IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
) Ambient Heating & Cooling, LLC, a ) C.A. No. 9596-MA Delaware Limited Liability Company, ) Petitioner, ) v. ) ) Ernest D. Shepherd, Jr., and individual, and ) Christopher Ferguson, and individual both ) d/b/a/ Ambient ) Respondents. )
MASTER’S REPORT
Date Submitted: July 11, 2016 Draft Report: October 21, 2016 Final Report: March 28, 2017
In February 2007, a Delaware limited liability company was formed and began
to provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services in Kent and New Castle
Counties. In January 2013, a partnership was established to provide heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning services in New Castle County. The two businesses
have similar names and similar marks and provide services to residential customers.
In April 2013, the managing member of the limited liability company contacted one
of the partners and asked him to consider changing the name of his business. The
partner refused. The limited liability company now has petitioned this Court, seeking
to enjoin the partnership from continuing to operate and advertise its heating and
Page 1 of 21 cooling business in Delaware under the name “Ambient.” For the reasons that
follow, I recommend that the Court grant injunctive relief in this case.
Factual Background
In 2006, after many years of working in the heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (“HVAC”) industry, Scott Lang and Sean Wilson decided to start their
own business providing HVAC services.1 They wanted a name for their business
which started with the letter “A” and, after reviewing advertisements in the phone
book and customer lists at HVAC supply houses, they settled on the name “Ambient
Heating and Cooling.”2 On February 6, 2007, Petitioner Ambient Heating &
Cooling, LLC (“Ambient LLC”) was formed and has been in business ever since.3
Ambient LLC grew through word of mouth and state-wide advertisements in the
phone book.4 However, the recession of 2008-2009 took its toll on the business and
Ambient LLC ceased placing ads in the phone book.5 In early 2011, Wilson left the
company to find other employment, and Lang slowly built up the company again on
his own.6 By 2012, business had sufficiently rebounded that Ambient LLC was able
to hire an employee to help Lang with installations and service calls.7
1 Trial Transcript “”TT”) 15-18. 2 TT 18-19. 3 Joint Trial Exhibit (“JX”) C. 4 TT 20. 5 TT 52, 67. 6 TT 20-21. 7 TT 21-22. Page 2 of 21 Ambient LLC is based in Dover, Delaware and provides HVAC services
mostly to residential customers and a few light commercial customers in Kent and
New Castle Counties.8 Ambient LLC’s mark is displayed on the company’s white
truck and black sweatshirts.9 The mark depicts a cloud partially shaped like a human
face which is blowing steam out of its mouth. A yellow sun with extended rays
appears to be rising up behind the cloud. The word “Ambient” is prominently
displayed over this image and the words “heating & cooling” are arrayed in smaller
letters under the cloud. The company’s invoices and yard signs display the words
“Ambient Heating & Cooling LLC” and the company’s telephone numbers.10
Respondents Ernest Shepherd and Christopher Ferguson have worked in the
HVAC industry since the late 1990s.11 For the past eight years, Shepherd has been
employed by a company that manages commercial high-rise facilities and
construction,12 but in 2012 he and Ferguson decided to start their own HVAC
business as partners.13 They also thought the letter “A” was a good letter to use and
chose “Ambient” for their business name. According to Shepherd, “ambient” is a
term frequently used in the HVAC industry.14 In early December 2012, Shepherd
8 TT 42, 46. 9 JX I. 10 Id. 11 TT 90-91. 12 TT 91. 13 TT 92. 14 Id. Page 3 of 21 went to the New Castle County Prothonotary’s Office and registered “Ambient” as
the trade name of their business,15 using the address of Shepherd’s home in
Hockessin - 3701 Oak Ridge Road - as Ambient’s address.16
The two partners are responsible for different tasks. Ferguson goes out on
installation and service calls during the day, and Shepherd does estimates and some
service calls in the evening.17 Ferguson’s wife answers the telephone for Ambient
and schedules the customers’ appointments.18 Shepherd’s wife designed the mark
that is displayed on Ambient’s white truck, yard signs, invoices, proposals,
advertising, and blue shirts.19 Ambient’s mark prominently features the word
“AMBIENT” without the letter “I.”20 In the letter’s place is an image of a large
thermometer with lines and red mercury extending above and below the other letters.
