Advanced BioTech LLC v. BioWorld USA, Inc. ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ADVANCED BIOTECH, LLC, a Case No. 1:19-cv-01215 JLT SKO California Limited Liability Company and 12 DALE BARNES, a California Individual, ORDER GRANTING COUNTER- DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS 13 Plaintiffs, 14 v. (Doc. 26) 15 BIOWORLD USA, INC., a California corporation; DONALD DAMSCHEN, a 16 California individual, and DIANE BARNES, a California individual, 17 18 Defendants. 19 AND RELATED CROSS-CLAIMS. 20 21 Advanced BioTech LLC and Dale Barnes (collectively “Advanced BioTech”) allege 22 BioWorld USA, Inc., Donald Damschen, and Diane Barnes (collectively “BW USA”) 23 misappropriated trade secrets related to products sold and customers serviced by their competing 24 companies. (Doc. 1 at 49, 58.) BW USA asserts counterclaims against BioTech for common law 25 trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of state law for BioTech’s use of the 26 marks BIOWORLD and BIOWORLD PRODUCTS. (See generally Doc. 25.) 27 BioTech seeks dismissal of the counterclaims, arguing BW USA had no valid ownership 28 rights to the asserted trademarks and BioTech holds the federal registrations to these marks. 1 (Docs. 26, 27.) BW USA opposes the motion, asserting it has superior common law rights to 2 BioTech’s newly registered trademarks. (Doc. 31.) The Court finds the matter suitable for 3 decision without oral arguments, and no hearing date will be set pursuant to Local Rule 230(g) 4 and General Order 618. For the reasons set forth below, the motion to dismiss is GRANTED and 5 the counterclaims are DISMISSED with leave to amend. 6 I. BACKGROUND 7 Over the past three decades, Diane Barnes and Dale Barnes formed various business 8 entities to sell fertilizers and bioremediation goods. (Doc. 25 at ¶¶ 6-28; Doc. 27 at 5.) According 9 to the counterclaims, Diane first started using the “BioWorld” name with her company BioWorld 10 Products in 1991. (Doc. 25 at ¶ 9.) In 1992, Diane obtained a California trademark for “BioWorld 11 Products.” (Id. at ¶¶ 12.) Diane subsequently formed BioWorld Products LLC and BioWorld 12 Products, Inc., which also operated in the fertilizer and bioremediation industry. (Id. at ¶ 11.) In 13 2011, BioWorld Products, Inc. obtained a federal trademark for BIOWORLD PRODUCTS. (Id. 14 at ¶ 22.) On October 30, 2013, Diane, on behalf of herself and her business entities, assigned all 15 trademark rights to Phillip Barnes, her son. (Id.) The following year, Don Damschen, the 16 Barneses’ business partner, incorporated BioWorld USA Inc. (Id. at ¶ 26.) On September 1, 2016, 17 BioWorld USA Inc. purchased all assets from BioWorld Products, Inc. (Id. at ¶ 28.) BioWorld 18 Products, Inc. subsequently filed for bankruptcy. (Id. at ¶ 29.) 19 During approximately the same time frame, Dale Barnes operated two business entities in 20 the same industry as Diane’s businesses. (Doc. 25 at ¶¶ 8, 16-20.) Dale formed Advanced 21 BioTech Products Inc. in 1989. (Id. at ¶ 8.) After Advanced BioTech Products Inc. filed for 22 bankruptcy, Dale formed Advanced BioTech LLC in 2000. (Id. at ¶¶ 16-17.) For roughly fifteen 23 years, Advanced BioTech LLC and BioWorld Products, Inc. operated in tandem and as partners. 24 (Id. at ¶ 25.) The Dale and Diane’s working relationship deteriorated, alongside their marriage, 25 and they filed for divorce in December 2017. (Id. at ¶ 30.) 26 In 2018, the United States Patent and Trademark Office cancelled Phillip Barnes’s 27 registration for BIOWORLD PRODUCTS because he failed to file a Section 8 affidavit showing 28 continued use of the mark. (Doc. 25 at ¶ 33.) After the USPTO cancelled the mark, Advanced 1 BioTech LLC obtained federal registration for BIOWORLD PRODUCTS (No. 5,712,872). (Doc. 2 27 at 5; Doc. 28 at 4.) Advanced BioTech LLC later filed an application for the BIOWORLD 3 mark (No. 6,274,854). (Doc. 34-1.) BioWorld USA, Inc. opposed registration of the BIOWORLD 4 mark at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. (Doc. 31 at 6-7.) The TTAB conducted a review 5 of the arguments and evidence provided by the parties and ultimately, dismissed BioWorld USA, 6 Inc.’s opposition. (Doc. 28-1 at 7-38.) BioWorld USA, Inc. then filed a request to cancel the 7 BIOWORLD PRODUCTS mark, which the TTAB likewise dismissed. (Doc. 40-1.) 8 During adjudication at the TTAB, Advanced BioTech LLC and Dale Barnes initiated this 9 action for misappropriation of trade secrets on August 30, 2019. (See generally Doc. 1.) BioTech 10 asserts BioWorld USA, Inc., Don Damschen, and Diane Barnes improperly obtained and used 11 proprietary, secret business information, including, for example, its fertilization formulas and 12 customer lists. (Id. at ¶ 20.) BW USA counterclaimed for trademark infringement of the 13 BIOWORLD marks,1 under California common law and unfair competition under California 14 Business and Professional Code § 17200. (Doc. 21 [original answer and counterclaims]; Doc. 25 15 [amended counterclaims].) 