Cubita Msj

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov ESTTA Tracking number: Filing date:

Proceeding

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD 91189804

Party

Defendant Corporacion CIMEX, S.A.

Correspondence Address

Submission

DAVID B. GOLDSTEIN RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD, ET AL 111 BROADWAY, SUITE 1102 NEW YORK, NY 10006-1901 UNITED STATES [email protected] Motion for Summary Judgment

Filer's Name

David B. Goldstein

Filer's e-mail

[email protected]

Signature

/David B. Goldstein/

Date

08/18/2009

Attachments

Goldstein Dec.pdf ( 87 pages )(3989024 bytes ) cubita.RM.SJ Brief.pdf ( 17 pages )(112513 bytes ) Alpizar dec. Part 1.pdf ( 49 pages )(4648976 bytes ) Alpizar Dec. Part 2.pdf ( 79 pages )(5567530 bytes ) Bernaza Dec. Part 1.pdf ( 33 pages )(4259715 bytes ) Bernaza Dec. Part 2.pdf ( 71 pages )(7100061 bytes )

ESTTA301635 08/18/2009

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II. Sc. Maria. de los Angeles Sanchez Torres.

Directora General de Ia Oficina Cubana de la Propiedad Industrial.

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CERTIFICO

Que en fecha cuatro de septiembre del ana mil novecientos noventa y uno y por un periodo de diez anos se presento ante la Oficina Nacional de Invenciones Informacion Tecnica y Marcas. la solicitud de registro de marca anotada al numero trescientos veintiun niil guion noventa y uno del Registro de Entrada, en virtud del Decreto­ Ley sesenta y ocho "DE INVENCIONES, DESCUBRIMIENTOS CIENTiFICOS, MODELOSINDUSTRIALES, MARCAS Y DENOMINACIONES DE ORIGEN" de catorce de mayo del ana mil novecientos ochenta y tres, promovida por Rebeca Garcia Monroy, Agente Oficial, a nombre y en representacion de KAVE COFFEE, S.A domiciliada en Calle A, numero trescientos diez, entre tercera y quinta, Municipio Playa, Ciudad de La Habana, Republica de Cuba, otorgandose con fecha quince de octubre del ana mil nocecientos noventa y uno el correspondiente Certificado de Registro numero ciento dieciocho mil ochocientos sesenta y siete que ampara la marca CUBITA y diseno para distinguir: cafe tostado, en la c1ase treinta de fa Clasificacion Internacional de Productos y Servicios. ASIMISMp:'C"ERTIFICO: Que el veintisiete de diciembre de mil novecientos rl~~rtt~:X·:cIti~od;Ag~~j~:6fteig.1Cynthia Ayala Alcorta a nombre y en representacion ". @:.1>ISIRlBUtQ·ORA.CIMEX.:S.A solicito se tomara razon del traspaso de la marca '-:··CtJ·81TA y·~dise.f\G,:"cOi:l··Certific·ado:·i1umero ciento dieciocho mil ochocientos ."~~<:::ses:-~nta-::y--·siet~··-propi~·d~a:-:{ij~·j~':::.e,ntidadKAVE COFFEE S.A, a favor de su ~:::, ,:~y.ep.r.:esei-i'tada con registr~de'e~iraaa.'Ir.e,scientos veintiuno diagonal noventa y uno a 10 _~.~.':,.:.',:,.~u..e::'aCompan6 '~scritura de~:pr.6tocoHz:aiion numero cuatro mil ciento cincuenta y :::'·:""'f;J.I.atro, a tales.eJeetosla OfiCftia:~frlrti.6,f~'~6-lucioncero cuatro diagonal noventa y seis ' : : ' :,:~',£.o"n)echa d9S·de en5!rode mil n6V:~~ieri:ro,s.ri&venta y seis anotando el traspaso a favor

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Decreto Ley doscientos tres "DE

.':. MARCAS Y Ol'RGS::'SIGNOS DISTlNf+v(JS~<de veinticuatro de diciembre de mil :" ::',no:\ieeis'iilos noven'ta'y-:nueye,:pues:to:ei:l'yigoi::e'j dos de mayo de dos mil, se presento ", por:,Roberto Vizca1tlq 'Me;ttll.l1 ez;Agen·te,.Q{icial, a nombre y en representacion de ¢9RPo6p...CI.6N CIM.EX,: S.A:'I CI solicitudde:anotacion numero ciento cinco diagonal dqs,riiildos i.e!~tiva al cambiQ',d.e-la'.persona del Titular de la marca CUBITA y diseno cQ:n·:·Ce.rtlf.i-0;ido.. numero c'ien't6.. ·-dieC:iocho mil ochocientos sesenta y siete se~:j'{j~,'rons:t~::e.ri'..la Escritura de protocolizacion numero mil setenta y uno de fecha treinta'{je'-:abrir:.de, dos mil uno; qued.a,ncto~" a ,faVor" ':de su representada mediante ResoI8:c'.r6~ri'mi·1·
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POR ULTIMO CERTIFICO: Que con fecha once de marzo de dos mil dos,

se present6 ante la Oficina Cubana de la Propiedad Industrial, por el Agente Oficial Roberto Vizcaino Martinez quien representa a la CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., la solicitud de Renovaci6n de la marca de referencia. numero ciento cuarenta y dos diagonal dos mil dos por un periodo de diez ailos. quedando anotada mediante Resoluci6n numero mil novecientos sesenta y siete de dos mil dos, encontrandose en pleno vigor y efectos hasta el cuatro de septiembre del ailo dos mil once y siendo la reproducci6n que se fija a continuaci6n exactamente igual a la que obra en el expediente.

Y a petici6n de Carlos A. Tejeiros Morcate. se expide la presente, previo el pago de los derechos correspondientes, en La Habana, Republica de Cuba, a los tres dias del mes de agosto del ano dos mil nueve.

I~~ ngeles S'anchez Torres~

' de os M . Sc. M ana Directora General

~ of Translation

of

Catific:ade oldie Cuban Office ofIndustrial Property

Debra Evenson declares under penalty of perjury under the laws ofthe United States that

the following it true and correct: 1. I am a lawyer, licensed to practice law in the State ofNew York, and am of counsel to the law firm Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman, P.C. I was professor oflaw at DePaul University School ofLaw from 1980-1993 where I taught comparative intemationallaw. I am fluent in the Spanish language. 2. I translated the Certificate ofthe Cuban Office ofIndust.rial Property from Spanish into English. I attach hereto a copy of the original document in Spanish and the translation thereof which is a true and correct translation into English.

Signed this 7th day of August 2009

DEBRA EVENSON

[SEAL] REPUBLIC OF CUBA M.Sc. Maria de los Angeles Sanchez Torres General Director of the Cuban Office of Industrial Property CERTIFY That on September 4, 1991 an application for the registration was presented to the National Office of Inventions, Technical Information and Trademarks, for a period of ten years, for the mark noted at number 321000-91 of the Registry of Entry, by virtue of Decree Law 68 “ON INVENTIONS, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, INDUSTRIAL MODELS, TRADEMARKS AND DENOMINATIONS OF ORIGIN” of May 14, 1983, presented by Rebeca Garcia Monroy, Official Agent, on behalf and in representation of KAVE COFFEE, S.A., domiciled at Calle A, number 310, between third and fifth, Municipality of Playa, City of Havana, Republic of Cuba, the corresponding Certificate of Registration number 118,867 being granted on October 15, 1991 which protects the mark CUBITA and design for roasted coffee, in class thirty of the International Classification of Products and Services. I ALSO CERTIFY: That on December 27, 1995, the Official Agent Cynthia Ayala Alcorta, on behalf and in representation of DISTRIBUIDORA CIMEX S.A. requested the transfer of the mark CUBITA and design, with Certificate number 118,867, property of KAVE COFFEE S.A., in favor of the represented party with registry of entrance 321/91 to which was attached Document of protocolization number 4154, for which effects the Office issued resolution 04/96 dated January 2, 1996 noted the transfer in favor of DISTRIBUIDORA CIMEX S.A. I ALSO CERTIFY: That being in force Decree Law 203 “ON TRADEMARKS AND OTHER DISTINCTIVE SIGNS” of December 24, 1999, being put into effect May 2, 2000, Robert Viscaino Martinez, Official Agent, on behalf and in representation of CORPORACION CIMEX S.A., presented a request of notation number 105/2002 related to the change of ownership of the mark CUBITA and Design with Certificate number 118,867, as stated in the Document of protocolization number 1071 dated April 30, 2001; being put in favor of his represented party by Resolution 1966 on 2002, dated December 16, 2002.

I ALSO CERTIFY: That on March 11, 2002, application number 1402/2002 for the renewal for a period of ten years of the referenced mark, was presented before the Cuban Office of Industrial Property by Roberto Vizcaino Martinez who represents the CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., being noted by Resolution number 1967, being in full validity and effect until September 4, 2011 and being the reproduction that is set out below exactly as it is found in the files. Image of mark

And at the request of Carlos A. Tejeiros Morcate, the present certificate is issued, upon prior payment of the corresponding fee, in Havana, Republic of Cuba, on August 3, 2009.

[signature] M. Sc. Maria de los Angeles Sanchez Torres General Director

PTO Form 1478 (Rev 9/2006) OMB No. 0651-0009 (Exp 12/31/2008)

Trademark/Service Mark Application, Principal Register Serial Number: 77473742 Filing Date: 05/13/2008

The table below presents the data as entered. Input Field SERIAL NUMBER

Entered 77473742

MARK INFORMATION *MARK

Cubita

STANDARD CHARACTERS

YES

USPTO-GENERATED IMAGE

YES

LITERAL ELEMENT

Cubita

MARK STATEMENT

The mark consists of standard characters, without claim to any particular font, style, size, or color.

REGISTER

Principal

APPLICANT INFORMATION *OWNER OF MARK

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD

*STREET

P.O. Box 40626

*CITY

Austin

*STATE (Required for U.S. applicants)

Texas

*COUNTRY

United States

*ZIP/POSTAL CODE (Required for U.S. applicants only)

78704

LEGAL ENTITY INFORMATION TYPE

limited partnership

STATE/COUNTRY WHERE LEGALLY ORGANIZED

Texas Ruta Maya Holdings LC -- U.S. citizen

NAME(S) OF GENERAL PARTNER(S) & CITIZENSHIP/INCORPORATION

Timothy J. Sheehan -- U.S. citizen Robert A. Leggett -- U.S. citizen George Doig -- U.S. citizen Ronald W. Dennie Business PTN LTD -- U. S. citizen Grupo de Patrone LTD -U.S. citizen Peggy L. Hirsh -- U.S. citizen Peter Barlin -- U.S. citizen

GOODS AND/OR SERVICES AND BASIS INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL CLASS

030

FIRST USE ANYWHERE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

FIRST USE IN COMMERCE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

*IDENTIFICATION

Coffee

FILING BASIS

SECTION 1(a)

FIRST USE ANYWHERE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

FIRST USE IN COMMERCE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

SPECIMEN FILE NAME(S)

\\TICRS\EXPORT\IMAGEOUT\7 74\737\77473742\xml1\APP0 003.JPG

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

label used in packaging the goods

ATTORNEY INFORMATION NAME

Merrily S. Porter

STREET

P.O. Box 6366

CITY

Austin

STATE

Texas

COUNTRY

United States

ZIP/POSTAL CODE

78762

EMAIL ADDRESS

[email protected]

AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL

Yes

CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION NAME

Merrily S. Porter

STREET

P.O. Box 6366

CITY

Austin

STATE

Texas

COUNTRY

United States

ZIP/POSTAL CODE

78762

EMAIL ADDRESS

[email protected]

AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE VIA EMAIL

Yes

FEE INFORMATION NUMBER OF CLASSES

1

FEE PER CLASS

325

*TOTAL FEE DUE

325

*TOTAL FEE PAID

325

SIGNATURE INFORMATION SIGNATURE

/Merrily S. Porter/

SIGNATORY'S NAME

Merrily S. Porter

SIGNATORY'S POSITION

Attorney, Law Office of James O. Houchins

DATE SIGNED

05/13/2008

SIGNATURE

/James O. Houchins/

SIGNATORY'S NAME

James O. Houchins

SIGNATORY'S POSITION

Attorney, Law Office of James O. Houchins

DATE SIGNED

05/13/2008

PTO Form 1478 (Rev 9/2006) OMB No. 0651-0009 (Exp 12/31/2008)

Trademark/Service Mark Application, Principal Register Serial Number: 77473742 Filing Date: 05/13/2008

To the Commissioner for Trademarks: MARK: Cubita (Standard Characters, see mark) The literal element of the mark consists of Cubita.

The mark consists of standard characters, without claim to any particular font, style, size, or color. The applicant, Ruta Maya Royalty LTD, a limited partnership legally organized under the laws of Texas, comprising of Ruta Maya Holdings LC -- U.S. citizen Timothy J. Sheehan -- U.S. citizen Robert A. Leggett -- U.S. citizen George Doig -- U.S. citizen Ronald W. Dennie Business PTN LTD -- U. S. citizen Grupo de Patrone LTD -- U.S. citizen Peggy L. Hirsh -- U.S. citizen Peter Barlin -- U.S. citizen, having an address of P.O. Box 40626 Austin, Texas 78704 United States requests registration of the trademark/service mark identified above in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the Principal Register established by the Act of July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. Section 1051 et seq.), as amended. For specific filing basis information for each item, you must view the display within the Input Table. International Class 030: Coffee Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce, or the applicant's related company or licensee is using the mark in commerce, or the applicant's predecessor in interest used the mark in commerce, on or in connection with the identified goods and/or services. 15 U.S.C. Section 1051(a), as amended. In International Class 030, the mark was first used at least as early as 03/01/1994, and first used in commerce at least as early as 03/01/1994, and is now in use in such commerce. The applicant is submitting one specimen(s) showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods and/or services, consisting of a(n) label used in packaging the goods. Specimen File1 The applicant hereby appoints Merrily S. Porter P.O. Box 6366 Austin, Texas 78762 United States to submit this application on behalf of the applicant. Correspondence Information: Merrily S. Porter P.O. Box 6366 Austin, Texas 78762 [email protected] (authorized) A fee payment in the amount of $325 has been submitted with the application, representing payment for 1 class(es). Declaration The undersigned, being hereby warned that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. Section 1001, and that such willful false statements, and the like, may jeopardize the validity of the application or any resulting registration, declares that he/she is

properly authorized to execute this application on behalf of the applicant; he/she believes the applicant to be the owner of the trademark/service mark sought to be registered, or, if the application is being filed under 15 U.S.C. Section 1051(b), he/she believes applicant to be entitled to use such mark in commerce; to the best of his/her knowledge and belief no other person, firm, corporation, or association has the right to use the mark in commerce, either in the identical form thereof or in such near resemblance thereto as to be likely, when used on or in connection with the goods/services of such other person, to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive; and that all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true; and that all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true. Signature: /Merrily S. Porter/ Date Signed: 05/13/2008 Signatory's Name: Merrily S. Porter Signatory's Position: Attorney, Law Office of James O. Houchins Signature: /James O. Houchins/ Date Signed: 05/13/2008 Signatory's Name: James O. Houchins Signatory's Position: Attorney, Law Office of James O. Houchins