Below “AMB ENT” are the words “heating” and “cooling” in smaller letters, with
“heating” to the left and “cooling” to the right of the thermometer’s bulb.21
15 TT 93; JX A. In 2013, Shepherd and Ferguson executed a partnership agreement, TT 96, and they have continued to operate the business as partners even though they incorporated as Ambient, Inc. in January 2015. TT 101. JX B. 16 TT 102. 17 TT 118. 18 TT 81-82, 88. 19 TT 94-95. 20 JX I. 21 Id. Page 4 of 21 In early 2013, Lang learned through a mutual acquaintance that another
business called Ambient was located in the Hockessin area, but did nothing about it. 22
In the spring of 2013, however, Lang became concerned after speaking with his
daughter who had seen Ambient’s truck in Newark and mistaken it for her father’s
truck, and with another acquaintance who had told Lang that Ambient was doing
business up north.23 Lang did some research and found a Facebook advertisement
listing the business as “Ambient Heating and Cooling.”24 He called the telephone
number listed on the website and Ferguson’s wife answered the telephone saying:
“Ambient Heating and Cooling.” Lang identified himself and his business, and asked
to speak with the owner. When Shepherd returned his call, Lang asked him to
consider changing his business’s name, but Shepherd refused.25 At trial, Shepherd
testified that he already had put too much time and money into the business to
consider changing its name.26 After this conversation, Shepherd attempted to register
the name “Ambient” with the United States Trademark and Patent Office
22 TT 24-25. Shepherd learned of Ambient LLC’s existence through this mutual acquaintance in February or April of 2013. Stipulation of Facts, at ¶ 9. Docket Item (“DI”) 54. 23 TT 25-26. 24 TT 27. 25 TT 28-29. 26 TT 98, 115. Page 5 of 21 (“USTPO”), but his application was denied. According to Shepherd’s testimony, it
was denied because “ambient” is a generic word.27
In 2013, Lang received a voicemail from a woman looking for “Ernie
Shepherd” with “Ambient Heating and Cooling” to replace her water heater.28 In
June 2013, Ambient LLC received a notice of a code violation from the City of New
Castle for working at a residence without a current business license.29 Lang checked
his records and discovered that Ambient LLC had not done any work at the address
listed in the citation.30 What had occurred was that Shepherd and Ferguson helped a
friend finish an installation job at his home in New Castle and, in exchange, they had
put their yard sign advertising Ambient in their friend’s front yard.31 In March 2014,
Lang noticed that Angie’s List contained a profile for “Ambient Heating & Cooling”
with the address of 3701 Oak Ridge Road in Wilmington, Delaware.32 In May 2014,
Ambient LLC received an invoice from Pierce-Phelps, Inc., an HVAC supply house,
27 TT 98-99. After trial, the parties stipulated to the admission of the July 15, 2013 letter from the USTPO that, in fact, had not denied Ferguson’s application to register Ambient’s mark because the word “ambient” was generic. JX J. Instead, the USTPO had denied the application because of the likelihood of confusion of Ambient’s mark with a previously registered mark of a company called Ambient Air, Inc., based in Florida. The registered mark of that corporation consisted of the words “AMBIENT AIR” prominently displayed in a circle formed by two curved arrows pointing to the word “surrounding” at the top and the words “you in service” at the bottom of the circle. Id. 28 TT 23-24. 29 TT 33; JX E. 30 TT 33-34. 31 TT 104-105. Page 6 of 21 for parts that Lang had not ordered.33 The invoice had been signed by Ferguson.34
Another invoice from Pierce-Phelps, dated May 2015, listed items that Lang had
asked his assistant to pick up, but the invoice was billed to Ambient with the notation