16 On December 21, 2020, BioTech moved to dismiss the counterclaims, arguing BW USA 17 does not have any common law rights to the BIOWORLD marks that are superior to its federally 18 registered marks. (Doc. 27.) BW USA filed its opposition to the motion on January 12, 2021 19 (Doc. 31) to which BioTech filed a reply on January 19, 2021 (Doc. 32). In addition, BioTech 20 filed a supplemental request for judicial notice on March 29, 2021. (Doc. 34.) 21 II. MOTION TO DISMISS 22 A Rule 12(b)(6) motion “tests the legal sufficiency of a claim.” Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 23 729, 732 (9th Cir. 2001). Dismissal of a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate when “the 24 complaint lacks a cognizable legal theory or sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal theory.” 25 Mendiondo v. Centinela Hosp. Med. Ctr., 521 F.3d 1097, 1104 (9th Cir. 2008). Thus, under Rule 26 27 1 Although BioTech holds two separate trademark registrations, both marks contain the same distinctive word 28 “BioWorld.” (Doc. 27 at 9.) The issues presented on the motion to dismiss apply similarly to both marks, and 1 12(b)(6), “review is limited to the complaint alone.” Cervantes v. City of San Diego, 5 F.3d 1273, 2 1276 (9th Cir. 1993). 3 The Supreme Court held: “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain 4 sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” 5 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 6 570 (2007)). The Supreme Court explained, 7 A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 8 misconduct alleged. The plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability 9 requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. Where a complaint pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a 10 defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’” 11 12 Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (internal citations omitted). 13 “The issue is not whether a plaintiff will ultimately prevail, but whether the claimant is 14 entitled to offer evidence to support the claims. Indeed it may appear on the face of the pleadings 15 that a recovery is very remote and unlikely but that is not the test.” Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 16 232, 236 (1974). The Court “will dismiss any claim that, even when construed in the light most 17 favorable to plaintiff, fails to plead sufficiently all required elements of a cause of action.” 18 Student Loan Marketing Assoc. v. Hanes, 181 F.R.D. 629, 634 (S.D. Cal. 1998). To the extent 19 pleading deficiencies can be cured by the plaintiff alleging additional facts, leave to amend should 20 be granted. Cook, Perkiss & Liehe, Inc. v. N. Cal. Collection Serv., 911 F.2d 242, 247 (9th Cir. 21 1990) (citations omitted). 22 III. EVIDENTIARY CHALLENGES 23 With its opposition to the motion to dismiss, BW USA submitted an “Assignment of 24 Intellectual Property Rights” between Phillip Barnes and BioWorld USA, (Doc. 31-1.) which 25 allegedly assigns all common law rights of the BIOWORLD marks to BW USA. (Doc. 31 at 6.) 26 BW USA did not submit the assignment with its original or amended counterclaims. In fact, the 27 Assignment is dated January 12, 2021, the same day BW USA filed its opposition brief. (Doc. 31- 28 1 at 4.) BioTech contends the January 2021 Assignment is not properly before the Court. (Doc. 32 1 at 6-7.) As a general rule, courts “may not consider any material beyond the pleadings in ruling 2 on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.” Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th Cir. 2001). Parties 3 may introduce evidence outside the pleadings under two exceptions: “the incorporation-by- 4 reference doctrine and judicial notice under Federal Rule of Evidence 201.” Khoja v. Orexigen 5 Therapeutics, Inc., 899 F.3d 988, 998 (9th Cir. 2018). 6 A. Incorporation by Reference 7 The incorporation-by-reference doctrine permits courts to consider documents not 8 attached to the complaint but on which the complaint “necessarily relies.” United States v. 9 Corinthian Colls., 655 F.3d 984, 999 (9th Cir. 2011). The complaint “necessarily relies” the 10 unattached evidence if it meets all three elements: “(1) the complaint refers to the document; (2) 11 the document is central to the plaintiff’s claim; and (3) no party questions the authenticity of the 12 document.” Id. (citing Marder v. Lopez, 450 F.3d 445, 448 (9th Cir.2006)). 