31/10/2024-The United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit affirms crucial principles for the protection of certification marks in the USA.

The last 6 of August, the United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) reversed the decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) regarding the COLOGNE & COGNAC ENTERTAINMENT mark.

The contested trademark had been filed by a music and recording label in classes 9 and 41. This was followed in 2020 by a joint opposition of “Bureau National Interprofessionnel Du Cognac” (BNIC) and the “Institut national de l’origine et de la qualité” (INAO), with the objective to defend the appellation Cognac – protected in the USA as a certification mark – against risks of confusion, deception and dilution.