“attention Chris Ferguson.”35 Around this time, Lang received a phone call from
Kurt Vanscoy asking to speak with Ferguson about doing more work for Vanscoy.36
In October 2015, Ambient LLC was contacted by Lou Mazzio who was looking for
Ambient to do some work at his house in Wilmington.37 As a subcontractor, Ambient
LLC did some work at the Gaskell residence where Mr. Gaskell mentioned that
Ambient LLC previously had worked for his parents.38 Mrs. Gaskell then asked Lang
why he had never shown up to give her a price for a job. Confused by his response,
Mrs. Gaskell asked whether he worked out of Hockessin and Lang replied that he was
out of Dover.39 Glenn Fedele called Ambient LLC looking for Shepherd with
“Ambient Heating and Cooling.”40 Similarly, Lang knew an acquaintance who had
tried to contact Lang through Ambient’s Facebook page.41
32 JX D. 33 TT 35-36; JX F. 34 TT 35-36. 35 JX G. 36 TT 44. 37 TT 45; Stipulation at ¶16. 38 TT 45. 39 TT 45-46. 40 TT 46. 41 TT 49-50. Page 7 of 21 Each time Lang answered a call from someone looking for Ambient, it took
time away from Ambient LLC.42 In addition, Lang decided not to pay for advertising
during 2013-2016 because he did not want to spend money advertising his own
company only to provide a benefit to Ambient instead. During the past three years,
the growth of Ambient LLC has depended on displaying the company’s name and
mark on yard signs, shirts, and its truck, in addition to word-of-mouth
communications.
In contrast, Shepherd and Ferguson have continued to advertise their business
on the radio, in print, and on the web, and have seen their business grow at a rate of
30 percent per year since 2013.43 On two occasions, Mrs. Ferguson received phone
calls from a customer trying to reach Lang at Ambient LLC. 44 Mrs. Ferguson no
longer answers the telephone with the words “Ambient Heating and Cooling;”
instead, she now says “Ambient.”45 Ambient’s business is currently advertised on
Angie’s List and Facebook under the name “Ambient HVAC,” but the words
42 All business calls are transferred to Lang’s cellular phone. TT 23. If he is driving, he has to stop the truck to take the call. In addition, Lang has to look up the company’s customer list each time to see if the call is from one of Ambient LLC’s customers or one of Ambient’s customers. TT 46-47. 43 TT 100. 44 TT 83-84. 45 TT 83. Page 8 of 21 “heating” and “cooling” are still displayed on Ambient’s trucks, invoices, yard signs,
and the shirts worn by its partners and employees.46
Procedural Background
On April 30, 2014, a petition for injunction was filed by Ambient LLC. 47
Respondents Shepherd and Ferguson filed their answer and counterclaim on June 4,
2014.48 The following day, Petitioner filed its response to Respondents’
counterclaim.49 On June 19, 2014, Respondents filed an amended answer and
counterclaim.50 On April 17, 2015, Petitioner filed an amended petition for
injunction, which was followed on May 7, 2015, by the filing of Respondents’ answer
to the amended petition and counterclaim.51 As a result of considerable discovery
efforts, the parties were able to stipulate to numerous facts.52 A one-day trial was
held on March 23, 2016,53 and was followed by the submission of the parties’ post-
trial closing arguments/briefs.
Issues
46 TT 111-113. 47 DI 1. 48 DI 6. 49 DI 7. 50 DI 9. 51 DI 26. Respondents have waived their counterclaim by failing to address it in their post-trial answering brief. 52 DI 54. 53 DI 55. Page 9 of 21 Petitioner contends that common law trademark and the Delaware Deceptive
Trade Practices Act (“the Act”) should prevent Respondents from continuing to trade
using the name Ambient. Under the common law, a trademark acquires specific
significance through prior exclusive use in the same market or from having acquired
a secondary meaning and, thereafter, is entitled to protection from use by others.