RAM Sale Number: 4580 RAM Accounting Date: 05/14/2008 Serial Number: 77473742 Internet Transmission Date: Tue May 13 21:32:37 EDT 2008 TEAS Stamp: USPTO/BAS-24.155.177.20-2008051321323752 4938-77473742-400433b9762f446ea3efe6a895 2cf38c9df-CC-4580-20080513210741780232

To:

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD ([email protected])

Subject:

TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77473742 - CUBITA - N/A

Sent:

8/28/2008 3:33:29 PM

Sent As:

[email protected]

Attachments: Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3 Attachment - 4 Attachment - 5

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE SERIAL NO:

77/473742

MARK: CUBITA

*77473742*

CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: MERRILY S. PORTER PO BOX 6366 AUSTIN, TX 78762-6366

RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm GENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION:

http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm APPLICANT:

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD

CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: N/A CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

OFFICE ACTION TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE. ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 8/28/2008 The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant

must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62, 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03. Potential 2(d) Likelihood of Confusion The Office records have been searched and no similar registered mark has been found that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02. However, please be advised that potentially conflicting marks in prior-filed pending applications may present a bar to registration. Information regarding pending Application Serial Nos. 75697908 and 77252382 is enclosed. The filing dates of the referenced applications precede applicant’s filing date. There may be a likelihood of confusion under Trademark Act Section 2(d) between applicant’s mark and the referenced marks. If one or more of the referenced applications registers, registration may be refused in this case under Section 2(d). 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq. Therefore, upon entry of a response to this Office action, action on this case may be suspended pending final disposition of the earlier-filed applications. If applicant believes that there is no potential conflict between this application and the earlier-filed applications, then applicant may present arguments relevant to the issue in a response to this Office action. The election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits applicant’s right to address this issue at a later point. Entity Applicant specifies that it is a Limited Partnership that is organized under the laws of Texas. Applicant correctly specifies the names and citizenships of its individual general partners, e.g., U.S. citizen Timothy J. Sheehan, U.S. citizen Robert A. Leggett, U.S. Citizen George Doig, U.S. citizen Peggy L. Hirsh, and U.S. citizen Peter Barlin. However, the listing of general partners also contains the following indefinite information: Ruta Maya Holdings LC, U.S. citizen Ronald W. Dennie Business PTN LTD, U. S. citizen Grupo de Patrone LTD. Applicant must specify the names, legal entities and national citizenship (for individuals) or the U.S. state or foreign country of organization or incorporation (for businesses) of all general partners. 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(3)(iii); TMEP §§803.03(b), 803.04. If applicant is a U.S. partnership, the application must be amended to identify the partnership in the following format: “Ruta Maya Royalty LTD, a partnership organized under the laws of Texas, composed of Ruta Maya Holdings, L.L.C., a Texas Limited Liability Company, U.S. citizen Timothy J. Sheehan, U.S. citizen Robert A. Leggett, U.S. Citizen George Doig, Ronald W. Dennie Business Partners, a Texas Partnership, Grupo de Patrone, LTD, a Texas Partnership, U.S. citizen Peggy L. Hirsh, and U.S. citizen Peter Barlin.” 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(3)(ii)-(iii); TMEP §§803.03(b), 803.04. Significance Applicant must specify whether “CUBITA” in the mark has any meaning in a foreign language. See 37

C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §§809, 814. An applicant must submit an English translation of all foreign wording in a mark and a transliteration of all non-Latin characters in a mark. TMEP §809; see 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a), 2.61(b). A transliteration is the phonetic spelling, in Latin characters, of the terms in the mark that are in non-Latin characters. If this term has meaning in a foreign language, applicant must submit a statement translating the nonEnglish wording in the mark. TMEP §809; see 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a), 2.61(b). The following formats are acceptable for a translation and transliteration statement: The English translation of CUBITA in the mark is “{specify the translation if applicable, e.g., ‘small Cuba’ or ‘little Cuban girl’}.” TMEP §809.02. If this term has no meaning in a foreign language, applicant should provide the following statement: “The wording CUBITA has no meaning in a foreign language.” Id. If applicant has questions about its application or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned trademark examining attorney.

/Jennifer M. Hetu/ Trademark Examining Attorney Law Office 108 Phone: (571) 272-4858 Fax: (571) 273-9108

RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: Applicant should file a response to this Office action online using the form at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm, waiting 48-72 hours if applicant received notification of the Office action via e-mail. For technical assistance with the form, please e-mail [email protected]. For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned examining attorney. Do not respond to this Office action by e-mail; the USPTO does not accept e-mailed responses. If responding by paper mail, please include the following information: the application serial number, the mark, the filing date and the name, title/position, telephone number and e-mail address of the person signing the response. Please use the following address: Commissioner for Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451. STATUS CHECK: Check the status of the application at least once every six months from the initial filing date using the USPTO Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) online system at http://tarr.uspto.gov. When conducting an online status check, print and maintain a copy of

the complete TARR screen. If the status of your application has not changed for more than six months, please contact the assigned examining attorney.

To:

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD ([email protected])

Subject:

TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77473742 - CUBITA - N/A

Sent:

8/28/2008 3:33:32 PM

Sent As:

[email protected]

Attachments:

IMPORTANT NOTICE USPTO OFFICE ACTION HAS ISSUED ON 8/28/2008 FOR APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 77473742 Please follow the instructions below to continue the prosecution of your application:

VIEW OFFICE ACTION: Click on this link http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow?DDA=Y&serial_number=77473742&doc_type=OOA&mail_date (or copy and paste this URL into the address field of your browser), or visit http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow and enter the application serial number to access the Office action. PLEASE NOTE: The Office action may not be immediately available but will be viewable within 24 hours of this notification. RESPONSE MAY BE REQUIRED: You should carefully review the Office action to determine (1) if a response is required; (2) how to respond; and (3) the applicable response time period. Your response deadline will be calculated from 8/28/2008. Do NOT hit “Reply”to this e-mail notification, or otherwise attempt to e-mail your response, as the USPTO does NOT accept e-mailed responses. Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System response form at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm.

HELP: For technical assistance in accessing the Office action, please e-mail [email protected]. Please contact the assigned examining attorney with questions about the Office action.

WARNING 1. The USPTO will NOT send a separate e-mail with the Office action attached. 2. Failure to file any required response by the applicable deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.

PTO Form 1957 (Rev 9/2005) OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp. 04/2009)

Response to Office Action The table below presents the data as entered. Input Field

Entered

SERIAL NUMBER

77473742

LAW OFFICE ASSIGNED

LAW OFFICE 108

MARK SECTION (no change) OWNER SECTION (no change) LEGAL ENTITY SECTION (current) TYPE

limited partnership

STATE/COUNTRY WHERE LEGALLY ORGANIZED

Texas

LEGAL ENTITY SECTION (proposed) TYPE

limited partnership

STATE/COUNTRY WHERE LEGALLY ORGANIZED

Texas

NAME OF ALL GENERAL PARTNERS, ACTIVE MEMBERS, INDIVIDUAL, TRUSTEES, OR EXECUTORS, AND CITIZENSHIP/ INCORPORATION

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Texas, composed of the following general partners: Ruta Maya Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company; Timothy J. Sheehan, individual and U.S. citizen; Robert A. Leggett, individual and U.S. Citizen; George Doig, individual and U.S. Citizen; Ronald W. Dennie Business PTN LTD, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Texas; Grupo de Patrones, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Texas; Peggy L. Hirsh, individual and U.S. Citizen; and Peter Barlin, individual and U.S. Citizen

GOODS AND/OR SERVICES SECTION (current) INTERNATIONAL CLASS

030

DESCRIPTION

Coffee

FILING BASIS

Section 1(a)

FIRST USE ANYWHERE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

FIRST USE IN COMMERCE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

GOODS AND/OR SERVICES SECTION (proposed) INTERNATIONAL CLASS

030

DESCRIPTION

Coffee

FILING BASIS

Section 1(a)

FIRST USE ANYWHERE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

FIRST USE IN COMMERCE DATE

At least as early as 03/01/1994

STATEMENT TYPE

"The substitute specimen(s) was in use in commerce as of the filing date of the application."

SPECIMEN FILE NAME(S)

\\TICRS\EXPORT6\IMAGEOUT6 \774\737\77473742\xml1\RO A0002.JPG

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

photograph of the mark on a container of coffee sold at retail

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS SECTION TRANSLATION

The wording cubita has no meaning in a foreign language.

SIGNATURE SECTION DECLARATION SIGNATURE

/Merrily Porter/

SIGNATORY'S NAME

Merrily Porter

SIGNATORY'S POSITION

Attorney of Record, member of Texas bar

DATE SIGNED

02/25/2009

RESPONSE SIGNATURE

/Merrily Porter/

SIGNATORY'S NAME

Merrily Porter

SIGNATORY'S POSITION

Attorney of Record, member of Texas Bar

DATE SIGNED

02/25/2009

AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY

YES

FILING INFORMATION SECTION SUBMIT DATE

Wed Feb 25 21:30:26 EST 2009

TEAS STAMP

USPTO/ROA-24.155.177.20-2 0090225213026517832-77473 742-4403427165b6f2688eba1 ecdf76a8b53a8-N/A-N/A-200 90225212159753291

PTO Form 1957 (Rev 9/2005) OMB No. 0651-0050 (Exp. 04/2009)

Response to Office Action To the Commissioner for Trademarks: Application serial no. 77473742 has been amended as follows: CLASSIFICATION AND LISTING OF GOODS/SERVICES Applicant proposes to amend the following class of goods/services in the application: Current: Class 030 for Coffee Original Filing Basis: Filing Basis: Section 1(a), Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce, or the applicant's related company or licensee is using the mark in commerce, on or in connection with the identified goods and/or services. 15 U.S.C. Section 1051(a), as amended. The mark was first used at least as early as 03/01/1994 and first used in commerce at least as early as 03/01/1994, and is now in use in such commerce. Proposed: Class 030 for Coffee Filing Basis: Section 1(a), Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce, or the applicant's related company or licensee is using the mark in commerce, on or in connection with the identified goods and/or services. 15 U.S.C. Section 1051(a), as amended. The mark was first used at least as early as 03/01/1994 and first used in commerce at least as early as 03/01/1994, and is now in use in such commerce. Applicant hereby submits a new specimen for Class 030. The specimen(s) submitted consists of photograph of the mark on a container of coffee sold at retail. For an application based on 1(a), Use in Commerce, "The substitute specimen(s) was in use in commerce as of the filing date of the application." Specimen File1 APPLICANT AND/OR ENTITY INFORMATION Applicant proposes to amend the following: Current: Ruta Maya Royalty LTD, a limited partnershiphaving an address of P.O. Box 40626 Austin, Texas 78704 United States Proposed: Ruta Maya Royalty LTD, a limited partnership legally organized under the laws of Texas, comprising of Ruta Maya Royalty LTD, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Texas, composed of the following general partners: Ruta Maya Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company; Timothy J. Sheehan, individual and U.S. citizen; Robert A. Leggett, individual and U.S. Citizen; George Doig, individual and U.S. Citizen; Ronald W. Dennie Business PTN LTD, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Texas; Grupo de Patrones, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Texas; Peggy L. Hirsh, individual and U.S. Citizen; and Peter Barlin, individual

and U.S. Citizen, having an address of P.O. Box 40626 Austin, Texas 78704 United States ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS Translation The wording cubita has no meaning in a foreign language. SIGNATURE(S) Declaration Signature If the applicant is seeking registration under Section 1(b) and/or Section 44 of the Trademark Act, the applicant has had a bona fide intention to use or use through the applicant's related company or licensee the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods and/or services as of the filing date of the application. 37 C.F.R. Secs. 2.34(a)(2)(i); 2.34 (a)(3)(i); and 2.34(a)(4)(ii); and/or the applicant has had a bona fide intention to exercise legitimate control over the use of the mark in commerce by its members. 37 C.F. R. Sec. 2.44. If the applicant is seeking registration under Section 1(a) of the Trademark Act, the mark was in use in commerce on or in connection with the goods or services listed in the application as of the application filing date. 37 C.F.R. Secs. 2.34(a)(1)(i); and/or the applicant has exercised legitimate control over the use of the mark in commerce by its members. 37 C.F.R. Sec. 244. The undersigned, being hereby warned that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and that such willful false statements may jeopardize the validity of the application or any resulting registration, declares that he/she is properly authorized to execute this application on behalf of the applicant; he/she believes the applicant to be the owner of the trademark/service mark sought to be registered, or, if the application is being filed under 15 U.S.C. §1051(b), he/she believes applicant to be entitled to use such mark in commerce; to the best of his/her knowledge and belief no other person, firm, corporation, or association has the right to use the mark in commerce, either in the identical form thereof or in such near resemblance thereto as to be likely, when used on or in connection with the goods/services of such other person, to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive; that if the original application was submitted unsigned, that all statements in the original application and this submission made of the declaration signer's knowledge are true; and all statements in the original application and this submission made on information and belief are believed to be true. Signature: /Merrily Porter/ Date: 02/25/2009 Signatory's Name: Merrily Porter Signatory's Position: Attorney of Record, member of Texas bar Response Signature Signature: /Merrily Porter/ Date: 02/25/2009 Signatory's Name: Merrily Porter Signatory's Position: Attorney of Record, member of Texas Bar The signatory has confirmed that he/she is an attorney who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a U.S. state, which includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other federal territories and possessions; and he/she is currently the applicant's attorney or an associate thereof; and to the best of his/her knowledge, if prior to his/her appointment another U.S. attorney or a Canadian attorney/agent not currently associated with his/her company/firm previously represented the applicant in

this matter: (1) the applicant has filed or is concurrently filing a signed revocation of or substitute power of attorney with the USPTO; (2) the USPTO has granted the request of the prior representative to withdraw; (3) the applicant has filed a power of attorney appointing him/her in this matter; or (4) the applicant's appointed U.S. attorney or Canadian attorney/agent has filed a power of attorney appointing him/her as an associate attorney in this matter. Serial Number: 77473742 Internet Transmission Date: Wed Feb 25 21:30:26 EST 2009 TEAS Stamp: USPTO/ROA-24.155.177.20-2009022521302651 7832-77473742-4403427165b6f2688eba1ecdf7 6a8b53a8-N/A-N/A-20090225212159753291

To:

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD ([email protected])

Subject:

TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77473742 - CUBITA - N/A

Sent:

3/19/2009 6:03:42 PM

Sent As:

[email protected]

Attachments: Attachment - 1 Attachment - 2 Attachment - 3

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE SERIAL NO:

77/473742

MARK: CUBITA

*77473742*

CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: MERRILY S. PORTER PO BOX 6366 AUSTIN, TX 78762-6366

GENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION:

http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

APPLICANT:

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD

CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: N/A CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 3/19/2009

SUSPENSION PROCEDURE: This suspension notice serves to suspend action on the application for the reason(s) specified below. No response is needed. However, if you wish to respond to this notice, you should use the “Response to Letter of Suspension” form found athttp://teasroa.uspto.gov/rsi/rsi. The Office will conduct periodic status checks to determine if suspension remains appropriate. The examining attorney has searched the Office records and has found no similar registered mark that

would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02. Action on this application is suspended pending the disposition of: - Application Serial No(s). 77252382 Since applicant's effective filing date is subsequent to the effective filing date of the above-identified application(s), the latter, if and when it registers, may be cited against this application in a refusal to register under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). See 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq. A copy of information relevant to this pending application(s) is attached. Applicant may submit a request to remove the application from suspension to present arguments related to the potential conflict between the relevant application(s) or other arguments related to the ground for suspension. TMEP §716.03. Applicant's election not to present arguments during suspension will not affect the applicant's right to present arguments later should a refusal in fact issue. If a refusal does issue, applicant will be afforded 6 months from the mailing or e-mailing date of the Office action to submit a response. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.62. Please note that the Potential 2(d) Likelihood of Confusion Refusal related to SN 75697908 is withdrawn, as the application was abandoned. Additionally, the Entity and Significance requirements have been satisfied by the applicant and are therefore withdrawn. If applicant has questions about its application or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned trademark examining attorney.

