CEDIA Wins in Litigation Brought by Bose over Electronic Lifestyles Trademark

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has won the right to keep its Electronic Lifestyles trademark. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office ruled Monday in the drawn-out trademark action filed by Bose Corporation that Bose’s accusations of fraud, abandonment and likelihood of confusion had no merit, and that Bose was guilty of laches, or unreasonable delay in bringing its claims against CEDIA.

CEDIA began promoting its Electronic Lifestyles products, services and events as early as 1997, and continues to invest in the trademark through programs such as its Electronic Lifestyles Awards, Electronic Lifestyles Magazine, and Electronic Lifestyles EXPO. CEDIA and its member companies have spent more than three quarters of a million dollars in the last four years defending their right to use the mark.

A copy of the ruling by The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office is available at http://www.cedia.org/emails/ttabvue.pdf.

“This is an important day for CEDIA because we have successfully defended the right to use our trademark unencumbered,” said Don Gilpin, executive director of CEDIA. “Electronic Lifestyles is a spectacular asset that CEDIA has spent countless man hours and significant dollars building. We will immediately expand the use of Electronic Lifestyles to continue creating new alliances and forging major in-roads with the architecture, building and interior design communities.”

“Now that the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has ruled, I believe it’s time to put the legal issues behind us. CEDIA members have spent an enormous amount of money on a lawsuit that we always believed was unjust. We look forward to receiving an apology from Bose – in whatever form it might take,” said Ray Lepper, former CEDIA president.

CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA Members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association’s Web site at http://www.cedia.org.