Under the Act, a person engages in a deceptive trade practice if he engages in acts
that cause a “likelihood of confusion,” inter alia, as to the source of services. In this
case, Petitioner has been providing heating and air conditioning services to its
customers in Kent and Sussex Counties since 2007 under the trade name or mark
“Ambient Heating and Cooling.” Petitioner argues that in 2013, Respondents also
began to use the words “Ambient,” “Heating,” and “Cooling” in their mark, as
evidenced by the joint trial exhibits. Since 2013, the parties have been providing the
same services primarily in the same jurisdiction, i.e., in New Castle County, although
the parties also perform some work in Kent County, and to a lesser extent, Sussex
County. There have been at least a half dozen instances when customers, suppliers,
and even a municipal government have been confused by the presence of two HVAC
businesses both bearing the name Ambient operating in Delaware.
Respondents contend that Petitioner has not shown that it is entitled to the
exclusive use of the word “Ambient” in its trade name. They argue that the words
“heating,” “cooling,” and “HVAC” are generic terms identifying the basic services
Page 10 of 21 both parties are providing, and that the word “ambient” itself is used often in the
HVAC business and refers to the “surrounding air.” As a result, Respondents argue
that this Court should find the word “Ambient” is generic and cannot be trademarked.
At most, since the word “ambient” is not as commonly used as the words “heating”
and “cooling,” it may be regarded as descriptive. If so, then Petitioner’s claim must
fail because it has not argued that the word “ambient” has become so invested with
secondary meaning in Delaware as to become known as referring only to Petitioner.
Respondents further argue that: (1) the use of the word “Ambient” predates
Petitioner’s use because another HVAC company with the same name has been
operating in Delaware since before 2007; (2) Petitioner has done no advertising since
2010 to associate the word “ambient” with Petitioner in the public’s mind; and (3)
Petitioner has presented no market evidence that would support a finding of
secondary meaning.
Petitioner responds that the word “ambient” is not descriptive because it does
not describe the actual types of services that are being offered, i.e., the installation
and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. Instead, it suggests
that the services being offered will help customers to control their surroundings. As a
suggestive trade name, the word “ambient” is entitled to protection under the
common law. Even if it were only a descriptive trade name, Petitioner contends that
“ambient” has acquired sufficient secondary meaning to preclude Respondents from
Page 11 of 21 usurping it. Small businesses cannot afford to procure a professional market survey
to prove secondary meaning, and there is no case law in Delaware requiring such
proof. Instead, there must be evidence of the likelihood that the business names will
be confused, and Petitioner contends that it has amply demonstrated the confusion
already experienced by consumers, suppliers, and also at least one governmental
agency.
Analysis
The Act provides, under 6 Del. C. § 2632(a)(2), that “[a] person engages in a
deceptive trade practice when, in the course of a business … that person … causes
likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship,
approval, or certification of goods or services[.]” In this case, the likelihood of
confusion is alleged to have arisen because of the similarity in names and marks of
Ambient LLC and Ambient. Akin to common law claims of trademark infringement
and unfair competition,54 a successful claimant under the Act may be entitled to
additional remedies than would otherwise be available under the common law. 55 To
determine whether a trade name or mark creates a likelihood of confusion, the Court
54 See generally, Coca-Cola Co. v. Nehi Corp., 36 A.2d 156 (Del. 1944); Air Reduction Co., Inc. v. Airco Supply Co., Inc., 258 A.2d 301(Del. Ch. 1969); United States Plywood Co., Inc. v. United Plywood Corp., 161 A. 913 (Del. Ch. 1932); American Radio Stores, Inc. v. American Radio & Television Stores Corp., 150 A. 180 (Del. Ch. 1930). Page 12 of 21 must consider: (1) the degree of similarity between the marks; (2) the similarity of
products for which the name is used; (3) the area and manner of concurrent use; (4)
the degree of care likely to be exercised by consumers; (5) the strength of the
petitioner’s mark; (6) whether there has been actual confusion; and (7) the intent of
the alleged infringer to palm off his products as those of another.56
A. Similarity of the Marks
Both marks start with the word “Ambient” and both also contain the words
“heating” and “cooling.” The marks would be identical except that Ambient LLC’s
mark includes an image of a cloud while Ambient’s mark replaces the letter “I” with
an image of a thermometer. Despite this substitution, the average consumer would
read this mark as “Ambient.”
