 7, 2027审理中；证据开示进行中，2027年2月7日截止
IFacts事实
The client owns a federal registration for VISIONOWL, registered in September 2025. Another party then applied to register OWLVISION, the same two words in reverse order. On the client's behalf the firm filed a notice of opposition, and the Board instituted the proceeding on May 13, 2026. The applicant, representing himself, answered the next day.客户拥有VISIONOWL的联邦注册商标，于2025年9月获准注册。其后另一方申请注册OWLVISION，即将同样两个词颠倒顺序。本所代表客户提出异议，委员会于2026年5月13日立案。申请人自行代理，次日提交答辩。
IIPleadings诉辩文书
Notice of opposition (May 13, 2026). The client opposed an application to register OWLVISION for light directors and photographic lighting tents used with photographic lighting equipment, in Class 9. The notice pleads two grounds: priority and likelihood of confusion under Section 2(d), and that the applicant is not the rightful owner of the mark under Section 1. It relies on three registrations of VISIONOWL: for power, data and video cables and USB hubs (Class 9); for computer monitors and display screens (Class 9); and for vacuum cleaners (Class 7). An exhibit binder accompanied the notice.异议通知（2026年5月13日）。当事人对一件OWLVISION商标申请提出异议，该申请指定第9类商品为与摄影照明设备配套使用的导光器及摄影柔光棚。异议通知提出两项理由：第2(d)条的在先权利及混淆可能；以及第1条规定的申请人并非该商标的合法所有人。异议依据三件VISIONOWL注册：电源线、数据线、视频线及USB集线器（第9类）；电脑显示器及显示屏（第9类）；以及吸尘器（第7类）。异议通知附有证据汇编。
Applicant's answer (May 14, 2026). The applicant, representing himself, admitted only that the opposition was filed, that he filed the application and that it was published. He denied selling monitors, displays or any electronic display products, and denied any connection with an online marketplace listing for display products cited in the opposition, attributing that listing to a third party. He described his actual product as a non-digital photography accessory for photographing collectible coins. He pleaded five affirmative defenses: failure to state a claim, differences in the goods, no use of the mark on monitors, misattribution of the marketplace listing, and good-faith adoption.申请人答辩（2026年5月14日）。申请人自行应诉，仅承认异议已提出、申请由其本人提交以及该申请已公告。其否认销售显示器、显示屏或任何电子显示产品，并否认与异议中引用的某网络平台显示产品页面存在任何关联，称该页面由第三方经营。其称实际商品为拍摄收藏钱币用的非数码摄影配件，并提出五项积极抗辩：未陈述请求、商品不同、未在显示器上使用、错误归属平台页面，以及善意采用。
IIIMotions and Court Orders动议及法院裁定
No motions have been filed. The Board instituted the proceeding on May 13, 2026 and issued its trial schedule. Discovery opened on August 11, 2026; expert disclosures are due January 8, 2027; and discovery closes February 7, 2027. The opposer's trial period ends May 8, 2027, the applicant's July 7, 2027 and rebuttal August 21, 2027, followed by briefing through December 2027.迄今双方均未提出动议。商标审判与上诉委员会于2026年5月13日立案并发布审理时间表：证据开示于2026年8月11日开始；专家披露于2027年1月8日到期；证据开示于2027年2月7日结束。异议人举证期至2027年5月8日结束，申请人举证期至2027年7月7日，反驳期至2027年8月21日，此后书面辩论至2027年12月。
IVQuestions Presented争议问题
(1) Is a mark that reverses the words of a registered mark likely to cause confusion? (2) Can an application stand if the applicant is not the owner of the mark it seeks to register?（一）将注册商标的词序颠倒后形成的商标，是否可能造成混淆？（二）申请人并非所申请商标的所有人时，该申请能否成立？
VRelevant Law相关法律
15 U.S.C. §§ 1052(d), 1063: likelihood of confusion; opposition; entitlement to a statutory cause of action15 U.S.C. §§ 1052(d), 1063：混淆可能性；商标异议；法定诉因资格
37 C.F.R. §§ 2.101, 2.120, 2.121: notice of opposition; discovery; trial periods37 C.F.R. §§ 2.101, 2.120, 2.121：异议通知；证据开示；审理期间
In re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357 (C.C.P.A. 1973): DuPont factors; similarity of the marks; relatedness of the goodsIn re E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357 (C.C.P.A. 1973)：DuPont因素；商标近似；商品关联性
King Candy Co. v. Eunice King’s Kitchen, Inc., 496 F.2d 1400 (C.C.P.A. 1974): priority; pleaded registrationKing Candy Co. v. Eunice King’s Kitchen, Inc., 496 F.2d 1400 (C.C.P.A. 1974)：优先权；所主张之注册
Lyons v. Am. Coll. of Veterinary Sports Med. & Rehab., 859 F.3d 1023 (Fed. Cir. 2017): void ab initio; ownership of the mark; application by non-ownerLyons v. Am. Coll. of Veterinary Sports Med. & Rehab., 859 F.3d 1023 (Fed. Cir. 2017)：自始无效；商标所有权；非所有人申请
In re Nationwide Indus., Inc., 6 USPQ2d 1882 (TTAB 1988): transposition of terms; commercial impressionIn re Nationwide Indus., Inc., 6 USPQ2d 1882 (TTAB 1988)：词序颠倒；商业印象
J & J Snack Foods Corp. v. McDonald’s Corp., 932 F.2d 1460 (Fed. Cir. 1991): family of marks; likelihood of confusionJ & J Snack Foods Corp. v. McDonald’s Corp., 932 F.2d 1460 (Fed. Cir. 1991)：商标家族；混淆可能性
VICurrent Stage当前阶段
The case is in discovery. No motion is pending, and the Board has made no ruling on the merits.案件处于证据开示阶段，目前无待决动议，委员会亦未作出实体裁决。
Open issues. Likelihood of confusion under the DuPont factors; transposition of marks and commercial impression; relatedness of goods and channels of trade; ownership and void ab initio applications; sufficiency of the pleaded affirmative defenses.待决问题。依DuPont因素判断的混淆可能；商标词序调换与商业印象；商品关联性及销售渠道；商标所有权及自始无效的申请；所提积极抗辩的充分性。
Client details are withheld to protect confidentiality. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.为保护客户隐私，相关信息已隐去。过往结果不保证类似案件的结果。