Seed IP partner Syed M. Abedi has written an article entitled, "Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Judgments: Do They Have Claim Preclusive Effect in Federal Court?," about a case (Beasley v. Howard, 14 F.4th 226 (3d Cir. 2021) that considered the scope of the preclusive effect of TTAB judgments in federal court. In 2015, the Supreme Court held that issue preclusion should generally apply to issues decided by the TTAB, including likelihood of confusion. But what about claim preclusion, including in cases where a particular issue is not decided? Can a TTAB judgment in a case where likelihood of confusion was pleaded but not decided bar a later trademark infringement claim?  

In his article, Syed discusses this issue as presented in the Beasley case and its implications.  

Link to full article: "Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Judgments: Do They Have Claim Preclusive Effect in Federal Court?"

Syed Abedi's practice focuses on the U.S. and international patent and trademark prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and litigation matters. He received a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering from Ryerson University (2000) and an M.Eng. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2003), where his graduate research focused on acoustic emissions monitoring of space shuttle external tanks. Syed earned his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law (2012), where he graduated magna cum laude.

Learn more about Syed Abedi