B. Similarity of the Products
Both businesses engage in the same trade, i.e., the installation, maintenance,
and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Ambient LLC
provides approximately 85 percent of its services to residential customers and 15
percent to light commercial customers like liquor stores. There was no statistical
55 See 6 Del. C. § 2533(c). Ambient LLC is seeking the traditional remedy of a permanent injunction on Respondents’ use of the word “Ambient,” and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs under the Act. 56 Diamond State Tire, Inc. v. Diamond Town Tire Pros & Auto Care, LLC, 2016 WL 4384304, at * 3 (Del. Ch. Aug. 15, 2016) (citing Draper Commc’ns, Inc. v. Del. Valley Broadcasters Ltd. P’ship, 505 A.2d 1283, 1290 (Del. Ch. 1985)). Page 13 of 21 evidence presented regarding the types of customers served by Ambient, but the
customers mentioned during the trial were all residential.
C. Area and Manner of Concurrent Uses
Ambient LLC does considerable work in New Castle County, some work in
Kent County, and a small amount of work in Sussex County. Ambient performs the
vast majority of its work in New Castle County, with little or no work in the lower
two counties. Occasionally, Ambient performs work in other states such as
Pennsylvania.
D. Degree of Care Likely to be Exercised by Consumers
There was no evidence presented on this issue, but to the extent that installation
of a new heating or air conditioning system can be expensive, one assumes that most
consumers would exercise some degree of care when selecting an HVAC business to
do the work.
E. Strength of the Mark
A business’s trade name or mark is entitled to protection against imitation or
wrongful use where it has priority of use in the marketplace and has achieved
community acceptance to the extent that prospective customers view the trade name
or mark as identifying the goods or services produced or performed by a particular
Page 14 of 21 person.57 In this case, it is undisputed that Ambient LLC’s mark has priority of use
in New Castle and Kent Counties.58 From February 2007 until January 2013,
Ambient LLC was the only HVAC enterprise with the trade name and mark
containing the words “ambient,” “heating,” and “cooling” which was operating in
New Castle and Kent Counties. During this time, it was advertising its name by
various means and expanding its customer base. Ambient nevertheless contends that
the name failed to gain secondary meaning because it is merely descriptive, and
names that are generic or descriptive of different products are not worthy of
protection.
Whether a trade name and mark is strong and, therefore, worthy of protection,
depends upon the category in which it falls: (1) generic; (2) descriptive; (3)
57 See Bank of Delaware Corp. v. First Nat’l Bank of Georgetown, 1983 WL 17979, *3 (Del. Ch. 1983) (“Secondary meaning refers to that quality of a name’s public recognition which causes those who are exposed to it in the marketplace to assume that the goods or services associated with the name derived from a single source.”) (citing Scott Paper Co. v. Scott’s Liquid Gold Inc., 589 F.2d 1225 (3rd Cir. 1989); Kampgrounds of America, Inc. v. North Delaware A-OK Campground, Inc , 415 F. Supp. 1288 (D. Del. 1976) , aff’d 556 F.2d 566 (3rd Cir. 1977)). 58 At trial, there was evidence of a business called Ambient Heating and Air Conditioning, located at 702 Fallon Avenue in Wilmington, Delaware, which was listed as a customer at the R.E. Michaels supply house in Elsemere. It was disputed whether this Ambient was in operation when Lang started his company in 2007. TT 122-24. The evidence shows that prior to registering Ambient as a trade name in December 2012, Shepherd checked the Prothonotary’s Office and found no other “Ambient” or “Ambient Heating and Cooling” listed there. TT 93. What this suggests is that the third Ambient, if it was providing HVAC services in New Castle County at this time, was not doing so under a trade name similar to the parties’ Page 15 of 21 suggestive; and (4) arbitrary or fanciful.59 The words “heating” and “cooling” appear
to fall within the descriptive category because they convey an immediate idea of the
types of service offered by Ambient LLC. However, when used as an adjective, the
word “ambient” means “surrounding on all sides,” “encompassing,” or
“enveloping.”60 The addition of the word “ambient” distinguishes Petitioner’s trade
name and elevates it to the suggestive category because it requires some
“imagination, thought, or perception” on the part of a customer to determine that the
company is offering more than just an air conditioner or heater, for example, but is
also providing entire systems for controlling the warmth and coolth of the customer’s
physical environment.61 It is, therefore, a strong mark.