/Jennifer M. Hetu/ Trademark Examining Attorney Law Office 108 Phone: (571) 272-4858 Fax: (571) 273-9108 STATUS CHECK: Check the status of the application at least once every six months from the initial filing date using the USPTO Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) online system at http://tarr.uspto.gov. When conducting an online status check, print and maintain a copy of the complete TARR screen. If the status of your application has not changed for more than six months, please contact the assigned examining attorney.

To:

Ruta Maya Royalty LTD ([email protected])

Subject:

TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77473742 - CUBITA - N/A

Sent:

3/19/2009 6:03:44 PM

Sent As:

[email protected]

Attachments:

IMPORTANT NOTICE USPTO OFFICE ACTION HAS ISSUED ON 3/19/2009 FOR APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 77473742 Please follow the instructions below to continue the prosecution of your application:

VIEW OFFICE ACTION: Click on this link http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow?DDA=Y&serial_number=77473742&doc_type=SUL&mail_date (or copy and paste this URL into the address field of your browser), or visit http://tmportal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow and enter the application serial number to access the Office action. PLEASE NOTE: The Office action may not be immediately available but will be viewable within 24 hours of this notification. RESPONSE MAY BE REQUIRED: You should carefully review the Office action to determine (1) if a response is required; (2) how to respond; and (3) the applicable response time period. Your response deadline will be calculated from 3/19/2009. Do NOT hit “Reply”to this e-mail notification, or otherwise attempt to e-mail your response, as the USPTO does NOT accept e-mailed responses. Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System response form at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEASpageD.htm.

HELP: For technical assistance in accessing the Office action, please e-mail [email protected]. Please contact the assigned examining attorney with questions about the Office action.

WARNING 1. The USPTO will NOT send a separate e-mail with the Office action attached. 2. Failure to file any required response by the applicable deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD __________________________________________ ) RUTA MAYA ROYALTY, LTD, ) Opposer, ) ) v. ) Opposition No. 91189804 ) Serial No. 77252382 CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., ) Mark: CUBITA ) Applicant. ) ) APPLICANT CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A.’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT THEREOF PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT Applicant CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A. (“Applicant” or “CIMEX”), pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 2.127 and Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, moves the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) to grant summary judgment dismissing the Notice of Opposition of Ruta Maya Royalty, LTD (“Ruta Maya”), to Application Serial No. 77252382 for CUBITA in International Class 30 for coffee, filed on August 10, 2007. In support of this motion, Applicant submits the following Memorandum of Law, and further relies upon the Declarations and Exhibits thereto of Ernesto Luis Alpizar Pravia (“Alpizar Decl.”), Gonzalo Manuel Bernaza Mayor (“Bernaza Decl.”), and David B. Goldstein, Esq. (“Goldstein Decl.”); and the Application File of Serial No. 77252382 (“Application File”), pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 2.122(b). INTRODUCTION This proceeding is in essence the “mirror image” of the Board’s November 17, 2008 decision involving the same mark – CUBITA for coffee – in which it granted summary judgment to the Applicant here – CIMEX – in its Opposition to a different party’s attempt to register the

CUBITA mark. Corporacion CIMEX, S.A. v. DM Enterprises & Distributors, Inc., Opp. No. 91178943 (T.T.A.B. Nov. 17, 2008) (“DM Enterprises”). The Board granted summary judgment in DM Enterprises based on CIMEX’s priority under Article 7 of the General Inter-American Convention for Trade Mark and Commercial Protection, 46 Stat. 2907 (“IAC”, also known as the “Pan American Convention”), to which both the United States and Cuba are parties. Id. at 10, 17; see also Diaz v. Servicios de Franquicia Pardo’s S.A.C., 83 U.S.P.Q.2d 1320, 1323-24 (T.T.A.B. 2007) (reviewing prior precedents and affirming Board’s jurisdiction to apply Article 7 of the IAC to determine the registerability of a mark in Opposition proceedings). Now, Ruta Maya, which filed an application for the identical mark in May 2008, claims that it is entitled to registration of the CUBITA mark for coffee. But Ruta Maya is in exactly the same position as DM Enterprises:

As the undisputed evidence discussed below shows, it

deliberately selected a mark that is identical in word, appearance and design, for identical goods, to CIMEX’s CUBITA mark, which has been registered in Cuba since 1991, and which has been in continuous use in Cuba since late 1991, and for export beginning in 1993, long before Ruta Maya’s claimed first use of the mark (March 1, 1994). Exactly the same as DM Enterprises, Ruta Maya selected the CUBITA mark with full knowledge of the previous existence and continuous use in Cuba of CIMEX’s CUBITA mark. Exactly the same as DM Enterprises, Ruta Maya’s attempt to register its identical mark is interfering with CIMEX’s attempt to register its CUBITA mark. Thus, exactly as in DM Enterprises, CUBITA is entitled to summary judgment pursuant to its “priority over [opposer] to register its mark under Article 7 of the [IAC].” DM Enterprises, at 17.

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STATEMENT OF UNDISPUTED MATERIAL FACTS A.

Applicant CIMEX’s CUBITA Coffee Mark

Applicant CIMEX, a Cuban corporation with its principal place of business in Havana, Cuba, owns the following registration in Cuba for the mark CUBITA & DESIGN in IC 30 for “roasted coffee” (“café tostado”):

See Goldstein Decl. ¶ 3, Ex. 1 (Certification of General Director of the Cuban Office of Industrial Property (“OCPI”)); Application File (Cuban Trademark Office registration documents, with translation, filed with application); DM Enterprises, at 11 & n.3. As detailed in the OCPI Certification, the CUBITA mark for coffee was applied for in Cuba on September 4, 1991, and registered in Cuba on October 15, 1991, to Kave Coffee, S.A.

Kave Coffee

transferred and assigned the mark to Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A. in 1996, and in 2002, Distribuidora CIMEX transferred and assigned the mark to CIMEX. Each of these transfers took place in Cuba and was executed and registered according to Cuban law by OCPI, or its predecessor, the National Office of Inventions, Information Technology and Trademarks, in Cuba. The registration was renewed by CIMEX for an additional 10 years in accordance with Cuban law on December 16, 2002, effective until September 4, 2011. Goldstein Decl. Ex. 1; Application File; DM Enterprises at 11 n.3; see also Alpizar Decl. ¶ 17; Ex. 8.

3

As discussed below, CIMEX, and its predecessors before it, have sold coffee under the CUBITA mark in Cuba continuously since late 1991. Bernaza Decl. ¶¶ 4, 14-21; Exs. 4-9; Alpizar Decl. ¶¶ 4-5, 7-10, 12-17; Exs. 2-7. Before the introduction of CUBITA, coffee had long been one of Cuba’s most important agricultural products, both for domestic consumption and for export, primarily as raw unprocessed coffee beans, but not as processed, packaged and branded coffee. Cuban coffee has long been renowned for its unique flavor and style, which typically sold at higher than average prices on the world market. Bernaza Decl. ¶¶ 11, 18; Ex. 4; Goldstein Decl. Ex. 9. In 1990, Kave Coffee determined to create and to market a high quality processed and packaged Cuban coffee product for sale to tourists in Cuba, and potentially for export from Cuba, that would promote and protect the image of Cuba and Cuban coffee. Bernaza Decl. ¶¶ 13-14. Bernaza, the President of Kave Coffee, came up with the name CUBITA, precisely to identify it with Cuba. Id. ¶ 14. “Cubita” is a folk name of a particular type of coffee plant grown in Cuba. Id. The name was also chosen because “Cubita” obviously refers to “Cuba,” using the common Spanish diminutive form (“ita”). Id. Bernaza also participated in the design of the CUBITA mark and packaging in 1991, a complex, unique multi-element design that includes a map of Cuba using brown coffee beans inside an orange oval, and lines the colors of the Cuban flag (red, white, blue) running through the stylized word “Cubita,” against a black background. Id. ¶¶ 5, 14; Ex. 1. CIMEX (and its predecessors) have used that design since the mark’s inception. Bernaza Decl. ¶ 5; Alpizar Decl. ¶ 4; Ex. 1. The CUBITA coffee brand was officially launched in Cuba in 1991 and sales commenced in late 1991, to hotels throughout Cuba, both for service to guests, and for sale in

4

packages in hotel stores, and at airport duty free shops in 1992. Bernaza Decl. ¶¶ 15-16; Ex. 2. Sales rose from US$25,000 in January 1992, to US$150,000 by December 1992. Bernaza Decl. ¶ 18; Ex. 4. Kave Coffee issued internal quality control standards for CUBITA coffee in a document dated July 2, 1992. Bernaza Decl. ¶ 17; Ex. 3. CUBITA coffee was honored for its quality at trade fairs in Cuba in November 1993 and July 1994, and in connection with the 250th anniversary of Cuban coffee in 1998. Bernaza Decl. ¶ 21; Exs. 7-9. Since late 1991, CUBITA coffee has been sold continuously throughout Cuba to hotels for use in restaurants within the hotels; to hotel stores for sale to retail customers; in duty free shops in airports in Cuba, including Havana; and in hard currency stores, and has been by far Cuba’s best selling processed coffee, both domestically and for export. Bernaza Decl. ¶¶ 15-16; Alpizar Decl. ¶¶ 4, 8-10, 12, 15; Ex. 6-7, 9. Annual sales in Cuba and abroad have increased from approximately 370 tons in 1995 to over 670 tons by 2007. Alpizar Decl. ¶ 12. In approximately 1993, Kave Coffee also began to export CUBITA coffee to Canada, then to Germany, Belgium and Mexico, among others by the mid-1990’s. Today CUBITA coffee is exported to many other countries in Europe and Asia, including Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, and Caribbean nations, and is sold over the internet by CIMEX’s overseas distributors, including in Canada, the UK, and Ireland. Bernaza Decl. ¶ 19, Ex. 5; Alpizar Decl. ¶¶ 12-14; Ex. 2-5. Neither CIMEX nor its predecessors have sold CUBITA-labeled coffee in the United States because of the United States embargo against goods from Cuba. On August 10, 2007, CIMEX filed an application with the USPTO for the mark CUBITA & DESIGN, Serial No. 77252382, based on its Cuban registration, pursuant to section 44(e) of

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the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1126(e). Application File. 1 After CIMEX prevailed in DM Enterprises, the USPTO published CIMEX’s mark for opposition on March 24, 2009. Id. CIMEX has intended, and continues to intend, to sell its CUBITA coffee in the United States as soon as U.S. law allows, Alpizar Decl. ¶¶ 18-20; Bernaza Decl. ¶ 23. Ruta Maya opposed the registration solely on the ground of likelihood of confusion, alleging that its mark has been in continuous use since March 1, 1994 and not abandoned. In its Answer and Affirmative Defenses, CIMEX admitted that there is a likelihood of confusion between the marks, and alleged as affirmative defenses, inter alia, that its CUBITA mark has priority over Ruta Maya’s interfering, identical, junior CUBITA mark, including pursuant to Article 7 of the IAC (Fourth Affirmative Defense). See Answer, ¶¶ 1, 3-11. CIMEX served its Initial Disclosures on July 29, 2009. See Goldstein Decl. ¶ 12; Ex. 10. B.

Opposer Ruta Maya’s Pending CUBITA Coffee Mark Application

Opposer Ruta Maya is a Texas limited partnership, located in Austin, Texas; Timothy Sheehan is one of Opposer’s general partners. Goldstein Decl. Ex. 6. On or about May 13, 2008, Opposer filed an application, Serial No. 77473742, with the USPTO for registration of the mark CUBITA in IC 30 for coffee, pursuant to section 1(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051(a), and claimed a first use and first use in commerce date of March 1, 1994. See id. Ruta Maya submitted with its application a specimen of the mark as claimed to be used in

1

The United States Treasury Department’s Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515 (“CACR”), permit Cuban nationals to file trademark applications in the USPTO and to obtain and to maintain trademark registrations, and to file oppositions and cancellation petitions in connection therewith. See 31 C.F.R. § 515.527; Goldstein Decl. Ex. 2 (letter from E. Richard Newcomb, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, dated August 19, 1996 (“Newcomb Letter”)); DM Enterprises, at 7-9 (discussing CACR and Newcomb Letter, and holding that CIMEX has standing to oppose registration of CUBITA mark under IAC); Corporacion Habanos, S.A. v. Anncas, Inc., 88 U.S.P.Q.2d 1785, 1790 (T.T.A.B. 2008) (precedential decision) (discussing CACR and Newcomb Letter, and holding that Cuban cigar company has standing to oppose registration of mark under section

6

commerce, which uses the identical complex, multi-color, multi-element design used in CIMEX’s CUBITA coffee mark, including the stylized “Cubita,” with the same red, white and blue lines through “Cubita” in the same order, and the same brown coffee bean island of Cuba inside an orange oval, against a black background. Goldstein Decl. Ex. 7. Ruta Maya also included on its specimen label, in Spanish, “Café Sabor de Cuba” (which translates as “Coffee Taste of Cuba”). Id. On February 25, 2009, Ruta Maya submitted a nearly identical substitute specimen. 2 Id. Below is a side-by-side color comparison of CIMEX’s CUBITA packaging (left) and Ruta Maya’s two specimens (right):

See Bernaza Decl. Ex. 1, ; Alpizar Decl. Exs. 1, 9; Goldstein Decl. Ex. 7. The PTO Examiner cited CIMEX’s application against Ruta Maya’s application, and further action on Ruta Maya’s application has been suspended. Goldstein Decl. Ex. 7.