13 The January 2021 Assignment is arguably central to BW USA’s claim, because ownership 14 of a trademark may provide a basis for an infringement claim. Wells Fargo & Co. v. ABD Ins. & 15 Fin. Servs., 758 F.3d 1069, 1072 (9th Cir. 2014) (“a claim for trademark infringement requires 16 only two elements: (1) ownership of a trademark,” and (2) a likelihood of confusion.). However, 17 BW USA’s original and amended pleadings of the counterclaims make no reference to this 18 Assignment. Indeed, the January 2021 Assignment did not exist when BW USA filed its 19 counterclaims, illustrated by its execution date of more than a month after BW USA filed the 20 amended counterclaims. (Doc. 31-1 at 5.) BioTech raised doubts regarding the Assignment’s 21 authenticity because its execution date occurred simultaneously with the filing of BW USA’s 22 opposition brief. (Doc. 32 at 6.) BioTech further questions its authenticity given the Assignment’s 23 similarity in format and substance to the November 2020 license, which “bears an identical 24 electronic signature” by Phillip Barnes. (Id. at 6-7.) Consequently, the January 2021 Assignment 25 fails to satisfy all necessary requirements to be incorporated by reference. 26 B. Judicial Notice 27 Under Rule 201, a court may take judicial notice of “a fact that is not subject to reasonable 28 dispute” because it is generally known or “can be accurately and readily determined” from 1 indisputably reliable sources. Fed. R. Evid. 201. Typically, facts for which parties have “varying 2 interpretations, and [] reasonable dispute as to what [the document] establishes” should not be 3 judicially noticed. Reina-Rodriguez v. United States, 655 F.3d 1182, 1193 (9th Cir. 2011). 4 BW USA did not request the Court take judicial notice of the January 2021 Assignment. 5 Nevertheless, the Court notes BioTech’s concerns regarding the authenticity of the January 2021 6 Assignment suggest its accuracy cannot be readily determined. BioTech further argues the 7 document “amounts to an invalid attempt to transfer” Phillip Barnes’s trademark rights, rendering 8 the facts in the assignment subject to a reasonable dispute. (See Doc. 32 at 7.) Accordingly, 9 judicial notice is inappropriate. 10 C. Conclusion 11 The January 2021 Assignment goes beyond the pleadings and will not be considered in 12 evaluating the motion to dismiss. See Stanley v. Bobo Constr., Inc., 2014 WL 1400957, *2 (E.D. 13 Cal. Apr. 10, 2014) (sustaining objection to declaration submitted with an opposition to motion to 14 dismiss because plaintiff did not attach it to the complaint or request judicial notice). 15 IV. DISCUSSION 16 BioTech argues that BW USA failed to state a claim for trademark infringement or unfair 17 competition because it owns a federal registration for the BIOWORLD mark, which accords a 18 presumption of priority. (Doc. 27 at 8-10.) BioTech argues BW USA cannot show prior 19 commercial use because BW USA’s license did not transfer common law rights. (Doc. 27 at 10- 20 13.) BioTech also contends that TTAB decisions preclude BW USA from arguing its own prior 21 use or status as a licensee establish common law rights. (Doc. 32 at 7-10.) BW USA twice argued 22 before the TTAB that it had sufficient commercial use of the marks to predate BioTech’s claimed 23 priority date. (Doc. 28-1 at 7-38; Doc. 40-1.) BW USA’s counterclaims constitute a third attempt 24 to establish priority. 25 In the counterclaims, BW USA alleges that it holds superior common law ownership, 26 derived from Diane Barnes’s continuous use of the mark by her various business entities and from 27 its license by Phillip Barnes to use the mark. (Doc. 25 at ¶¶ 11, 33.) In opposition to the motion to 28 dismiss, BW USA primarily relies on its new status as an assignee of the rights held by Phillip 1 Barnes, rather than as a licensee. (Doc. 31.) As previously explained, however, the Court cannot 2 consider the January 2021 Assignment or any corresponding arguments on the motion to dismiss. 3 The Court evaluates BW USA’s arguments to the extent they pertain to its rights as a licensee. 4 A. Common Law Trademark Rights Can Provide Superior Rights 5 BioTech argues BW USA cannot claim ownership rights in the BIOWORLD marks 6 because BioTech holds federal registration for the marks. (Doc. 27 at 8.) BioTech contends its 7 registrations constitute prima facie evidence of ownership and exclusive rights to use the marks. 