Bliss Clearing Niagara, Inc. v. Midwest Brake Bond Co.

OPINION

QUIST, District Judge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Facts and Procedural History.953

A. BCN/Clearing and its Predecessors.953

B. Midwest.954

C. Business Transactions and Negotiations Between the Parties.954

D. Midwest’s Use of the Torc-Pac Mark.955

E. The Litigation.956

II. Summary Judgment Standard.957

III. Discussion. 957

A. Trademark Issues. 958

1. Standing. 958

2. Limitations, Laches, and Acquiescence. 961

3. Fair Use Defense. 962

4. Likelihood of Confusion. 963

a. Strength of the Plaintiffs Mark. .964

b. Relatedness of the Goods. .965

c. Similarity of the Marks . .965

d. Evidence of Actual Confusion. .966

e.…