| Bose Sues CEDIA Over “Electronic Lifestyles®” Trademark |
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| Home Theater News Industry-Trade News | |
| Written by Scott Selter | |
| Friday, 07 November 2003 | |
 Bose
Corporation has filed suit in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office to cancel CEDIA’s four federal trademark registrations for its
mark “Electronic Lifestyles®.” CEDIA began using “Electronic
Lifestyles” in 1995 in connection with the association’s non-profit
activities. In 1998 and 1999, CEDIA received four federal trademark
registrations for “Electronic Lifestyles.”Bose, which is a CEDIA member, markets a line of loudspeakers known as “Lifestyle®.” In its suit, Bose claims that CEDIA’s “Electronic Lifestyles” trademark so resembles Bose’s “Lifestyle” trademark as to cause confusion. CEDIA denies that confusion exists or is likely, and CEDIA is defending the proceeding vigorously. Ray Lepper, CEDIA’s President, said: “We are extremely disappointed that Bose has taken this drastic action to cancel CEDIA’s trademark registrations. CEDIA is a non-profit trade association dedicated to improving our members’ businesses and promoting the custom electronic industry. CEDIA does not manufacture or sell loudspeakers – or any physical product under the “Electronic Lifestyles” trademark. We believe it is ludicrous for Bose to maintain that our trade association’s “Electronic Lifestyles” mark could give rise to confusion based on Bose’s “Lifestyle” line of loudspeakers. “Moreover,” continued Lepper, “this association has been built by the long, tireless efforts of thousands of volunteers and sponsors, and to have our trademark challenged in this manner by one of our very own members is very disturbing. To sue one’s own association is wholly inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation and sacrifice that is the hallmark of the true CEDIA member.” Bose is known in industry circles to be very litigious especially in terms of trademark issues. One executive at a direct competitor of Bose tells AudioRevolution.com that Bose once threatened to sue another speaker company, THIEL Loudspeakers, over using “.2” in the suffix of a speaker name because it could have possibly infringed on a Bose trademark. With the six figure price tag of a legal defense, many small companies have no choice but to avoid conflict with the loudspeaker giant and their in-house legal team. CEDIA says they will not back down in this dispute. Like this article? Bookmark and share with any of the sites below.        |
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