Karen Artz Ash, national co-chair of Katten's Intellectual Property department, and associates Jessica Kraver, Jeffrey Wakolbinger and Alexandra Caleca earned a victory for client Mansur Gavriel in Royal Chain Inc. v. Mansur Gavriel LLC. The owner of the trademark PHILLIP GAVRIEL for jewelry opposed the registration of MANSUR GAVRIEL as a trademark for handbags and wallets. Following a full trial on the merits, including an oral argument by Jessica and Jeffrey, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) dismissed a Section 2(d) opposition to the registration of the mark MANSUR GAVRIEL, finding the plaintiff had failed to prove priority. The TTAB also concluded that the MANSUR GAVRIEL mark was not confusingly similar to the PHILLIP GAVRIEL mark for jewelry.

This decision is significant, in part, due to the fact that few cases make it to a final decision before the TTAB.

Read "Owner of PHILLIP GAVRIEL for Jewellery Fails to Prove Priority Over, and Likelihood of Confusion With, MANSUR GAVRIEL for Handbags" in its entirety.