The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has won the right to keep its Electronic Lifestyles trademark. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office ruled last month in the drawn-out trademark action filed by Bose Corporation that Bose’s accusations of fraud, abandonment and likelihood of confusion had no merit, and that Bose was guilty of unreasonable delay in bringing its claims against CEDIA.
CEDIA began promoting its Electronic Lifestyles products, services and events as early as 1997, and continues to invest in the trademark through programmes such as its Electronic Lifestyles Awards, Electronic Lifestyles Magazine and Electronic Lifestyles Expo. CEDIA and its member companies have spent more than three quarters of a million dollars in the last four years defending their right to use the mark.
“This is an important day for CEDIA because we have successfully defended the right to use our trademark unencumbered,” comments Don Gilpin, executive director of CEDIA. “Electronic Lifestyles is a spectacular asset that CEDIA has spent countless man hours and significant dollars building. We will immediately expand the use of Electronic Lifestyles to continue creating new alliances and forging major inroads with the architecture, building and interior design communities.”
Ray Lepper, former CEDIA president, adds that it is now time for CEDIA and its members to put the legal issues behind them. “CEDIA members have spent an enormous amount of money on a lawsuit that we always believed was unjust,” says Lepper. “We look forward to receiving an apology from Bose – in whatever form it might take.”
www.cedia.org