8 (Id. at 8-9.) Although holders of federally registered trademarks have a presumption of ownership 9 and priority, a party may rebut this presumption if it can show commercial use of the mark that 10 predates the registration. Stone Creek, Inc. v. Omnio Italian Design, Inc., 875 F.3d 426, 436 (9th 11 Cir. 2017); J. McCarthy, Trademarks and Unfair Competition § 16:18.5 (5th ed. 2022). A senior 12 user can establish superior common law rights to the trademark over the federal registration if it 13 has “legally sufficient market penetration” in a certain geographic market. Credit One Corp. v. 14 Credit One Fin., Inc. 661 F. Supp. 2d 1134, 1138 (C.D. Cal. 2009).2 15 BW USA does not dispute that BioTech holds federal registrations for the BIOWORLD 16 marks. (Doc. 31 at 5.) BW USA alleges that it holds superior common law rights because Diane 17 Barnes continuously used the mark, beginning in 1991, in connection with her several business 18 entities (i.e., BioWorld Products, LLC; BioWorld Products, Inc.; and BioWorld USA, Inc.). (Doc. 19 25 at ¶ 11.) Continuous use of the marks for approximately seventeen years before BioTech’s 20 registration could establish legally sufficient market penetration. Kip’s Nut-Free Kitchen, LLC v. 21 Kips Dehydrated Foods, LLC, 2019 WL 3766654, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 9, 2019) (finding 22 approximately five years of alleged continuous use of a mark to sell products across the United 23 States “plausibly pled market penetration”). Therefore, whether BW USA can maintain a cause of 24 action for common law infringement depends on whether the TTAB decisions preclude BW USA 25 from relying on its own use and that of its predecessor entities. 26 27 2 BW USA’s counterclaims arise under California common law, which follows the standards under the Lanham Act for determining the superior rights holder. (Id. at ¶ 33); Grupo Gigante S.A. de C.V. v. Dallo & Co., 391 F.3d 1088, 28 1100 (9th Cir. 2004) (“As a general matter, trademark claims under California law are ‘substantially congruent’ with 1 B. Preclusive Effect of TTAB Decisions on BW USA’s Infringement Claim 2 Issue preclusion, or collateral estoppel, prevents parties from relitigating issues that 3 another court previously decided. New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 748-49 (2001). Under 4 the doctrine of issue preclusion, “when an issue of fact or law is actually litigated and determined 5 by a valid and final judgment, and the determination is essential to the judgment, the 6 determination is conclusive in a subsequent action between the parties, whether on the same or a 7 different claim.” B&B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis Indus., Inc., 575 U.S. 138, 148 (2015) (internal 8 quotations omitted). Courts distilled three conjunctive elements, all of which must be met, for 9 issue preclusion to bar re-litigation of an issue: (1) the issue “necessarily decided” in the prior 10 action is identical to the subsequent issue; (2) a final judgment on the merits resulted in the prior 11 action; (3) the same parties, or parties in privity, litigated in the prior and subsequent actions. 12 Skilstaf, Inc. v. CVS Caremark Corp., 669 F.3d 1005, 1021 (9th Cir. 2012). 13 The doctrine of issue preclusion applies not only to final judgments issued by other courts 14 but also to administrative decisions when the agency acts “in a judicial capacity and resolves 15 disputed issues of fact properly before it” and where the parties had an adequate opportunity to 16 litigate those issues. B&B Hardware, 575 U.S. at 148. Notably, TTAB decisions regarding 17 oppositions to trademark registration carry preclusive effect because parties have a strong reason 18 to “take the matter seriously” given the substantial benefits accorded with federal trademark 19 registration. Id. at 159. The Supreme Court explained, “[s]o long as the other ordinary elements of 20 issue preclusion are met, when the usages adjudicated by the TTAB are materially the same as 21 those before the district court, issue preclusion should apply.” Id. at 160; see also V.V.V. & Sons 22 Edible Oils Ltd. v. Meenakshi Overseas, LLC, 946 F.3d 542 (2019) (dictum) (“To the extent a 23 party before the TTAB litigates an issue that also arises in infringement proceedings before a 24 federal district court, issue preclusion would bar relitigation.”) 25 1. TTAB’s Prior Determinations Regarding the BIOWORLD marks 26 The TTAB issued two prior decisions related to BW USA’s infringement claims.3 First, 27 28 3 BioTech requests the Court take judicial notice of the TTAB opinions and filings. (Doc. 27 at 5, n.1.) BW USA did 1 on November 2, 2020, the TTAB issued an opinion on BW USA’s opposition to the registration 2 of the BIOWORLD PRODUCTS mark. (Doc. 28 at 7-38.) BW USA challenged registration of 3 the mark on the grounds of priority and likelihood of confusion based on its alleged own prior use 4 at common law and Phillip Barnes’s previously registered mark of the BIOWORLD PRODUCTS 5 mark. (Id. at 8.) The evidence before the TTAB included pleadings and briefing by the parties, as 6 well as various declarations and exhibits to support the parties’ contentions. (Id. at 10.) In its final 7 decision, the TTAB made several findings related to BW USA’s current infringement claims. The 8 TTAB found that Diane Barnes validly assigned to Phillip Barnes all common law and federal 9 rights to the registered BIOWORLD PRODUCTS mark in 2013 as a wedding gift. (Id. at 23-24, 10 33-35.) Because Diane assigned the mark to Phillip in 2013, BW USA did not obtain ownership 11 rights through the asset purchase agreement with BioWorld Products, Inc. in 2016. (Id.) Phillip 12 Barnes lost his federal trademark rights in 2018 when the USPTO cancelled his registration for 13 failure to demonstrate continued use of the mark. (Id. at 24.) Therefore, to determine if BW USA 14 had priority to the BIOWORLD mark, the TTAB only considered whether BW USA’s own 15 commercial use of the mark established common law rights predating BioTech’s application. (Id. 16 at 35.) The TTAB concluded that BW USA had not made a sufficient showing to satisfy a 17 consistent commercial use that predated BioTech’s application. (Id. at 35-37.) 