F. Actual Confusion
There was evidence of actual confusion by several customers or prospective
customers of both businesses. A supplier and the City of New Castle also confused
the names of the businesses on one or two occasions, raising the specter of damage to
Ambient LLC’s credit, reputation, and ability to provide services.62 Evidence of
names. TT 93. Accordingly, the evidence regarding this other Ambient can have no bearing on my analysis of the strength of Ambient LLC’s mark. 59 Diamond State Tire, Inc., 2016 WL 4384304 at *3. 60 Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, Merriam-Webster, Inc. (© 2002 ). 61 Diamond State Tire, Inc., 2016 WL 4384304, at *3. 62 Although the invoice mix-up at Pierce-Phelps resulted in no financial harm because the parties had cash accounts there, Lang testified that supply houses deal only with certain brands of equipment, and Ambient LLC has to be certified to install those Page 16 of 21 actual confusion is probative of the likelihood of confusion.63 Even though recently
Ambient has limited its use of the name “Ambient Heating and Cooling,” it continues
to use “Amb ent” in conjunction with the words “heating” and “cooling” or “HVAC”
on its trucks, clothing, yard signs, advertisements, and paperwork. Therefore, I do
not consider there has been any significant reduction in the likelihood of confusion
among customers in the small marketing area in which these businesses operate.
G. The Intent of Ambient
Ambient LLC does not accuse Ambient of having intended to create confusion
when it chose to do business under a similar name. Nevertheless, Ambient LLC
argues that Ambient’s decision to continue using its name after being informed of
Ambient LLC’s existence warrants a finding in its favor. The record shows that
Shepherd and Ferguson were aware of the existence of Lang’s company through a
mutual acquaintance either in February 2013 or April 2013 before Lang called
Ambient’s telephone number.64 Shepherd refused Lang’s request to change his trade
name even though he and Ferguson had just commenced operations a few months
brands. If Ambient purchased some equipment, but the serial number was registered on Ambient LLC’s account, there could be negative consequences for Ambient LLC and the dealer, and physical harm might result if the components were not installed properly, although there was no suggestion that the employees of either business were anything other than competent. TT 37-41. 63 Draper Communications, Inc. v. Delaware Valley Broadcasters Ltd. P’ship,, 502 A.2d 1283, 1295 (Del. Ch. 1985). 64 TT 27-28. Page 17 of 21 earlier and the business had not yet received many calls.65 He then attempted to
register his trade mark with the USPTO, to no avail. Given Shepherd’s response to
Lang’s request and the fact that since 2013, Ambient’s business has grown and now
has five employees and receives over 2000 calls a year,66 I find that there was at least
some intent on the part of Shepherd and Ferguson to trade on the good will and
reputation of Ambient LLC.67 As a new business, they also had a financial incentive
to do so.68 Considering all the above factors, I find that Ambient LLC has
demonstrated an infringement on its trade name and a violation of Delaware’s
Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Ambient LLC is seeking a court order enjoining Respondents Shepherd,
Ferguson, and Ambient from using the trade name “Ambient Heating & Cooling” and
holding themselves out to the Delaware HVAC market as “Ambient” performing
heating and/or cooling services. In order to obtain a permanent injunction, a party
must demonstrate that: (1) its claim has actual merit; (2) it will suffer irreparable
harm if injunctive relief is not granted; and (3) the harm that would result if an
injunction does not issue outweighs the harm that would befall the opposing party if
65 TT 81. 66 TT 81, 119. 67 See Draper Communications, Inc., 505 A.2d at 1296 (citing Pathfinder Communications Corp. v. Midwest Communications Co., 593 F. Supp. 281, 287 (N.D.Ind. 1984)). 68 Id. Page 18 of 21 the injunction is issued.69 I have already found that Ambient LLC has demonstrated
actual success on the merits of its claims. Regarding irreparable harm, Ambient LLC
has demonstrated that actual confusion has occurred in the HVAC market in New