2(e)(3)); Corporacion Habanos, S.A. v. Guantanamera Cigars Co., 86 U.S.P.Q.2d 1473, 1475 (T.T.A.B. 2008) (precedential decision) (same). 2 Following the phrase, “Café Sabor de Cuba,” the specimens include the ® symbol, although Ruta Maya does not own a registration for that phrase, but only an application. Goldstein Decl. Ex. 7.

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C.

Opposer’s Prior Knowledge of the Cuban CUBITA Coffee Mark Prior to Opposer’s application and claimed first use of the CUBITA mark for coffee on

March 1, 1994 (even assuming the claim is true, see infra), Ruta Maya’s principal and predecessor, Timothy Sheehan, was well aware of the existence and use of the CUBITA mark in Cuba. In mid-late February 1994, Sheehan traveled to Havana, Cuba and met with Bernaza, the President of Kave Coffee, the then-owner of the CUBITA coffee mark in Cuba. Bernaza Decl. ¶ 22. Sheehan indisputably had knowledge of the Cuban CUBITA brand prior to this meeting: Sheehan had proposed the meeting with Bernaza in order to discuss the CUBITA coffee brand with him, and at that meeting, Sheehan raised the topic of the Cuban CUBITA, which was his primary interest at that meeting, and he was already knowledgeable about the Cuban CUBITA mark. Id. Bernaza understood from the meeting that neither Sheehan nor his coffee company was selling a coffee product under the mark CUBITA at the time, id., which was in fact the case, as discussed below,. Indeed, on February 16, 1994, at about the same time as he was traveling to Cuba to meet with Bernaza to discuss the CUBITA mark, Sheehan filed an intent-to-use application in the USPTO for CUBITA for coffee in his own name, “Sheehan, Timothy J,” Application No. 74490595. Goldstein Decl. Exs. 3-4. On September 15, 1995, Sheehan filed an Amendment to Allege Use and specimens, claiming a first use date 18 months earlier, March 1, 1994. Id. Ex. 4. The specimens were virtually identical to the Cuban CUBITA mark. The specimen packaging for Sheehan’s non-Cuban coffee product made numerous other references to Cuba (for which there is no explanation other than Sheehan’s awareness of the Cuban CUBITA mark): “El Sabor de Cuba” (“The Taste of Cuba”); the claim that “[t]raditional processing gives this coffee a taste and aroma suitable for the most discerning Cuban palate”; and “[e]ach bag contains

8

reproductions of works by the most famous Cuban artists and brief accounts of other [famous] Cubans.” Id. Simply put, even independent of his meeting with Bernaza in Havana prior to his use of the mark, it is not possible that Sheehan was unaware of the Cuban CUBITA mark, and yet randomly and coincidentally chose the identical term, “Cubita,” in the identical stylized form, including identical lines in identical colors, in identical order, the identical image of the island of Cuba made from brown coffee beans, set against the identical orange oval, and the same black background; and containing numerous references to Cuba, Cuban coffee, and Cubans. Sheehan’s application for CUBITA matured into a registration on June 15, 1999, Reg. No. 2252228. Goldstein Decl. Exs. 3-4. On March 11, 2002, Sheehan filed an assignment with the USPTO, claiming to have assigned his entire interest in the registration to Ruta Maya Royalty, Ltd, the opposer herein. Id. Ex. 4. On October 14, 1999, DM Enterprises commenced a cancellation petition against Sheehan, claiming priority over Sheehan for the CUBITA mark for coffee, based on purported assignments involving DM, Sheehan and a third party in the U.S. that claimed rights in the CUBITA mark for coffee, Miguel Angel and his wife, Leni Alonzo. DM Enters. & Distributors, Inc. v. Ruta Maya Royalty, Ltd, Canc. No. 92029327, at 4-6 (T.T.A.B. May 28, 2004) (“Ruta Maya”). After a trial, the Board found that DM had failed to prove priority of use of the mark, and denied the petition to cancel. Id. at 15-17. In its opinion, the Board noted that Sheehan had responded to a discovery request by stating that “sales of the goods under the mark CUBITA were $21,780 in 1995; $43,100 in 1996; $4,876 in 1996 [actually, 1997]; and $2,148 in 1998.” Id. at 9; see Goldstein Decl. Ex. 8 (Sheehan’s Response to Interrogatory No. 8, filed with Petitioner’s Notice of Reliance).

9

Although that Interrogatory asked Sheehan to “State the yearly amount of sales/revenues of Registrant wherein its marks ... have been used to ... generate said sales/revenues,” and although the parties were fighting over priority based on claims of use in 1994, and although Sheehan claimed a first use date of March 1, 1994, in his response Sheehan made no claim of any sales or revenues whatsoever in 1994 (nor did he claim revenues for 1999, although the Interrogatory Responses were executed on April 20, 2000; the absence of any 1999 sales in unsurprising, given that sales had declined to a mere $2,148 in 1998). Id. Ruta Maya thereafter abandoned its CUBITA registration by failing to file a Section 8 Affidavit, which would have required Ruta Maya to attest that the mark was in use in commerce, and on February 7, 2007, the USPTO cancelled the Ruta Maya CUBITA registration. Id. Ex. 4. ARGUMENT I.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD Summary judgment shall be granted to the moving party if the movant establishes “that

there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986); Sweats Fashions, Inc. v. Pannill Knitting Co., Inc., 833 F.2d 1560, 1562 (Fed. Cir. 1987); TBMP § 528.01; Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d 1320, 1326-27 (2007) (precedential decision) (granting summary judgment to party asserting rights under Article 7 of the IAC); DM Enterprises, at 4 (same). Here, the undisputed, and indisputable, evidence demonstrates that, as in DM Enterprises, CIMEX is entitled to summary judgment on its IAC claim. II.

CIMEX IS ENTITLED TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON ITS IAC CLAIM A.

IAC Article 7 is Enforceable By the Applicant in an Opposition Proceeding

10

In Diaz, the Board held that it has jurisdiction and authority to apply Article 7 of the IAC in opposition proceedings to determine the registerability of a mark, and granted summary judgment to the applicant, the party asserting priority under Article 7. See Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1324-26, 1331. The Board reaffirmed that holding in DM Enterprises, which also involved CIMEX, the Applicant here, concerning its rights in the identical mark. Diaz presented the identical procedural posture as the instant proceeding. There the foreign (Peruvian) applicant, like Applicant CIMEX, sought registration of a mark in the U.S. pursuant to section 44(e), based on its prior registration in Peru, an IAC signatory country. See id. at 1321-22. In Diaz, as here, the opposer claimed priority under section 2(d), asserting use in the United States prior to the foreign party’s use or application in the U.S. Id. at 1322. In Diaz, as here, the applicant “assert[ed] priority under Article 7 of the [IAC] as an affirmative defense to opposer’s Section 2(d) claim,” and moved for summary judgment based on that affirmative defense. Id. at 1324. The IAC is a treaty in force between the United States and “several Latin American nations, including Cuba.” DM Enterprises, at 5; see Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1322 & n.5; Treaties in Force as of January 1, 2009, at 374 (U.S. Dept. of State). Thus, just as in DM Enterprises, CIMEX is entitled to summary judgment and dismissal of the opposition upon a showing that it satisfies the elements for protection under Article 7 of the IAC, which provides in full: Any owner of a mark protected in one of the contracting states in accordance with its domestic law, who may know that some other person is using or applying to register or deposit an interfering mark in any other of the contracting states, shall have the right to oppose such use, registration or deposit and shall have the right to employ all legal means, procedure or recourse provided in the country in which such interfering mark is being used or where its registration or deposit is being sought, and upon proof that the person who is using such mark or applying to register or deposit it, had knowledge of the existence and continuous use in any of the Contracting States of the mark on which opposition is based upon goods of the same class, the may claim for himself the preferential right to use such mark in the country where the opposition is made or priority to register or deposit in such country, upon compliance with the requirements established by the domestic

11

legislation in such country and by this Convention. 46 Stat. 2907; see Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q. 2d at 1324 (quoting Article 7 in full); DM Enterprises, at 9 (same). As the Board stated in Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1325: According to its plain meaning, an owner of a mark protected in a contracting state has the right to challenge the use and registration of an interfering mark in another contracting state, upon proof that the interfering party had knowledge of the existence and continuous use of the mark and upon compliance with the domestic requirements in that contracting state. The aggrieved owner may assert the preferential right to use and register the mark in the country where the claim is being asserted. Thus, the text of Article 7, when read in conjunction with the stated purpose of the treaty, clearly confers to eligible trademark owners a "preferential" or prior right where the requirements of the article have been satisfied. The Board had earlier held that it had jurisdiction to apply the very similar Article 8 of the IAC, which authorizes the cancellation of a registration in like circumstances. BritishAmerican Tobacco Co. v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 55 U.S.P.Q.2d 1585, 1587-89 (T.T.A.B. 2000). In both Diaz and British-American, the Board found, “Consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Bacardi Corporation v. Domenech, 311 U.S. 150, 161, 47 U.S.P.Q. 350, 355 (1940) … the Pan-American Convention is self-executing, and therefore became U.S. law upon ratification, requiring no special implementing legislation. As such, … the Convention has the same force as a federal statute and provides remedies independent of the Lanham Act.” Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1323; DM Enterprises, at 5. “[T]he clear purpose of the [IAC] is to protect the foreign trademarks which fall within the treaty’s purview.” Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d. at 1325 (quoting both Bacardi and British-American Tobacco). The Board also held in British-American, and reiterated in Diaz, “that a finding of jurisdiction did not violate the doctrine of territoriality but rather constituted an exception to the doctrine explicitly created by the Convention.” Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1323; see BritishAmerican Tobacco Co. v. Phillip Morris, Inc., Canc. No. 26,549, 2001 WL 256142 (T.T.A.B.

12

Feb. 27, 2001) (denying reconsideration of 55 U.S.P.Q.2d 1585 ). The Board explicitly rejected the argument that Section 44 of the Act abrogates the rights created under Article 7 of the IAC. Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1325-26. B.

CIMEX is Entitled to Prevail Under Article 7 of the IAC

To prevail on its Article 7 claim on summary judgment, CIMEX: must establish that there is no genuine dispute (1) that it is the owner of a [CUBITA] mark protected in [Cuba]; (2) that applicant may have known that opposer is using or applying to register an interfering mark in the United States; (3) that opposer had knowledge of the existence and continuous use in [Cuba] of the [CUBITA] mark in connection with [goods] in the same class prior to [its] use of the [CUBITA] mark in the United States; and (4) that applicant has complied with the requirements set forth in the domestic legislation in the United States and the requirements of the Pan American Convention -- that is, filing for protection of its mark under Section 44 of the Lanham Act. Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1328; see DM Enterprises, at 9-10 (applying four factors, and finding in CIMEX’s favor on each factor). Each of these four elements are easily met here. Indeed, the Board has already found that CIMEX has satisfied the first, second and fourth factors, based on the same or similar evidence that is submitted herewith. First, CIMEX is the “the owner of a [CUBITA] mark protected in [Cuba],” as the CUBITA mark is properly registered in Cuba in CIMEX’s name, the registration has been renewed and is in effect, and the mark is in use in Cuba. See pp. 3-6, supra, and evidence cited therein; DM Enterprises, at 11 (CIMEX “has demonstrated that there is no genuine issue of material fact that [CIMEX] is the owner of a mark containing the term CUBITA and that the mark, currently in use in Cuba, has been registered and renewed in accordance with Cuban law”; citing same and similar evidence as provided herein). Second, there is no genuine issue of material fact that Opposer has “applied to register an ‘interfering mark’ in the United States,” of which Applicant is aware. Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at

13

1328. On May 13, 2008, Ruta Maya filed an application to register the mark CUBITA for “coffee” in IC 30:

the identical word mark for the identical goods as CIMEX’s Cuban

registration and its USPTO application. Further, in the specimen that Ruta Maya submitted with its application, “[t]he stylization [of the word Cubita] is identical to [CIMEX’s] registered mark in [Cuba],” id, and the specimen design is virtually identical to CIMEX’s CUBITA registration in Cuba, and U.S. application, and to its packaging. Further, the PTO has suspended Opposer’s application pending disposition of Applicant’s CUBITA application, because of a likelihood of confusion.

See Goldstein Decl. Ex. 7.

Opposer’s opposition, based on section 2(d), is

indisputably interfering with Applicant’s attempt to register its mark. Finally, Opposer admitted that “[t]here is a likelihood of confusion between the” marks, and that the marks “so resemble[]” each other as to be likely to cause confusion, Notice of Opposition, unnumbered paragraph, an allegation that Applicant has admitted, see Answer, ¶ 1. See also DM Enterprises, at 11-12 (finding DM’s CUBITA mark to be an “interfering mark” under Article 7); see also Ruta Maya, at 10 & n.8 (finding likelihood of confusion between identical CUBITA word marks used on identical goods (coffee), despite design feature in one mark). CIMEX has been aware of Ruta Maya’s application for the CUBITA mark since May 23, 2008, 10 days after filing. See Goldstein Decl. Ex. 5 (May 23, 2008 TARR printout). Taking the fourth element next, CIMEX, “by virtue of filing its application under Section 44(e) of the Lanham Act has complied with the requirements set forth in the domestic legislation in the United States,” including that CIMEX has a bona fide intent to use its mark in commerce in the United States as soon as United States law allows. Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1330; see Alpizar Declaration ¶¶ 18-20; see also DM Enterprises, at 13-14 (finding that CIMEX “has complied with the domestic, statutory filing requirements of the Untied States and as a result, has

14

satisfied this element,” and finding bona fide intent to use mark in United States, based on similar evidence). That CIMEX has otherwise satisfied all requirements for registration is further established by the PTO’s determination to publish the mark for opposition.