18 Second, on August 17, 2021, the TTAB issued a decision dismissing BW USA’s petition to 19 cancel BioTech’s registration for the BIOWORLD PRODUCTS mark. (Doc. 40-1.) In the 20 cancellation petition and corresponding briefing, BW USA argued it had proprietary rights 21 because it “obtained an exclusive license to use the mark from Phillip Barnes in November 22 2020.” (Id. at 7.) BW USA argued that it could assert Phillip Barnes’ common law rights as the 23 exclusive licensee. (Id.) The TTAB concluded BW USA failed to state a claim for cancellation on 24 this basis because a “licensee cannot plead or claim priority based on the licensor’s use of the 25 licensed mark.” (Id., citing Moreno v. Pro Boxing Supplies, Inc., 124 USPQ2d 1028, 1036 26 27 issued by administrative agencies. Transmission Agency of N. Cal. v. Sierra Pac. Power Co., 295 F.3d 918, 924 n.3 28 (9th Cir. 2002). The Court, therefore, grants the request to take judicial notice of the two TTAB opinions submitted 1 (TTAB 2017).) The TTAB granted BW USA leave to amend its petition to cure the defects, but 2 BW USA failed to do so. (Id. at 12-13, 17.) Accordingly, the action to cancel BioTech’s 3 trademark was dismissed with prejudice. (Id. at 17.) 4 2. TTAB November 2020 Decision Precludes Reliance on BW USA Own Prior Use 5 a. Same Issue Necessarily Decided by TTAB 6 The first element of issue preclusion requires the prior proceeding to have “necessarily 7 decided” an identical issue to the one raised in the subsequent action. Skilstaf, 669 F.3d at 1021. 8 “Preclusive force attaches only to issues that were necessary to support the judgment of the prior 9 action,” but it does not apply issues that were merely incidental to the prior outcome. Pool Water 10 Prds. v. Olin Corp., 258 F.3d 1024, 1031 (9th Cir. 2001). To determine whether the issues are 11 identical, courts typically weigh four factors: (1) a substantial overlap between the evidence or 12 argument in the proceedings; (2) whether any new evidence or argument involves the same 13 application of law; (3) whether pretrial and discovery from the first matter could have reasonably 14 embraced the matter presented in the second action; and (4) the relatedness of the claims. Alberto- 15 Culver Co. v. Trevive, Inc., 199 F. Supp. 2d 1004, 1008 (C.D. Cal. 2002). 16 The November 2020 TTAB proceeding involved a substantial overlap in argument and 17 application of law regarding BW USA’s own prior use of the marks. In BW USA’s opposition to 18 register the BIOWORLD PRODUCTS mark, it argued that its own prior use and that of its 19 predecessor business entities (i.e., BioWorld Products LLC and BioWorld Products, Inc.) 20 established superior common law rights. (Doc. 28-1 at 8.) In the matter now before the Court, 21 BW USA again argues it has used the mark since 1991, relying on the predecessor entities and its 22 own use of the mark after the asset purchase agreement in 2016. (Doc. 25 at ¶¶ 11-15, 28.) The 23 TTAB held, however, that BW USA could not rely on the use of any predecessor companies 24 owned by Diane Barnes because Diane had assigned the “full rights to the trademark ‘BioWorld 25 Products’” to Phillip Barnes prior to the asset purchase agreement. (Doc. 28 at 34.) The TTAB 26 presumed the assignment included “full rights” because a “naked transfer of the mark” without 27 the goodwill of the business to which the mark pertains would be invalid. (Id. (quoting Visa, 28 U.S.A., Inc. v. Birmingham Trust Nat’l Bank, 696 F.2d 1371, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 1982).) The TTAB 1 concluded that “BioWorld Products, Inc. had no ownership rights in the mark BIOWORLD 2 PRODUCTS to transfer to [BW USA]” through the asset purchase agreement, a fact that BW 3 USA does not dispute in the current matter. (Id. at 35; Doc. 31 at 11-12.) The TTAB November 4 2020 decision addressing whether BW USA could claim priority to the BIOWORLD mark, 5 necessarily depended on whether BW USA itself had sufficiently used the mark in commerce, 6 such that its common law rights received priority to BioTech’s application for federal registration. 