Castle County, in particular, as a result of there being two HVAC businesses with
very similar names operating in the same market. In all probability, this confusion
will continue and worsen over time, causing irreparable harm to Ambient LLC unless
an injunction issues. Regarding the balancing of the equities, it appears that Ambient
is the larger of the two businesses, at least in terms of number of employees, although
Ambient LLC and Ambient each receives approximately 2000 calls a year. Lang has
worked for nine years during periods of economic growth and severe recession to
promote his HVAC company in Delaware. Shepherd and Ferguson began working
only three years ago after the economy already had begun to improve. There was no
evidence presented of any hardship Shepherd and Ferguson might suffer if forced to
change the trade name of their business, although obviously there would be financial
costs involved. Nevertheless, Shepherd and Ferguson had the opportunity to change
the name of their business well before it became successful, and they refused to do
so. They also failed to heed the implicit warning in the July 2013 USPTO rejection
69 Id. at 1288 (citing Gimbel v. Signal Cos., Inc., 316 A.2d 599, 602-603 (Del. Ch.), aff’d, 316 A.2d 619 (Del. 1974); Wylain, Inc. v. TRE Corp., 412 A.2d 338, 342 (Del. Ch. 1979); Thomas C. Marshall, Inc. v. Holiday Inn, Inc., 174 A.2d 27, 28 (Del. Ch. 1961); Galella v. Onassis, 353 F. Supp. 196, 235-236 (S.D.N.Y. 1972), modified on other grounds, 487 F.2d 986 (2d Cir. 1973); 43 C.J.S. Injunctions §16 (1978)). Page 19 of 21 letter, i.e., that there would be a likelihood of confusion of their mark with any other
mark containing the word “Ambient” in the HVAC trade. For these reasons, I
conclude that the balance of hardships favors Ambient LLC.
Exceptions
Respondents have taken three exceptions to my draft report. First, they argue
that the parties have different trade names and dissimilar marks. Second, they argue
that Petitioner’s mark – “Ambient Heating and Cooling” does not fall within the
category of a suggestive mark. Instead, Respondents argue that it is, at most, a
descriptive mark since the words, taken together, merely describe what the parties do.
Third, they argue that there was no evidence presented at trial that Respondents
sought to trade on the goodwill or reputation of Ambient LLC. Respondents argue
that only rarely did any confusion occur between their customers, and when it did,
Respondents responded very promptly.
In response, Petitioner argues that Respondents have waived their right to take
exception by failing to file a timely opening brief. Even if that were not the case,
Petitioner argues that Respondents’ emphasis on the graphic appearance of the
parties’ logos is misplaced, given that they have identical trade names. In addition,
Petitioner argues that Respondents have effectively admitted that “Ambient Heating
and Cooling” is a suggestive mark even though they attempt to argue otherwise since
Page 20 of 21 Respondents had to draw an inference from the trial testimony regarding the meaning
of the word “ambient.” Finally, Petitioner argues that the instances of actual
confusion over the names of the two businesses is a measure, but not the only
measure of Respondents’ intent to trade on the good will of Ambient LLC. Instead,
the totality of facts presented at trial, including Respondents’ early awareness of the
existence of Petitioner’s business, Respondents’ refusal to change their trade name,
and Respondents’ attempt to register the trade name “Ambient Heating and Cooling”
with the United States Patent and Trademark Office subsequent to learning of
Petitioner’s business, demonstrates that Respondents intended to trade on Petitioner’s
name.
I have reviewed the parties’ briefs very carefully. Assuming, for the sake of
this discussion, that Respondents’ Opening Brief was timely filed, I see no reason to
alter the findings of fact and conclusions of law contained in my draft report. My
recommendations to the Court in this matter remain the same. Therefore, I am
adopting my draft report as my final report as modified herein. The parties are
referred to Court of Chancery Rule 144 for the process of taking exception to a
Master’s Final Report.
Respectfully, /s/ Kim E. Ayvazian Kim E. Ayvazian Master in Chancery KEA/kekz
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