The "Hon" trademark war in Baltimore

Bruce Goldfarb is challenging Denise Whiting's asserted trademark rights in "Hon." See the story in the Baltimore Sun:
Catonsville man challenges Hon trademark.

As to registration, from TESS:

Word Mark HON
Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: Retail gift shops. FIRST USE: 20010510. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010510
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78889029
Filing Date May 22, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition January 2, 2007
Registration Number 3220059
Registration Date March 20, 2007
Owner (REGISTRANT) Cafe Hon, Inc. CORPORATION MARYLAND 1002 W. 36th Street Baltimore MARYLAND 21211
Attorney of Record Kathryn Miller Goldman
Prior Registrations 1743791;2964744;3095470
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

AND

Word Mark HON
Goods and Services IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: paper goods, namely, bumper stickers, napkins, note cards, gift cards, greeting cards, stationery, wrapping paper, gift bags, note pads, note paper, calendars, pens. FIRST USE: 20001101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20001101
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: clothing, namely, t-shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, hats and caps, boas, short sleeved shirts, shorts, capri pants, underwear, ties, halter tops. FIRST USE: 20010510. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010510

Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78641344
Filing Date June 1, 2005
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition February 28, 2006
Registration Number 3095470
Registration Date May 23, 2006
Owner (REGISTRANT) Cafe Hon, Inc. CORPORATION MARYLAND 1002 W. 36th Street Baltimore MARYLAND 21211
Attorney of Record Kathryn Miller Goldman
Prior Registrations 1743791;2964744
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

One might ask whether consumers in these areas associate "Hon" with a single source?

To get some idea of how trademark disputes work, see the previous IPBiz posts


Trademark KID'S OUTDOORS prevails at CAFC


Gamecocks crunched by Trojans in CAFC-USC bowl



Anthony's Pizza: even a weak mark bars later comers

AND don't forget LBE's Supreme Court-cited law review article in The Trademark Reporter, 1994, 84, 379-407.


On commentary on the Hon matter, see also
NorthBaltimorePatch YouTube video

Fark on the Hon matter

Mary Rizzo on Hon matter