See

Application File. CIMEX’s decision to incur the expense of bringing one opposition proceeding, and to defend a second, provides further support that it has a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce as soon as lawfully permitted. Finally, as to the third factor, there is no genuine issue of material fact “that opposer had knowledge of the existence and continuous use in [Cuba] of the [CUBITA] mark in connection with [goods] in the same class prior to [its] use of the [CUBITA] mark in the United States.” Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1328. Ruta Maya (and its predecessor and principal, Sheehan) knew of the CUBITA mark for coffee in Cuba prior to Ruta Maya’s May 13, 2008 application, prior to its first use of the mark (even if use began March 1, 1994, as alleged, and not 1995, as the evidence that Sheehan submitted in the cancellation proceeding with DM Enterprises in fact shows). First, and dispositively, Sheehan went to Cuba in mid-late February 1994, prior to his claimed first use of the mark, and met with Bernaza, President of Kave Coffee, and discussed the CUBITA mark with him. See p. 8, supra; Bernaza Decl. ¶ 22. Further, Sheehan clearly knew of the CUBITA mark even before he met with Bernaza, see id., which is further established by Sheehan’s intent to use application for the mark on February 16, immediately prior to meeting with Bernaza in Cuba. Second, regardless whether Sheehan admits the truth (as DM Enterprises ultimately did, see DM Enterprises, at 13), including his meeting with Bernaza in Havana, or tries to deny it, the evidence is indisputable that he did in fact have knowledge of the Cuban CUBITA mark prior to his use of the mark. Not only did Sheehan adopt the identical word mark for the identical

15

product, but his specimens filed in September 1995 are virtually identical to the complex and elaborate multi-colored, multi-element design that CIMEX and its predecessors have always used for its CUBITA mark, and make multiple references to Cuba, despite the fact the product has no connection to Cuba. It is simply impossible that Sheehan could have independently created this identical packaging without knowledge of the existence and use in Cuba of the CUBITA mark. The Board is not required to turn a blind eye to reality, even if a party refuses to admit the undeniable and indisputable truth. See, e.g., Diaz, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d at 1329-30 (on summary judgment, evasive discovery responses insufficient to defeat finding that opposer had prior knowledge of use of mark in Peru). CONCLUSION For the reasons stated herein, and on the papers submitted herewith, Applicant CIMEX’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the Opposition and ordering registration of Applicant’s mark, CUBITA, Serial No. 77252382, should be granted. Dated: New York, New York August 18, 2009 Respectfully submitted, /David B. Goldstein/ DAVID B. GOLDSTEIN MICHAEL KRINSKY RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD, KRINSKY & LIEBERMAN, P.C. 111 Broadway, 11th Floor New York, New York 10006-1901 Tel: (212) 254-1111 Fax: (212) 674-4614 [email protected] Attorneys for Corporation CIMEX, S.A.

16

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned certifies that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law in Support and the Declarations and Exhibits thereto of Ernesto Luis Alpizar Provia, Gonzalo Manuel Bernaza Mayor and David B. Goldstein were served by Express Mail, postage prepaid, on August 18, 2009, upon: Merrily S. Porter James O. Houchins & Associates P.O. Box 40028 Austin, TX 78704 Attorney for Opposer Ruta Maya Royalty, LTD.

/David B. Goldstein/ DAVID B. GOLDSTEIN

17

Declaration of Translation

Of Declaration of Emesto Luis Alpizar Pravia

And Exhibits 3, 6, 7, and 8

Attached Thereto

Debra Evenson declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the following it true and correct: 1. I am a lawyer, licensed to practice law in the State of New York, and am of counsel to the law finn Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Liebennan, P.C. I was professor of law at DePaul University School of Law from 1980-1993 where I taught comparative intemationallaw. I am fluent in the Spanish language. 2. I translated the following documents from Spanish into English:

a) Declaration of Emesto Luis Alpizar Pravia

b) The following Exhibits to that Declaration: 3, 6, 7, and 8

I attach hereto a copy of the original document in Spanish and the translation thereof which is a true and correct translation into English. 3. Because of the exigencies of time, I am sending a scanned copy of this signed declaration by email and will send the original signed declaration by express courier.

Signed this 18th day of August, 2009

DEBRA EVENSON

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD __________________________________________ ) RUTA MAYA ROYALTY, LTD., ) ) Opposer, ) ) v. ) Opposition No. 91189804 ) Serial No. 77252382 CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., ) ) Applicant. ) ) DECLARATION OF ERNESTO LUIS ALPIZAR PRAVIA Yo, ERNESTO LUIS ALPIZAR PRAVIA, declaro lo siguiente: 1.

Tengo más de 18 años de edad, de mente sana y capaz de dar el presente

testimonio. Hago esta declaración sobre la base de mi conocimiento personal de los hechos expuestos en ella, incluyendo la revisión que he hecho de los documentos comerciales actuales e históricos oficiales de la Corporación CIMEX, S.A. (“CIMEX”) con los cuales estoy familiarizado en relación con mi empleo. 2.

Tengo mi domicilio en la Calle 11 No. 1514, entre 2da y avenida Entrada,

Municipio Cerro, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba, y soy ciudadano cubano. 3.

Entiendo y hablo el español. No hablo ni leo el inglés, y por lo tanto hago esta

Declaración en español. 4.

He estado involucrado con la venta del café CUBITA en Cuba desde el año 1999,

como expreso con más detalle más adelante. Conozco esta marca desde el año 1993, y el café de marca CUBITA que se vende en Cuba y de exportación siempre ha sido envasado con el mismo diseño que se emplea actualmente. Este diseño incluye la palabra “CUBITA” con letras estilizadas; tres líneas en rojo, blanco y azul que representan los colores de la bandera cubana 1

que atraviesan la palabra “Cubita”; el fondo negro; y el ovalo naranja bajo la palabra “Cubita” con una imagen de la isla de Cuba dibujada con granos de café de color carmelita en el centro del ovalo. Fotocopias fieles y correctas del envase del café CUBITA están adjuntas al presente como Anexo 1 (me han informado que los números “C00__” puestos en los documentos en los Anexos a esta Declaración han sido puestos anteriormente por los abogados estadounidenses de CIMEX como parte del proceso anterior en la USPTO con respecto al derecho a la marca CUBITA, Corporación Cimex, S.A., v. DM Enterprises & Distributors, Inc., Opp. No. 91178943 (TTAB)). 5.

Desde el 1 de diciembre 2005 hasta la fecha, soy Especialista Comercial en el

Departamento de Café CUBITA de la Corporación CIMEX, S.A., el solicitante en este proceso. Mis responsabilidades principales en esta función incluyen la preparación de la documentación para la exportación del café CUBITA; organizar la parte logística del proceso de exportación, incluyendo ser responsable de la documentación necesaria para el transporte y envío; y la promoción de las ventas a través de mis contactos con los clientes. En relación con mi trabajo, estoy familiarizado con los documentos comerciales actuales e históricos de CIMEX, S.A., y sus predecesores relacionados con las ventas y comercialización del café CUBITA y los accesorios, incluyendo como se generan y mantienen estos documentos impresos o en forma electrónica en el curso regular de los negocios del Departamento de Café CUBITA de CIMEX. 6.

Me gradué del Instituto de Economía de La Habana en el año 2003 con un titulo

en contabilidad. Después de mi graduación he tomado cursos relacionados con la exportación de productos en el centro de capacitación del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior, y también he tomado un curso en material de mercadeo y actualmente estoy tomando un curso de inglés en el

2

centro de capacitación de CIMEX en La Habana. Antes de empezar a trabajar para CIMEX en 1994, tuve varios trabajos no relacionados con los sectores de café o de exportación. 7.

Empecé a trabajar para Treviso de Exportación, un subsidiario de CIMEX (que se

convirtió en la Distribuidora CIMEX en 1996). En este momento, trabajaba en un almacén que tenía almacenado unos productos utilizados en conexión con la promoción del café CUBITA, incluyendo camisetas, gorras y afiches. Desde febrero de 1999 hasta el 1 de diciembre del 2005, fui Auxiliar Comercial en el Departamento del Café CUBITA de CIMEX, cuando fui elevado a mi función actual en este Departamento. Mis responsabilidades principales en la función de Auxiliar Comercial incluyeron la coordinación con la fábrica que procesaba y empaquetaba el café CUBITA para su exportación, la preparación de las cajas del café CUBITA para su exportación y su traslado al aeropuerto José Martí de La Habana y al puerto de La Habana, así como las compras de insumos para las producciones de café Cubita. 8.

Me enteré de la marca CUBITA por primera vez en el 1993, antes de empezar a

trabajar en Treviso Exportaciones en 1994, cuando lo veía a la venta en las tiendas de divisas en La Habana. La presentación del paquete en este momento incluyó el diseño detallado en el párrafo 4 arriba y mostrado en el Anexo 1. En este momento, unos familiares míos que viven en los Estados Unidos estaban de visita en La Habana y ellos compraron el café CUBITA en estas tiendas. Desde el 1993, he visto de modo frecuente las ventas del café CUBITA en las tiendas en Cuba. También en el 1995, yo vivía cerca de la fábrica en Guanabacoa donde se tostaba el café CUBITA, y supe de la producción del café CUBITA en este momento. 9.

Poco después de empezar a trabajar en Treviso Exportaciones en 1994, también

me enteré de que el café CUBITA se exportaba de CUBA. Aunque no he visitado los hoteles, tengo conocimiento por mi empleo actual y anterior que el café CUBITA también se vende en

3

10.

Además de mi conocimiento personal expresado arriba, he sido informado y tengo

conocimiento en conexión con mi trabajo de los documentos comerciales CIMEX, S.A. y sus predecesores que muestran que la marca CUBITA para café ha sido empleado de forma continua en Cuba desde por lo menos el principio del año 1992, y ha sido exportado desde el 1993. 11.

A raíz de mi trabajo detallado arriba, he estado muy informado del café cubano en

general y particularmente del café CUBITA. Por mucho tiempo el café ha sido uno de los productos agrícolas más importantes de Cuba, para consumo nacional y exportación. Aunque Cuba no es un productor o exportador de grandes cantidades, comparado a países como Brasil o Colombia, el café cubano ha sido de renombre por su sabor y aroma. Por muchos años antes de la introducción del café CUBITA, el café cubano fue exportado en todo el mundo primeramente en grano no procesado, aunque no a los Estados Unidos desde el embargo que ha existido desde los primeros años de la década de los 1960. Como consecuencia de su reputación y renombre por su sabor y estilo único, generalmente se vende el café cubano a precios por encima de los precios promedios en el mercado internacional. 12.

Hace mucho tiempo CUBITA ha sido por mucho, el café cubano procesado más

vendido en el mercado nacional así como de exportación.

Tengo conocimiento por los

documentos comerciales que las ventas anuales, incluyendo las ventas nacionales y de exportación, han aumentado de unas aproximadamente 392.5 toneladas en el 1995 a más de 670 toneladas en el 2007. CUBITA esta entre los cinco producto más vendido en las tiendas de Duty Free en los aeropuertos de Cuba. La reputación y la calidad del café CUBITA se reflejan en los

4

precios en los mercados de exportación. Por ejemplo, CUBITA está entre las marcas de café de los precios más altos vendidos por el Puente, el distribuidor de CIMEX en Alemania. Selecciones de la lista de precios del 31 de marzo de 2008 de El Puente correspondientes a varias marcas de café están adjuntos a la presente como Anexo 2 (C00666, C00671-73). 13.

Como consecuencia de mi empleo, incluyendo mi familiarización con los

documentos comerciales que Kave Coffee, el predecesor de CIMEX, estaba ya exportando el café CUBITA cuando comencé mi empleo en Treviso Exportaciones en el 1994, y desde 1999 he estado personalmente involucrado en la exportación del café CUBITA, aunque la gran mayoría del café CUBITA estaba, y todavía está, vendido dentro de Cuba. Ya en medio de la década de los 1990, se estaba exportando CUBITA a Canadá, México, Alemania, Bélgica, y el Caribe, y luego las exportaciones se extendieron a muchos otros países en Europa y Asia, incluyendo Irlanda y el Reino Unido, España, Japón, Suiza, y Hong Kong entre otros. Adjunto como Anexo 3 (C00655) es una copia fiel y correcta de un informe una hoja de cálculo generada por computadora que muestra las exportaciones del café CUBITA desde el 1997 hasta 2007, por país, peso y valor. Este informe está basado en datos históricos recogidos y mantenidos en los archivos de la computadora del Departamento de Café CUBITA con los cuales estoy familiarizado en relación con las responsabilidades de mi empleo. Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 4 copias fieles y correctas de facturas de los años 1996-2008, las cuales representan una muestra de las ventas de exportación a otros países. 14.

Algunas distribuidoras extranjeras de CIMEX venden el café CUBITA a través

del Internet. Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 5 son copias fieles y correctas de un listado mostrando las ofertas del café CUBITA por distribuidores autorizados por CIMEX en Canadá

5

(Thomas Hinds) y en Irlanda y Reino Unido, respectivamente, en los sitios Web www.thomashinds.ca, y www.cubascoffee.com. 15.

Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 6 son copias fieles y correctas de documentos

que muestran las ventas del café CUBITA y sus accesorios dentro de Cuba desde el año 1996, incluyendo solicitudes de restaurantes, pagos efectuados por empresas minoristas cubanas, y una muestra de facturas para ventas nacionales. Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 7 son copias fieles y correctas de gráficos generados por computadora que muestran las ventas nacionales del café CUBITA a terceros y afiliados de CIMEX o sus predecesores, desde el año 1995 hasta septiembre del 2004, por valor en USD y toneladas métricas. Este informe fue hecho basado en datos recogidos y mantenidos en los archivos de la computadora del Departamento del Café CUBITA con los cuales tengo familiarización en conexión con las responsabilidades de mi empleo. 16.

En relación con este litigio, he revisado los archivos del Departamento del Café

CUBITA de CIMEX y no he encontrado documentos que evidencian facturas específicas y otros informes de ventas específicas anteriores al año 1996, aunque tengo conocimiento de otros documentos en los archivos del Departamento del café CUBITA de CIMEX que evidencian ventas del café CUBITA desde el 1992, los cuales, según tengo entendido, están presentados en este proceso en relación con la declaración del Sr. Gonzalo Manuel Bernaza Mayor. 17.

En el año 1996, Kave Coffee traspasó el negocio del café CUBITA, y traspasó la

marca, a la Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A.

El 10 de abril del 2001, los accionistas de la

Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A. se acordaron fusionar la empresa con el Opositor Corporación CIMEX, S.A., y en relación con esta fusión se traspasaron todos sus bienes, incluyendo todas sus marcas, a CIMEX S.A. Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 8 una copia fiel y correcta del Acta de

6

los Accionistas aprobando la fusión y el traspaso de los bienes de la Distribuidora CIMEX S.A. a CIMEX. 18.

CIMEX tiene la intención y esperanza de usar su marca CUBITA para café de

origen cubano en el comercio de los Estados Unidos tan pronto que se lo permita la ley de los Estados Unidos. El mercado de los EEUU es uno de los más grandes para café en el mundo, y su proximidad a Cuba lo hace un mercado potencial importante para el café CUBITA. Como mencionado anteriormente, CIMEX vende café CUBITA en Canadá, México, el Caribe, Irlanda y el Reino Unido, Alemania y muchos otros países en Europa y Asia, donde el producto está muy bien recibido. Claramente, si el mercado de los Estados Unidos hubiera estado abierto a productos cubanos, CIMEX hubiera querido vender el café CUBITA allá, y no existe una razón comercial lógica por no entrar en el mercado de los EEUU tan pronto como sea posible. 19.

