Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Denies Claims Made By Sportslife Enterprises, Inc.

Merchant & Gould, an intellectual property law firm, today announced it has successfully defeated an opposition made by Sportslife Enterprises, Inc. to block the trademark registration for its client, Sportslife Camps, Inc. The opposition dismissal took place on July 17 and Sportslife Camps, Inc.'s application will be forwarded for issuance of registration.

On August 17, 2006, Sportslife Camps, Inc. filed an application to register its name for religious-themed children's camps. Sportslife Enterprises, Inc. filed its opposition on the ground of priority and likelihood of confusion because its mark is associated with sporting goods and sporting goods-related businesses. The court analyzed arguments for both priority and confusion and determined that the opposition did not demonstrate through its evidence that confusion exists when the marks are used in connection with their respective services.

Kristine M. Boylan, a partner with Merchant & Gould's Minneapolis office was lead counsel for Sportslife Camps, Inc. Danielle Mattessich, an associate with Merchant & Gould and a former Trademark Office Examiner, is prosecuting the trademark application.