7 (Id.) As a result, arguments that BW USA raises regarding its own prior use of the mark overlap 8 with the arguments it made to the TTAB. See Anstalt v. Bacardi & Co., 2016 WL 7635955, at *3 9 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 16, 2016) (staying the case pending outcome of TTAB proceedings where the 10 parties disputed likelihood of confusion and validity of ownership because the issues were 11 “central” to the trademark infringement claims). 12 In addition, BW USA had an opportunity to submit evidence to establish its own use of 13 the mark in the TTAB proceeding. BW USA submitted copies of advertisements purportedly 14 showing the nature and extent of its marketed products. (Doc. 28 at 35-36.) BW USA provided no 15 context about the extent or time of distribution of these materials. (Id.) In contrast, BioTech 16 submitted 39 invoices from 2014 to 2020, which detailed how it used the mark in commerce with 17 its goods. (Id. at 36 n.76.) The TTAB concluded BW USA’s evidence did not establish prior and 18 continuous use in the marketplace to corroborate the claimed common law rights. (Id. at 36-38.) 19 Finally, BW USA’s claims opposing the registration of BIOWORLD PRODUCTS relate 20 to its infringement counterclaim. To maintain a cause of action for trademark infringement, BW 21 USA must show it has priority to the asserted marks and BioTech’s use of those marks creates a 22 likelihood of confusion. See Wells Fargo & Co, 758 F.3d at 1072. Likewise, to maintain an 23 opposition to federal registration, BW USA asserted likelihood of confusion with a mark to which 24 it allegedly has superior rights. (See Doc. 28 at 8); see also B&B Hardware, 575 U.S. at 144. 25 Therefore, BW USA’s infringement claim closely relates to its prior challenge to the registration 26 of the BIOWORLD PRODUCTS mark. See Synoptek, LLC v. Synaptek Corp., 2018 WL 27 3359017, *4 (C.D. Cal. June 4, 2018) (finding TTAB’s ruling on likelihood of confusion in 28 cancellation proceedings had preclusive effect on whether a likelihood of confusion existed in the 1 infringement claim). These factors illustrate how the TTAB November 2020 already addressed 2 the issue as to whether BW USA own use constitutes sufficient market use to preempt BioTech’s 3 federal rights, an issue identical to one raised by the counterclaim. 4 b. Final Judgment on the Merits 5 Under the second element of issue preclusion, the prior proceeding must have concluded 6 with a final judgment on the merits. Skilstaf, 669 F.3d at 1021. A final judgment must be 7 “sufficiently firm to be accorded conclusive effect.” Robi v. Five Platters, Inc., 838 F.2d 318, 327 8 (9th Cir. 1988) (internal quotations omitted). To determine whether a judgment is sufficiently 9 firm, courts consider: whether the parties were fully heard, whether the court supported its 10 decision with a reasoned opinion, and whether the decision was subject to appeal or was reviewed 11 on appeal. Luben Inds. Inc. v. United States, 707 F.2d 1037, 1040 (9th Cir. 1983). Decisions from 12 the TTAB in opposition proceedings generally, and in this case, satisfy these factors. 13 Opposition proceedings before the TTAB follow similar procedures as a federal court 14 because the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence apply. B&B Hardware, 575 U.S. at 15 138. “The TTAB also allows discovery and depositions.” Id. Although the TTAB does not hear 16 live testimony, parties may submit “transcribed testimony, taken under oath and subject to cross- 17 examination, and [may] request oral argument.” Id. These elements provide an opportunity for 18 parties to be fully heard and provide a well-reasoned basis to support the TTAB decisions. 19 BW USA had an opportunity to be fully heard on whether it had sufficient commercial 20 activity to establish superior common law rights to the BIOWORLD marks, and the TTAB came 21 to a well-reasoned decision. BW USA submitted declarations of Diane Barnes, Don Damschen, 22 and Peter Bradley; invoices of BW USA’s predecessor entities; and marketing materials used by 23 the company. (Doc. 28 at 10, 35-36.) The TTAB reviewed the evidence and arguments in BW 24 USA brief and reasoned that it did not show consistent, sufficient use in the market. (Id.) BW 25 USA did not explain to whom or when the materials were distributed, undercutting the ability of 26 the evidence to show use prior to BioTech’s application date. (Id.) The TTAB logically evaluated 27 the evidence BW USA submitted in forming its reasoned conclusion. 28 As to the third factor, TTAB decisions are subject to an appeals process, including review 1 in federal court. 