En especial, hay una gran población cubano-americano en los Estados Unidos,

quienes serían los consumidores naturales de un café de estilo cubano de alta calidad, producido en Cuba. El café CUBITA sería bien conocido por muchos cubano-americanos quienes han visitado a Cuba desde el principio de los años 1990, así como por los emigrantes de Cuba a los Estados Unidos. Hasta junio del 2004, se permitió a los visitantes de los EEUU a Cuba llevar productos cubanos a los EEUU, incluyendo el café CUBITA. La marca CUBITA ha sido vendida en toda Cuba y ha estado disponible en las tiendas Duty Free del aeropuerto de La Habana por 15 años, incluyendo en la Terminal 2 del Aeropuerto José Martí de la Habana que es donde los vuelos charter de los Estados Unidos llegan y salen. Por lo tanto, los ciudadanos estadounidenses, incluyendo los cubano-americanos, han conocido el café CUBITA y lo han comprado de esta tienda Duty Free para llevarlo a casa en los Estados Unidos, aumentando la reputación del café CUBITA en los Estados Unidos. Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 9 son

7

copias fieles y correctas del cafe CUBITA a la venta en las Duty Free de las tenninales del aeropuerto Jose Marti en La Habana, Cuba, incluyendo la Tenninal 2 (C00255). 20.

En relaci6n con la intenci6n de CIMEX de vender el cafe CUBITA en los Estados

Unidos tan pronto que la ley de EEUU 10 pennita, y para proteger su interes en, y la reputaci6n de su marca CUBITA en EEUU, CIMEX ha solicitado el registro de la marca en la USPTO, y, segtm me han informado, ha estado involucrado en procesos anteriores exitosos ante la USPTO para hacer valer y proteger sus derechos a la marca CUBITA en los Estados Unidos. Declaro bajo pena de perjurio bajo las leyes de los Estados Unidos que 10 anterior es la verdad y correcto hasta que sepa y creo.

Firmado el dia 18 de agosto de 2009 La Habana, Cuba

8

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD __________________________________________ ) RUTA MAYA ROYALTY, LTD., ) ) Opposer, ) ) v. ) Opposition No. 91189804 ) Serial No. 77252382 CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., ) ) Applicant. ) ) DECLARATION OF ERNESTO LUIS ALPIZAR PRAVIA I, ERNESTO LUIS ALPIZAR PRAVIA, declare as follows: 1.

I am over the age of 18, of sound mind, and capable of giving testimony herein. I

make this Declaration based on my own personal knowledge of the facts that are stated herein, including my review of the current and historical official corporate business records of Corporacion CIMEX, S.A. (“CIMEX”) with which I am familiar in connection with my employment. 2.

I reside at Calle 11 No. 1514, between 2nd and Entrada Avenue, Municipality of

Cerro, City of Havana, Cuba, and I am a Cuban citizen. 3.

I am fluent and literate in Spanish. I do not speak or read English, and therefore I

make this Declaration in Spanish. 4.

I have been involved in the sale of CUBITA coffee in Cuba since 1999, as set

forth in more detail below. I first became aware of that mark in 1993, and the coffee sold in Cuba and for export under the trademark CUBITA has always been packaged with the same design that is currently used. This design includes the word “Cubita” with stylized letters; the three lines in red, white and blue that run through the word “Cubita” and represent the colors of 1

the Cuban flag; the black background; and the orange oval under the word “Cubita” with an image of the island of Cuba made from brown coffee beans in the center of the oval. True and correct photocopies of the CUBITA coffee packaging are annexed hereto as Exhibit 1 (I am informed that the “C00__” numbers on the documents in the Exhibits to this Declaration were previously affixed by the U.S. attorneys for CIMEX as part of a previous proceeding in the USPTO concerning the right to the CUBITA mark, Corporacion Cimex, S.A., v. DM Enterprises & Distributors, Inc., Opp. No. 91178943 (TTAB)). 5.

From December 1, 2005 to the present, I have held the position of Commercial

Specialist in the CUBITA Coffee Department of Corporacion CIMEX, S.A., the Applicant in this proceeding. In that position, my primary job responsibilities include the preparation of the documentation for the export of CUBITA coffee, to organize the logistical aspect of the export process, including responsibility for the necessary paper work for the transport and shipping, and promotion of sales through my contact with clients. In connection with my position, I am familiar with the current and historical business records of CIMEX, S.A. and its predecessors concerning the sales and marketing of CUBITA coffee and accessories, including how those records are generated and maintained in print or electronically in the regular course of business of the CUBITA Coffee Department of CIMEX. 6.

I graduated from the Institute of Economics of Havana in 2003 with a degree in

accounting. After graduation I have taken courses related to the export of goods at the Ministry of Foreign Commerce training center, and I have also taken a course in marketing am currently taking a course in English at the CIMEX training center in Havana. Prior to working for CIMEX in 1994, I held several jobs unrelated to the coffee or export sectors.

2

7.

I began to work for Treviso de Exportacion, a CIMEX subsidiary (which became

Distribuidora CIMEX in 1996). At that time, I was working at a warehouse that stored products used in connection with the promotion of CUBITA coffee, including t-shirts, hats, and posters. From February 1999 to December 1, 2005, I was a Commercial Assistant in the CIMEX CUBITA Coffee Department, at which time I was promoted to my current position in that Department. As Commercial Assistant, my job duties primarily included coordination with the factory that processed and packaged CUBITA coffee for export, the preparation of the boxes of CUBITA coffee for export, and their delivery to Jose Marti Airport in Havana and the Port of Havana, as well as the purchase of supplies for the production of CUBITA coffee. 8.

I first learned of the mark CUBITA for coffee in 1993, before I went to work for

Treviso Exportaciones in 1994, when I saw it for sale in hard currency stores in Havana. The packaging at that time included the design described in para. 4, above, and shown in Exhibit 1. At that time, some of my relatives who lived in the United States were visiting Havana, and they purchased CUBITA coffee those stores. Since 1993, I have regularly seen CUBITA coffee for sale in stores in Cuba. Also, in 1995, I was living near the factory in Guanabacoa where CUBITA coffee was roasted, and became aware that CUBITA coffee was being produced there at that time. 9.

Soon after I went to work for Treviso Exportaciones in 1994, I also learned that

CUBITA coffee was being exported outside Cuba. Although I have not visited hotels, I am aware from my current and prior positions that CUBITA coffee is also sold in hotels throughout Cuba. I also learned, both from my employment and from visits from relatives who live in the United States that CUBITA coffee is sold in the duty free shops at Jose Marti Airport in Havana.

3

10.

In addition to my personal knowledge described above, in connection with my

employment I have been informed of and I am aware of corporate business records of CIMEX, S.A. and its predecessors that show that the CUBITA mark for coffee has been used continuously in Cuba since at least the beginning of 1992, and has been exported since 1993. 11.

As a result of my employment as described above, I have become very

knowledgeable about Cuban coffee generally, and of CUBITA coffee particularly. Coffee has long been one of Cuba’s most important agricultural products, both for domestic consumption and for export. Although Cuba is not a large producer or exporter by volume, compared to countries such as Brazil or Colombia, Cuban coffee has long been renowned for its unique flavor and style.

For many years before the introduction of CUBITA coffee, Cuban coffee was

exported throughout the world primarily as unprocessed coffee beans, although not to the United States market because of the embargo, which has existed since the early 1960’s. Because of the reputation and renown for its unique flavor and style, Cuban coffee generally sells at higher than average prices on the world market. 12.

CUBITA has long been Cuba’s best selling processed coffee by far, in the

domestic market as well as for export. I am aware from corporate business records that annual sales, including domestic and export sales, have increased from approximately 392.5 tons in 1995 to over 670 tons in 2007. CUBITA is among the five products most sold in the Duty Free stores in the airports in Cuba. The reputation and quality of CUBITA coffee in the export markets is reflected in the pricing. For example, CUBITA is among the highest priced of the coffee brands sold by El Puente, CIMEX’s distributor in Germany. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 2 (C00666, C00671-73) are excerpts from a March 31, 2008 price list of El Puente for various coffee brands.

4

13.

I am aware in connection with my employment, including my familiarity with

business records, that Kave Coffee, CIMEX’s predecessor, was already exporting CUBITAbranded coffee when my employment began at Treviso Exportaciones in 1994, and since 1999 I have personally been involved in the export of CUBITA coffee, although the great majority of CUBITA coffee was, and continues to be, sold within Cuba. By the mid-1990’s, CUBITA was being exported to Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, and the Caribbean, and exports were later extended to many other countries in Europe and Asia, including Ireland and the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Switzerland, and Hong Kong, among others. Attached hereto as Exhibit 3 (C00655) is a true and correct copy of a computer-generated spread sheet report showing exports by country, by weight and value, for CUBITA coffee from 1997 to 2007. This report is based on historical data collected and maintained in the computer files of the CUBITA Coffee Department with which I am familiar in connection with my job responsibilities. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 4 are true and correct copies of invoices from 1996-2008, which represent a sample of export sales to other countries. 14.

Several foreign distributors of CIMEX sell CUBITA coffee through the internet.

Annexed hereto as Exhibit 5 are true and correct copies of printouts showing the authorized CIMEX distributors in Canada (Thomas Hinds), and in Ireland and the United Kingdom offering CUBITA coffee for sale at www.thomashinds.ca, and www.cubascoffee.com, respectively. 15.

Annexed hereto as Exhibit 6 are true and correct copies of documents showing

sales of CUBITA coffee and accessories within Cuba since 1996, including requisitions from restaurants, payments made by Cuban retail enterprises, and a sample of invoices for domestic sales. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 7 are true and correct copies of computer-generated graphs showing national sales of CUBITA coffee from 1995-September 2004 by value in USD and by

5

metric tons to third party vendors and to vendors affiliated with CIMEX or its predecessors. This report was based on data collected and maintained in the computer files of the CUBITA Coffee Department with which I am familiar in connection with my job responsibilities. 16.

I have reviewed the files of the CUBITA Coffee Department of CIMEX in

connection with this litigation, and have not found records of specific invoices or other specific sales records from earlier than 1996, although I have knowledge of other documents in the files of the CUBITA Coffee Department of CIMEX evidencing sales of CUBITA coffee since 1992, which I understand are being submitted in this proceeding in connection with a declaration of Sr. Gonzalo Manuel Bernaza Mayor. 17.

In 1996, Kave Coffee transferred the business of CUBITA coffee, and assigned

the mark to Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A. On April 10, 2001, the shareholders of Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A. agreed to merge the company with Opposer Corporacion CIMEX, S.A., and transferred all of its assets, including all of its trademarks, to CIMEX, S.A. in connection with that merger.

Annexed hereto as Exhibit 8 is a true and correct copy of the Act of the

Shareholders approving the merger and transfer of assets from Distribuidora CIMEX S.A. to CIMEX. 18.

CIMEX intends and expects to use in commerce in the United States its CUBITA

mark for Cuban origin coffee as soon as U.S. law permits. The U.S. market is one of the largest markets in the world for coffee and its proximity to Cuba makes it an important potential market for CUBITA coffee. As I have noted above, CIMEX sells CUBITA coffee in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Ireland and the United Kingdom, Germany and many other countries in Europe and Asia, where the product is very well received. Clearly, if the U.S. market were to open to

6

Cuban goods, CIMEX would want to sell CUBITA coffee there, and there would be no logical business reason not to enter the U.S. market as quickly as possible. 19.

In particular, there is a large Cuban-American population in the United States,

who would be natural customers for a high quality Cuban style coffee, produced in Cuba. CUBITA coffee would be well known to the many Cuban-Americans who have visited Cuba since the early 1990’s, as well as to emigrants from Cuba to the United States. Until June 2004, visitors to Cuba from the U.S. were permitted to bring back Cuban goods, including CUBITA coffee, to the U.S. The CUBITA brand has been sold throughout Cuba and has been available in the Duty Free shops in the Havana airport for 15 years, including at Terminal 2 of Jose Marti Airport in Havana, which is where the charter flights from the United States arrive and depart. As a result, U.S. citizens, including Cuban-Americans, have known CUBITA coffee and have purchased it to take home to the United States from that duty free shop, furthering the reputation of CUBITA coffee in the United States. Attached hereto as Exhibit 9 are true and correct copies of photographs of CUBITA coffee on sale at the Duty Free Shops in terminals of Jose Marti Airport in Havana, Cuba, including at Terminal 2 (C00255). 20.

In connection with CIMEX’s intention to sell CUBITA coffee in the United States

as soon as U.S. law allows, and in order to protect its interests in, and the reputation of, its CUBITA mark in the United States, CIMEX has applied for registration of the mark in the USPTO, and, I have been informed, has been involved in prior successful proceedings in the USPTO to assert and to protect its rights in the CUBITA mark in the United States. I declare under penalty of perjury of the laws of the United States that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. Dated this 18 day of August, 2009 Havana, Cuba

____________/s/____________________ ERNESTO LUIS ALPIZAR PRAVIA 7

,

.

.

.

•

••

Corporacion Cimex S,A. Division de Ventas Mayoristas y ExportaclOnes CAFE CUBITA

Edificio GenJtlC/a! Malp<:on

Cn/le C No 5

1', 3

~-f'(JJri()

Cuudad HalJ"na (uoa

':<,,0 TO ·.T'~DIDO,~

CAFE DE CUBA 29 DAVIS COURT, THOMAS DAVIS STREET WEST, INCH/CORE. DUBLIN 8. IRLAND.

Tei B35 3740

Fa~

8353:'13

j~~VO!CE

Nn

"':',UN" KCE 49108

c' :JNSIG TC CAFE DE CUBA ,:Ur"S'G A 29 DAVIS COURT. THOMAS DAVIS STREET WEST, INCH/CORE. DUBLIN 8, IRLAND

'EE20401 1'.10NTH DA.Y r,lES DI~,

ORIGEN CUBA

10 PAYi\1E~~T

,-wreo Rcr~

J

4 5

2008

14

OUR C!J~\jTRACT NUES :>:::JNTRA,TO

PAGC

CFRDUBLIN DESCRiPTION

TRANSFERENCIA BANCAR/A ~I'J!T OTY UN\-;- ;:;Pi( 70TAL \/,[.,L'J~ UNIDAC CANTiDAD PRECI(', F \/.L.LOF -"OThL PACK

2

A!'~C:'

C':j!\iCi \:ENT;"

[)E3CRiPCiON

1

YEAR

CAFE CUB/TA DE 115 G MOLIDO EN CAJAS DE 36 BOLSAS CAFE CUBITA DE 230 G MOLIDO EN CAJAS DE 30 BOLSAS HUACALITO CAFE CUBITA DE 230G MOLIDO EN CAJAS DE 15 UNIDADES CAFE CUB/TA DE 250 G EN GRANO EN CAJAS DE 20 BOLSAS CAFE CUB/TA DE 1000G EN GRANO EN CAJAS DE 6 BOLSAS

BAGS

EUR

EUR

10

360

0.80

288,00

50

1500

1.10

1650.00

5

75

2,50

187,50

5

100

105

105,00

32

192

3,70

710,40 2,940,90

SUB TOTAL FLETE TOTAL

1.347,00 4.287,90

ErneslO Alpizaf Especialista comercla/ cafe cubifa

PESO NETO 620,65 KG PESO BRUTO 685,OOKG CORPORACION CIMEX S A DIV DE VENTAS Y EXPORTACIONES

c..­ \

1ft

U.

co_au:

11+

I ;OfporacionMayori~portaclones Cim.N~,A. Div'sion de Ventas C,i:
EwNuu G"',e,,c,a,'. Ca!l;;:,-

'"

1IdY;I(;i/f'(jade,

Cut/dad NatJan
f,:,l. 835 3740 Fa .... ,'";.'

