Two weeks ago, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
("TTAB") denied a petition for cancellation in a
trademark dispute involving the company formerly known as Ask
Jeeves, refusing to cancel the trademark application of a smaller
company that applied to register "ASKBOT" with the United
States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"). The petition for cancellation was filed on
September 25, 2014 by IAC Search & Media, Inc.
("Petitioner") (which has a federal trademark
registration for the term "ASK" (among other
variations)). Petitioner asserts that the term ASKBOT is likely to
be confused with its ASK mark.
Respondent ASKBOT, Spa ("Respondent") is a company
located in the Republic of Chile. Since 2012, Respondent has
offered services that are used to create online forums featuring
questions and answers on a particular subject. Respondent opposed
Petitioner's request for cancellation.