15 U.S.C. § 1071. For example, a party may seek review of the TTAB’s 2 cancellation decision, which would place the action “outside of the ‘ordinary’ circumstances that 3 may confer preclusive effect on TTAB rulings.” Franchising v. Starcycle Franchise, 2020 WL 4 3840442, *3, n. 4 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 2020). BW USA, however, did not exercise any option to 5 review or appeal the TTAB’s November 2020 decision. (Doc. 32 at 9.) Accordingly, the Court 6 finds the TTAB November 2020 decision resulted in a final judgment on the merits. 7 c. Same Parties 8 The final element of the issue preclusion analysis considers whether the party against 9 whom issues preclusion is asserted also litigated in the prior proceeding. Robi, 838 F.2d at 326. 10 There is no question that BW USA also brought the challenges against BioTech in both the 11 TTAB Opposition and the TTAB Cancellation proceeding. (See Doc. 25 at ¶ 33.) With all three 12 elements of issue preclusion met, the Court finds the TTAB November 2020 decision precludes 13 BW USA from arguing its own prior use establishes common law rights. 14 3. TTAB August 2021 Decision Precludes BW USA from Relying on its Licensee Status to Establish Common Law Rights 15 16 The TTAB August 2021 decision further precludes BW USA from asserting common law 17 rights to the BIOWORLD marks based on its status as a licensee. In both its petition for 18 cancellation of the mark before the TTAB and in its current counterclaim, BW USA argues its 19 written license executed in November 2020 allows it to “step into the shoes” of Phillip Barnes, as 20 the owner of the marks. (Doc. 40-1 at 7; Doc. 31 at 8-9.) Specifically, BW USA argued to the 21 TTAB that it was “asserting Phillip Barnes’ rights” because it obtained an “exclusive license” to 22 use the mark in November 2020. (Doc. 40-1 at 7.) BW USA likewise provided the Court with the 23 November 2020 license to support its argument that it holds superior rights to the BIOWORLD 24 marks over BioTech. (Doc. 25 at ¶ 33.) However, the TTAB held that BW USA, as a licensee of 25 Phillip Barnes, could not claim priority based on Phillip’s use of the BIOWORLD marks. (Id.) 26 (citing Moreno v. Pro Boxing Supplies, Inc., 124 USPQ2d 1028, 1036 (TTAB 2017).) A “licensee 27 cannot rely upon the owner-licensor’s date of first use in order to establish priority over a third 28 party.” McCarthy, at § 16:5. Given the overlap in arguments, evidence, and application of law, 1 BW USA raised an identical issue before the TTAB. Moreover, as discussed with respect to 2 TTAB oppositions proceedings, cancellation proceedings likewise present claims significantly 3 related to trademark infringement claims. BW USA’s basis for cancellation of the BIOWORLD 4 mark rested on its claim of priority and likelihood of confusion. (Doc. 40-1 at 6-7); see also 5 Branded, LLC v. Vans, Inc., 2020 WL 8385656, *3-4 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 7, 2020) (issuing a stay 6 pending the outcome of a cancellation action because if the TTAB found defendant had priority to 7 the asserted marks, it would have preclusive effect on the infringement action). Therefore, the 8 TTAB August 2021 decision meets step one of the issue preclusion analysis. 9 For similar reasons discussed above with respect to the November 2020 TTAB decision, 10 the remaining two elements are also met. The November 2020 TTAB proceeding gave the parties 11 a full opportunity to be heard on the merits of the case and formed a well-reasoned conclusion 12 because it follows similar procedures as those in district courts. See B&B Hardware, 575 U.S. at 13 138. Although the TTAB’s decision in August 2021 occurred at the motion to dismiss stage, and 14 presumably involved a less detailed factual record than in the TTAB November 2020 decision, 15 BW USA again failed to take advantage of the appeals process. (Doc. 40-1 at 2, 17.) The TTAB 16 August 2021 decision granted BW USA the opportunity to amend its complaint, but BW USA 17 allowed the deadline to lapse. (Id. at 17.) Consequently, the TTAB dismissed the cancellation 18 proceeding with prejudice, binding the parties to its conclusions. (Id.) 19 Finally, the parties litigating these actions are the same. Having found all three elements 20 of the issue preclusion doctrine met, the TTAB August 2021 decision precludes BW USA from 21 arguing that it has any proprietary common law rights to the BIOWORLD marks as a licensee. 22 4. Conclusion 23 Because the TTAB decisions preclude BW USA from arguing that it has common law 24 rights to the BIOWORLD mark based either on its own use of the mark or as a licensee of Phillip 25 Barnes, BW USA’s counterclaim does not otherwise set forth a set of facts upon which the Court 26 could find trademark infringement. Accordingly, the Court dismisses BW USA’s counterclaim 27 for common law trademark infringement. 