,

iNVOiCE

'1 1250 ,KRASNOKAZARMENNAYA STREET 14A l\110SCU, F?USIA ,or

~NC:;jG

~p<;.~

DUO TRiON

7f

FAC"'-

NCI

~~u

KCE 16/08

000 TRION

111250 KRASNOKAZARMENNAYA

,.. :., '.

STREFT 14A MOSCU. RUSIA

/'::.,NC

I

ORIGEN CUBA

SALE S TERMS

PAYME~:T

C-O~~D VEN~A,

PAGe

OUr< CONTP":'C I NUES ::'C,'\iTR.~TO KCE 37/07

TRANSFERENCIA BANCARIA UNiT QTY

DDU iVil1f"ITIMA MOSCU DESCF)!PT!8i'~

.~

.... r

CI1)/1S

U~'JIT

i:-'R!{.:.'E TeH0-!

\/.'-~"LU[

\-'Ai.81'; "'

~ :=':-'L-­

BOLSAS

CAFE CUB/TA DE 1000qi E,\ GRANO EN CAJAS DE 5 BOLSAS 880 partida c1rdtJI'f'Und 0901.21 0101 CA~~ ~U~/~~ E .2JO'; MOL/DO EN vA,jA~, LI= .1U bU,-, <.,A.', J50 partida HrdrF.. pJ:FI;'I 091i r ?' 0009 TOTAL FOB

:c

2008

18

J

EURO

<.': ~. ,­ EURO

I

5280

4 .,'"': .....

22968,00

I

10500

; I)J

10815,00

33783.00

FLETE SEGURa TRANSPORTE TEPPc'SIRE

!

,

TOTAL FlJ,CTIIR,Jl

CONTENEDOR APm 0016600 s!!lios 0001.J9? 001)1 ],98 d/v. j()9 11194

PESO NETO, 7695,0" hy PESO BRUTO 8.15.1 ~lJ KGS

· ,; '., 1 Ita

'f...'~

~b

Di'v

I

I

[ IVI2J~ , ''':, ~NTAS CO, PO!V,L; ,MEX S.J "

PAC3AOFRO EN EU/?O /~L eATE DE (AMBIO EN EL MOMENTO DE LA TRANSFERENCfA A FAVOR DE KAVE COFFEE S.iI CTA 0300000002613923

CORPORA CION CiMEX .'i A

I

20000 57200 20000

Corporacion Cimex s,a. Division de Exponaciones y Marcas

EcIIf: GERENCIAL MALECON

CAllie C /1 Y 3 VEDADO Ciudlld de Is Habana, Cuba

SOLD TO: Fax: 835 3713- TeIf: 835 37411 VENDIDO A BAHAMAS WHOLESALE AGENCIE, L TO PO BOX SS- 6280 NASSAO IINVOICE No.

FACT. No: KCE 14108

EAST- WEST HIGHWA Y NASSAO- BAHAMAS CONSIG. TO: CONSIG. A: BAHAMAS WHOLESALE AGENCIE, L TO r;:;;::;-;;-=,::,1;::;E~E7-1:.:2:::00::.:9;.....==;-;-_-;:;-:,,::,,","~=_---, DELIVERY BILL: MONTH DAY YEAR CONDUCE MES DIA ArilO

I

2008

17

3

VIA

SALE'S TERMS CONDVENTA

PAYMENT: PAGO:

AEREA REF.

CPT BAHAMAS DESCRIPTION DESCRIPCION

TRANSFERENCIA BANCARIA QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL VALUE UNIT UNlOAD CANTIDAD PRECIO P/U VALOR TOTAL CASE

1

2

3

OUR CONTRACT NUES. CONTRATO

USD

BOLS

USD

CAFE CUBITA DE 230 GRAMOS

MOL/DO EN CAJAS DE 30 BOLSAS

8

240

1,20

288,00

CAFE CUBITA DE 460 GRAMOS

MOL/DO EN CAJAS DE 20 BOLSAS

20

400

2,45

980,00

9

72

6,03

434,16

CAFE CUBITA DE 1000 GRAMOS

MOL/DO EN CAJAS DE 8 BOLS

SUB TOTAL GASTOS DE TRANSPORTACION TOTAL

37

-'•

~~ .

.~

~~: .

!P'",

" "

~

- -- __ 0--"1

r-' :'".\ \

~" PA YMENT IN CANADIAN DOLLARS ;, .', ;;,,~ . , : f/..: ':'~ ;1#t' __ _ _ .-Ji :<~". ~.,~,r-~ TRANSFERENCIA ANTICIPADA . ~ ~ l'." ,'.' ,,' .. , BANCO FINANCIERO INTERNACIONAL _. _'

A FAVOR DE KA VE COFFEE S,A. 0300000002613923

.

PESO NETO 311,20 KG PESO BRUTO: 324,12 KG

~_.

CORPORA CION CIMEX S,A.

1

'1

1.702,16 972,00 2.674,16

I---r-;- - - - - - - - - - ,

Division de Ventas Mayoristas y Exportaciones ... Kave Coffee s,a~- .__ __ jEd": Gerollcial I-----l- _ !Cane C;' 1ra Y 3ra Vedado I Cil/dad

de fa Habana. Cuba.

I

I

\

\

I

_+-

_

1_;

SOL~DCCT'O:OO;-~;E'O:LC-;;P~U"'E~NCOT"'E-CG"'MCOB;OH~--_.-. ..- ..:::.-.~~~~~::.~~-=-_. .. _.-:..-=.-_-_-_._._...Jl~835J7 40 Fax: 8353713 VEN 0 IDO A·]L;se-mi'itner-Str. 9

INVOICE No KCE 20108 . lD-31171. _ Nordstemmen

- - - - - - - - --- -_.- -- .-

. ­

FACT.No

.ALEMAN/A

I ­

CONSIG TO EL PUENTE GMBH ----- -- - - -.------------:-=~~~----I_'- - t ­ CONSIG A ; Lise-fneifnei-:sii-. 9-· 1 EE 20501 ; - - . . ---c=~=~-c-;c---:-c----------.. --.-.­ MONTH DAY YEAR _. ID.31171 Nordstemmen ...-1- . o IA ANO;c:----l MES ALEMANIA ---,-------------------_.­ 2008 21 4 -----_._-_. -

VIA

SALES TERMS COND VENT A - - . ­

MARITIMA

CFR HAMBURGO

OUR CONTRACT . - - - . - - --- ----t-----r.N"'UES. CONTRATO

TRANSFERENCIA ANTICIPADA- .. ­

------

I e'V10

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-t'..l~~~_="'~Ul'"',""

·.1 IV'"

I­

-1o--+OC-oA~F"'EccCocU-cB'O:/"'TA~A'""'Ro-AocB'O:/coC~OccLccAocV-cACO-DOO-O~1coOccO';icco-cp"'UccROO-O~--· -

r--.

. -­

''''v'

CANTIDAD PRECIO

DESCRIPCION

-­

...

CAJAS

Pfl

,

i --­ I V

I ML

EURICAJA

_

v.

'LVC

VALOR TOTAL·-­

~

EUR

-

-.--.-.-.-_+------t-----t----t­

-­

1-­ --F.E~N"'V"'A~S=cA~D=_o0~A~L~V~A_o_C"'I"""O_=, c,oT""IPo'0~C"'A~R'"A'CC~O~L"'IL=L=O=-------

EN BOLSAS DE 500 GRAMOS MOL/DO.

10 BOLSAS POR CAJA

CAFE CUBITA EN GRANO EN BOLSAS - - - .. - DE 1000 G, CON VALVULA, TUESTE OSCURO ESPECIAL PARA EXPRESSO. 6 BOLSAS POR CAJA

_~_--1LT=U.~ES'EEOS_C_URO.

2 1---

420 --

~

23,54

.- -+----+-+-­ 200

28,20

._ _3=--_-ECOcA,;-F.c:Ec-~CUBITAARABICO LAVADO 100% PURO

ENVASADO AL VA C/O, TlPO CARACOL/LLO

-----t~~~~e==-oc=e~~=~~=--------_j ...- -.. EN BOLSAS DE 500 GRAMOS MOL/DO. I - - . TU-E-STE CLAR-O.-1-0 BOLSAS POR CAjA-·------1------c15~Oo--+--:..2":.4c::., o":.o°'::---t_-+-_

4

r - - 5 -·-

....

.-..... - - = ~ ~ = - - - - - - + _ - - - _ f RON VARADERO ANEJO EN BOTELLAS DE 700ML. 12 BOTELLAS POR CAJAS ;o----t--·__5:.-0_=:===3"'0:;,=0'""'0~~_-tI_-----1-'---1:.o ..::.50::.:0:.'.,~c.:::.0 RON VARADERO ORO 5 Af:tOS EN BOT-ELI-AS-OE

sub total

t::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~F~LE~TE...

