Summary: Cathay Home Inc abandoned a federal trademark application for "Swift Home" after an opposition from TAS Rights Management LLC, which argued that the cursive "Swift" element in Cathay's proposed logo closely resembles the singer's trademarked signature and could lead consumers to believe she endorsed the products. An attorney for Cathay said the company had not used the contested mark in commerce and chose not to press the registration.
Details of the dispute
An attorney for Cathay Home Inc, Ting Geng, said on Friday that the company had elected to discontinue its application for a federal "Swift Home" trademark. The decision followed a filing by TAS Rights Management LLC to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday, which argued the cursive "Swift" in the bedding company's proposed logo too closely resembled the performers registered signature and therefore risked misleading consumers into thinking the singer endorsed Cathay's goods.
Geng told reporters that "Our client has not used the disputed mark in commerce." He added: "After evaluating the circumstances, our client elected not to pursue registration of a mark it did not consider essential to its business."
Geng also said Cathay had previously entered into a coexistence agreement with the singer for another "Swift Home" trademark that was not part of the present opposition.
Trademark filings and commercial footprint
Cathay applied last year to register a federal "Swift Home" mark covering bedding items such as pillows, mattresses and sheets. Cathay's website lists distribution through national retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Nordstrom and other outlets.
The singer's filing to the trademark office stated that she owns federal trademarks for the use of her name on bed linens, clothing and other products, and that Cathay's proposed mark would likely cause consumer confusion. Cathay did not file a response to that argument at the trademark office, according to available information.
Cathay's reported abandonment of the new application was not immediately visible in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's online records. Representatives for the singer did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Context on the artist named in the opposition
The singer at the center of the trademark opposition is a 14-time Grammy Award winner. Her recent "Eras" tour has been described as the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. The filing from her company emphasized ownership of federal trademarks covering the use of her name on consumer goods and argued that the Cathay mark could create confusion among consumers.
Note: This report reflects the information that has been made public about the application, the opposition filing, and Cathay's stated decision. It does not introduce additional claims beyond those disclosed by the parties.