28 1 C. Unfair Competition 2 BioTech contends BW USA’s claim for unfair competition fails because “liability rests on 3 the same allegations as its trademark infringement claims” and therefore, rises and falls with the 4 infringement cause of action. (Doc. 27 at 13.) BW USA disagrees and asserts its “cause of action 5 for unfair competition is a different cause of action than one for trademark infringement.” (Doc. 6 31 at 12.) BW USA relies on Los Defensores, Inc. v. Gomez, in which the court drew a distinction 7 between the unfair competition claim that rested on “appropriation of another’s trade” rather than 8 “appropriation and use of another’s trademark.” 223 Cal.App.4th 377, 396-397 (2014) (emphasis 9 added). Unlike Los Defensores, BW USA did not distinguish between the type of appropriation 10 that allegedly gives rise to its infringement claim versus its unfair competition claim. Instead, BW 11 USA’s arguments to support its unfair competition claim refer to the same assertions relied upon 12 for its trademark claim—i.e., that it can stand in the shoes of Phillip Barnes as licensee (and now 13 assignee) of the mark and these transfers of ownership were valid. (Doc. 31 at 13.) 14 Moreover, the Ninth Circuit held that unfair competition claims under California law “that 15 sound in trademark” are subject to the same analysis as Lanham Act claims and California 16 common law trademark claims. Cleary v. News Corp., 30 F.3d 1255, 1262-63 (9th Cir. 1994); see 17 also Grupo Gigange, 391 F.3d at 1100 (“As a general matter, trademark claims under California 18 law are ‘substantially congruent’ with federal claims and thus lend themselves to the same 19 analysis.”). Because BW USA’s unfair competition claim rests on the same factual allegations 20 and legal analysis as the trademark infringement claims, the Court likewise dismisses the second 21 counterclaim for failure to state a claim. 22 D. Leave to Amend 23 Pursuant to Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, leave to amend “shall be 24 freely given when justice so requires,” bearing in mind “the underlying purpose of Rule 15 to 25 facilitate decisions on the merits, rather than on the pleadings or technicalities.” Lopez v. Smith, 26 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000) (alterations, internal quotation marks omitted). When 27 dismissing a complaint for failure to state a claim, “a district court should grant leave to amend 28 even if no request to amend the pleading was made, unless it determines that the pleading could 1 not possibly be cured by the allegation of other facts.” Id. at 1130 (internal quotation marks 2 omitted). Accordingly, leave to amend generally shall be denied only if allowing amendment 3 would unduly prejudice the opposing party, cause undue delay, or be futile, or if the moving party 4 acted in bad faith. Leadsinger, Inc. v. BMG Music Publishing, 512 F.3d 522, 532 (9th Cir. 2008). 5 BW USA requests leave to amend its counterclaims in light of the new assignment from 6 Phillip Barnes. (Doc. 31 at 10, n. 3.) BioTech argues BW USA has made clear it “possesses no 7 additional facts that can cure the defects.” (Doc. 32 at 14.) BioTech further argues that amending 8 the counterclaims to include the January 2021 Assignment would not change the fact that BW 9 USA’s date of incorporation occurred after BioTech began using the mark. (Id. at 10.) BioTech 10 did not explain how this would negate BW USA’s priority claim as an assignee of Phillip Barnes’ 11 ownership rights. See McCarthy on Trademarks and Unfair Competition, § 18:5 (“A valid 12 assignment forges a link in a chain of priority of use of the mark.”). BioTech’s remaining 13 arguments against the request to amend rely on factual deficiencies in the counterclaims. For 14 example, BioTech contends the assignment is invalid because BW USA did not allege it acquired 15 any commercial interests with the assignment, rendering the transfer invalid. (Doc. 32 at 12.) 16 However, amendment affords BW USA an opportunity to cure the alleged factual deficiencies. 17 Finally, BioTech urges the Court not to allow amendment because BW USA has already 18 made two attempts to fix its trademark counterclaims. Cognizant of BW USA’s prior attempts to 19 establish priority to the BIOWORLD marks, BW USA will be granted one final opportunity to 20 amend its counterclaims. For the reasons explained above, BW USA may not reassert 21 infringement theories that rest on BW USA’s own prior use or arise from its licensee status. 22 V. ORDER 23 For the reasons set forth above, the Court ORDERS: 24 1. The motion to dismiss (Doc. 26) is GRANTED. 25 2. BW USA SHALL file a Second Amended Counterclaim within forty-five days of 26 service of this order. 27 /// 28 /// 1 Failure to timely file amended counterclaims may result in dismissal of such claims 2 for failure to prosecute and failure to obey the Court’s order. 3 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 Dated: _ April 26, 2022 Cerin | Tower TED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 17