..

~~~

____-+_._.1_0-'0_-+=--2=-4'-'..6=-0_-t-_+_ 2.4 60:~ 23.086.80 I 827,00 ------_._---------11-----1-----­ . 23.913,80

700ML. 12 BOTELLAS POR CAJAS _ TOTAL CONTENEDOR CMAU 1317524 t-----+s-e-cl/co-s-a-desa--iio07603 I 0007604

r--. _ _ _-+.b:-:a"'''-';a_.,bo.c:arra . Divl()H 112.42 . .__

- .. - - - - - - - - - + - -----11----1----1-­ -.-:-o-.--------+----.-.--t------t--'-­

SELLO NAVIERA - CMA CGM -0084111 . I+P~AGO A FAVOR DE KAVE COFFEE, S.A CUENTA NRO. 0300000002613923 EN EL BANCO FINANCIERO INTERNACIONAL, CIUDAD DE LA HABANA, CUBA 1 I.... l PRODUCTO C U B A N O _ _ _ t L _ ' 1-. PESO NETO 5310,00 KG CORPORA CION CIMEX. SA t-----+P~E~SOBRUTO 61;"85,001<13-··· I I

_

I-

.

_ . ­

•

••

Corporacion Cimex s,a. Division de Ventas mayoristas y Exportaciones CAFE CUB/TA

-<:'cD TO

THOMAS HINDS TOBACCONIST

Ciudad Habana. Culla

jE\.lDIDO A

8 ClImberland Street

telt' 835 3740 tax· 835 371 J INVOiCE No KCE 51108 F':',CT No

TorontoOntario M 4 W 1 J5 CANADA COi'~S!G

TO ::ONSIG ,A

THOMAS HINDS TOBACCONIST PHONE: 416- 481-6909 FAX: 416 - 481- 6625

1EE 10105 :.lOi'-iTH r,JE:;

24 24 24 10

8 15 12

YEAR, A.NO

5

11

2008

OUR CONTRACT NUES CONTRATO

SALE S TERMS CONO VE,NT f~

AEREA

OF\' DIA

CPT TORONTO

TRANFERENC/A

DESCRiPTION DESCRIPCION

GTY CANTIDAD

UNiT PRICE TOT ~.L V.A.LUE PRECIO P U V,"iUR TOT,"L

BAGS

USD

CAFE CUB/TA EN CAJAS DE CAFE CUBITA EN CAJAS DE CAFE CUB/TA EN CAJAS DE CAFE CUBITA EN CAJAS DE CAFE CUBITA EN CAJAS DE CAFE CUBITA EN CAJAS DE CAFE CUB/TA EN CAJAS DE

DE 1000G MOL/DO TUESTE OSCURO 6 BOLSAS DE 1000g EN GRANO NATURAL 6 BOLSAS DE 1000g EN GRANO TORREFACTO 6 BOLSAS DE 230 G MOL/DO NATURAL 30 BOLSAS DE 460G MOL/DO TORREFACTO 20 BOLSAS DE 460G MOL/DO TUESTE OSCURO 20 BOLSAS DE 1000G MOL/DO TORREFACTO. 6 BOLSAS

USD

144

6,15

885.60

144

6,10

878.40

144

5.60

806,40

300

1.40

420.00

160

2.75

440.00

300

2.82

846.00

72

5.80

417.60

sub tolal

4.694.00

f1ete

2.426.08

TOTAL

.7,120.08

PAYMENT IN CAD AT EXCHANGE RATE PREVAIL/NG AT THE MOMENT OF PAYMENT

BANK TRANSFER TO BANCO FINANCIERO INTERN CI AL. H4VANA, CUBA

/N FAVOR OF KAVE COFFEE SA ~

ACCOUNT No.0300000002613923 Ellie"!,, AI"'L'"

Esp COI\lerclal PESO NETO: 784.60 KG C FE CUB/TA PESO BRUTO: 842.64 KG

VI.M U. S

Declaration of Translation

Of Declaration of Gonzalo Manuel Bemaza Mayor

And Exhibits 3,4,6,7,8, and 9

Attached Thereto

Debra Evenson declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the following it true and correct: 1. I am a lawyer, licensed to practice law in the State of New York, and am of counsel to the law finn Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Liebennan, P.e. I was professor of law at DePaul University School of Law from 1980-1993 where I taught comparative intemationallaw. I am fluent in the Spanish language. 2. I translated the following· documents from Spanish into English:

a) Declaration of Gonzalo Manuel Bemaza Mayor, signed on August

b) The following Exhibits to that Declaration: 3,4,6, 7, 8, and 9 I attach hereto a copy of the original document in Spanish and the translation thereof which is a true and correct translation into English. 3. Because ofthe exigencies oftime, I am sending a scanned copy of this signed declaration by email and will send the original signed declaration by express courier.

Signed this 12th day of August, 2009

Lf!Lth--~~

DEBRA EVENSON

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD __________________________________________ ) RUTA MAYA ROYALTY, LTD., ) ) Opposer, ) ) v. ) Opposition No. 91189804 ) Serial No. 77252382 CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., ) ) Applicant. ) ) DECLARATION OF GONZALO MANUEL BERNAZA MAYOR

Yo, GONZALO MANUEL BERNAZA MAYOR, declaro lo siguiente: 1.

Tengo más de 18 años de edad, de mente sana y capaz de dar el presente

testimonio. Hago esta declaración sobre la base de mi conocimiento personal de los hechos expuestos en ella. 2.

Tengo mi domicilio en la Calle 24 No. 357, entre 21 y 23, Plaza, Ciudad de La

Habana Cuba. Soy jubilado desde el 2007. 3.

Entiendo y hablo con fluidez el español. Puedo leer documentos en inglés y hablo

y entiendo un poco de inglés. Sin embargo, no me considero capaz de hablar o escribir inglés con fluidez y por lo tanto hago esta Declaración en español. Anteriormente en junio de 2008 brindé una declaración que trataba fundamentalmente estos mismos asuntos en un proceso anterior de marcas en los Estados Unidos con respecto a la marca CUBITA para café, Corporacion Cimex, S.A., v. DM Enterprises & Distributors, Inc., Opp. No. 91178943 (TTAB). 4.

Estuve involucrado en la creación de la marca café CUBITA, en Cuba en 1991,

incluyendo la selección de la palabra “CUBITA” en 1990, y el diseño de la marca CUBITA. En

1

función de mi empleo con Kave Coffee, S.A. así como la Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A., tengo conocimiento personal del uso continuo de la marca CUBITA para el café en Cuba, empezando con el lanzamiento del producto en Cuba en 1991, y las ventas y comercialización del café CUBITA desde 1991 al 2001, dentro de Cuba y para la exportación, como se explica abajo con más detalles. En el año 2001, empecé a trabajar como asesor de la empresa AGRILUCA S.A. en Cuba, la cual exporta productos para la producción agrícola. Sin embargo, seguí viendo la venta en Cuba del café CUBITA.. 5.

El café CUBITA siempre ha sido envasado con el mismo diseño que se emplea

actualmente. Este diseño incluye la palabra “CUBITA” con letras estilizadas; tres líneas en rojo, blanco y azul, que representan los colores de la bandera cubana, que atraviesan la palabra “Cubita”; el fondo negro; y el ovalo naranja bajo la palabra “Cubita”, con una imagen de la isla de Cuba dibujada con granos de café tostados en el centro del óvalo. Fotocopias fieles y correctas del envase del café CUBITA están adjuntas al presente como Anexo 1. (Me han informado que los números “C00__” puestos en

los documentos en los Anexos a esta

Declaración han sido puestos anteriormente por los abogados estadounidenses de CIMEX como parte del proceso anterior en la USPTO entre CIMEX y DM con respecto al derecho a la marca CUBITA). 6.

He estado la mayoría de mi vida como adulto involucrado en la producción,

comercialización o venta de café. Recientemente terminé escribiendo un libro sobre café con el titulo “Café, sabor y mística” (en inglés “Coffee, Taste and Mysticism”), el cual se publicará la editorial Arte y Literatura al finales del 2009. 7.

En 1957, cuando tenía 20 años, trabajaba en los aspectos técnicos de la

producción de café para la Empresa Operadora de Centrales de Beneficio de Café en Santiago de

2

Cuba, que fue un proyecto dirigido por el Banco Nacional de Cuba para mejorar la calidad del café cubano. En 1958, me mandaron a New Orleans por unos seis meses para aprender a catar café. 8.

En 1959, regresé a Cuba desde los Estados Unidos y empecé a trabajar en el

Banco para el Comercio Exterior de Cuba, allí estuve atendiendo la exportación del café verde. En 1960, empecé a trabajar en el Instituto Cubano de Estabilización del Café, donde hacía análisis de adulteración del café. Trabajé brevemente para el Ministerio de Comercio Exterior pero lo dejé para estudiar agronomía en la Universidad de La Habana y me gradué en 1965 como Ingeniero Agrónomo. 9.

Después de graduarme, trabajaba para el Equipo de Investigación Económica de

la Revolución Cubana sobre varios asuntos, particularmente café, incluyendo en 1968 como Vice Director de producción de café de la Provincia de Oriente, y luego de 1970 a 1972, trabajaba en la Dirección Nacional de Café y Cacao. Desde aproximadamente 1973 a 1987, trabajaba en CUBAEXPORT, primero como catador de café y luego desde 1986 a 1987, como Director del Departamento de Café y Cacao. Este Departamento era responsable de la exportación del café de Cuba, exclusivamente en grano verde. Como jefe del Departamento, era responsable de encontrar mercados, asegurar la calidad del café, la transportación y la compra de las materias primas. 10.

En 1987, me nombraron Presidente de la Importadora-exportadora de Café

Centroamericano y de Brasil, S.A. en Panamá, la cual más adelante cambió su nombre a Kave Coffee, S.A., y que fue involucrado en la importación y exportación del café de Centroamérica y Brasil en aquel momento. Regresé a La Habana en 1990, continuando como Presidente de Kave Coffee hasta 1995. En 1995, me nombraron Director de la División de Exportaciones y Marcas

3

de la Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A, que exportaba varios productos de Cuba, y poco después de que entré en este cargo la empresa asumió la responsabilidad de la venta y exportación de café CUBITA en el mercado nacional así como de exportación. Mantuve este puesto hasta 2001 cuando fui a trabajar como asesor a AGRILUCA S.A. (que no estaba involucrada en la venta del café CUBITA). Me jubilé en el 2007. 11.

En función de mi participación de mucho tiempo en la industria cubana de café,

tengo mucho conocimiento del café cubano. Por muchos años, el café ha sido uno de los productos agrícolas más importante de Cuba, para el consumo nacional, así como para la exportación. Aunque Cuba no es un gran productor o exportador de café en términos del volumen, en comparación con países como Brasil o Colombia, el café cubano ha tenido renombre por mucho tiempo por su sabor y estilo único, y el café cubano ha sido exportado por todo el mundo por muchos años, principalmente el café verde. Como consecuencia de su reputación y renombre, normalmente el café cubano se vende a precios por encima de los precios promedios en el Mercado mundial. 12.

A diferencia de la exportación tradicional de café cubano en grano verde, el café

CUBITA fue creado especialmente como un café tostado, molido y envasado en Cuba, de alta calidad, para la venta dentro de Cuba al sector del turismo y para la exportación a países occidentales y otros países desarrollados, así como a Europa del Este. 13.

Aproximadamente en el año 1989, empecé a participar en conversaciones sobre la

posibilidad de desarrollar productos de origen cubano que se identificaran específicamente con Cuba, para la industria emergente del turismo.

Por mi experiencia y cargo, estuve

específicamente involucrado en el desarrollo de un café de alta calidad, procesado y envasado en Cuba, que se identificara con Cuba para venderse al sector del turismo. En 1990, regresé a Cuba

4

para abrir y dirigir la oficina de Kave Coffe en La Habana. Se estableció la oficina en La Habana específicamente para crear y comercializar café cubano de alta calidad para su venta a turistas en Cuba y potencialmente para su exportación desde Cuba, y que promoviera y protegiera la imagen de Cuba y del café cubano. 14.

Yo personalmente ideé el nombre “Cubita” en 1990, para este producto de café

cubano de alta calidad, precisamente para identificarlo con Cuba. La palabra “Cubita” es un nombre común (no científico) o folclórico, que algunos campesinos pusieron a una variedad de café sembrada en Cuba, que da cosechas dos veces al año en vez de una, también se llama “dos tiempos”. Además, el nombre se seleccionó, porque obviamente “Cubita” suena muy similar a “Cuba”, utilizando la forma diminutiva (“ita”) común en el idioma español, nunca he oído o visto la palabra “cubita” utilizado en alguna forma que no sea referida a la variedad que acabo de describir. También fue idea mía, poner el mapa de Cuba en el envase dibujándolo con granos de café tostados, y poner los colores de la bandera cubana atravesando la palabra “Cubita” en el envase. Trabajé directamente en 1991 con un diseñador gráfico para preparar el diseño del envase del CUBITA. 15.

Se lanzó la marca de café CUBITA en el Hotel Paraíso Puente Arena en

Varadero, Cuba, en 1991. Se adjunta a la presente como Anexo 2 copias fieles y correctas de una fotos tomadas del lanzamiento al que yo asistí (estoy sentado en el centro derecho, llevando una camisa azul y lentes, y mirando a la cámara C00270, y también me veo de espalda a la cámara en C00268). Como Presidente de Kave Coffee, tuve conocimiento de que Kave Coffee solicitó el registro de la marca CUBITA para café en la Oficina Cubana de Marcas, y que se registró la marca en los últimos meses de 1991.

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16.

Las ventas del café CUBITA comenzaron al finales del 1991 a numerosos hoteles

por toda Cuba, y a las tiendas de Cubalse en La Habana y Santiago de Cuba, incluyendo las tiendas de La Habana el “Náutico”, la de 3ra y 70, la de 5ta y 42, y Flores. Los hoteles compraron CUBITA en grandes envases de 1000 gramos para hacer y

servir café a sus

huéspedes, y también en envases más pequeños de 230 o 460 gramos, para venderse en las tiendas de los hoteles. También en 1992 se comenzaron las ventas del café CUBITA en las tiendas duty free del aeropuerto José Martí en La Habana y del aeropuerto de Santiago de Cuba. Desde 1992, el café CUBITA ha sido vendido por toda Cuba a los hoteles para su uso dentro de los mismos, a las tiendas de los hoteles para su venta a turistas y otros clientes, a las tiendas duty free de los aeropuertos en Cuba y en las otras tiendas que venden en divisa. Desde 1992, CUBITA ha sido por mucho, el café cubano tostado más vendido, en el mercado nacional así como de exportación. 17.

Se adjunta como Anexo 3 una copia fiel y correcta de las normas internas para el

control de la calidad que emití en nombre de Kave Coffee el 2 de julio de 1992, para su aplicación para lograr y mantener consistente la alta calidad del café CUBITA. 18.

En 1993, bajo mi supervisión y ayuda, incluyendo información que las

proporcioné, dos estudiantes (cuyos nombres no recuerdo) de la Universidad de La Habana, realizaron su tesis de diploma, en relación con un estudio de Mercado del CUBITA. Se adjunta a la presente como Anexo 4 copias fieles y correctas de algunas selecciones del estudio de Mercado realizado por estas dos estudiantes, con traducción al inglés, (el estudio entero fue presentado como C00001-C00096). El estudio de mercado muestra que en 1992 las ventas del café CUBITA crecieron aproximadamente de $25,000 USD en enero de 1992, a más de $150,000 USD en diciembre de 1992 (C00050). Cuba era bien conocida en aquel momento por

6

su exportación del café verde, y los estudiantes se propusieron determinar si las ventas del café procesado, específicamente el café CUBITA, podrían crecer en importancia. Se anota en la Introducción que el marketing es el factor más importante en la venta de productos de consumo y servicios. Luego el texto del estudio dice, “Hablemos de nuestra posible solución, el producto CUBITA. Este café está elaborado con el mejor grano que se da en nuestras montañas, tostado, molido, envasado y distribuido bajo la dirección de la empresa Kave Coffee S.A.”, y se identifican cuatro productos de CUBITA a la venta en Cuba en aquel entonces. (C00003). También el estudio de marketing anotó que el café cubano en grano verde ha sido vendido al segundo mejor precio en el mundo, después del café de Jamaica (C00014; C00023: “El café verde cubano tiene una fama y un prestigio internacional ya alcanzados, al punto de ser el segundo café mejor pagado en el mundo.”).

Las estadísticas de precios en el Estudio de

Marketing fueron tomadas del F. O. Licht, Anuario Internacional de Café, 1992 (C00023). 19.

Aunque la gran mayoría del café CUBITA se vendía en Cuba, aproximadamente

en el 1993, Kave Coffee empezó a exportar el café CUBITA a otros países, primero a Rusia y Canadá. En 1993, fui a Canadá para ver la tienda de Thomas Hinds en Toronto que estaba vendiendo el café CUBITA. Se Adjunta a la presente como Anexo 5 (C00256) una copia fiel y correcta que muestra fielmente la fachada de la tienda de Thomas Hinds en Toronto, que visité en 1993. Ya en medio de la década de los 90, se exportaba el café CUBITA a México, Alemania, Bélgica, y el Caribe, y ya cuando salí de la Distribuidora CIMEX en el 2001, las exportaciones se han extendido a otros países, incluyendo España, Inglaterra, Noruega, Suiza, y Panamá. 20.

Se adjunta a la presente como Anexo 6 una copia fiel y correcta del “Informe

Anual del 1995” del “Café Cubita” (C00145-153), que presenta información detallada sobre las

7

ventas del café CUBITA del año 1995. Incluyendo las ventas totales del CUBITA y las otras marcas, sumaron $2,898,000 US, del cual todo, menos aproximadamente $177,000, correspondían al CUBITA (C00153) (por volumen, 95.5% de las ventas correspondían a CUBITA, C00145), y que también muestra unas comparaciones de ventas por los años 1993, 1994 y 1995 ((C00148-150). 21.

En 1993, y cada año desde entonces hasta por lo menos el 2001, cuando salí de la

Distribuidora CIMEX, se presentó el café CUBITA en la Feria Internacional de La Habana anual y otras ferias de comercio como la Feria Internacional del Caribe en Santiago de Cuba. La Feria de 1993 otorgó a CUBITA la Medalla de Oro en reconocimiento de su calidad. Se adjunta a la presente como Anexo 7 una copia fiel y correcta del Certificado de la Medalla de Oro de 1993 y el Catalogo de la Feria Internacional de La Habana de 1993. (C00236-240). También el café CUBITA fue premiado en la Feria Internacional del Caribe en Santiago de Cuba en 1994. Adjunto a la presente como Anexo 8 una copia fiel y correcta del certificado del premio de calidad otorgado al café CUBITA (C00129). Se adjunta como Anexo 9, un certificado de reconocimiento de los tostadores del café CUBITA (en que se refiere al “Café Cubita, el orgullo de Cuba”) otorgado en el marco de la conmemoración del 250 aniversario del café cubano en 1998. 22.

En la última quincena de febrero de 1994, me reuní con Timothy Sheehan en La

Habana, Cuba, en mi capacidad de Presidente de Kave Coffee. Entendí que el Sr. Sheehan era de los Estados Unidos, y el me hizo entender que era el principal de una compañía que vendía café en los Estados Unidos. Recuerdo que la compañía del Sr. Sheehan en este momento no se llamaba Ruta Maya. El Sr. Sheehan propuso la reunión conmigo, y antes de conocerlo yo tenía entendido que el quería hablar del café CUBITA cubano conmigo. En esta reunión, el Sr.

8

Sheehan plante6 el tema del cafe cubano CUBITA, que obviamente era su inte..es principal en esta reuni6n. Me parecia muy claro durante esta reuni6n que el Sr. Sheehan ya estaba enterado y tenia conocimiento de la marca cubana de cafe CUBITA. Yo tenia entendido muy claramente durante esta reuni6n que ni el Sr. Sheehan ni su compaiiia estaba vendiendo un cafe bajo la marca CUBITA en este momento. 23.

Durante mi empleo, era la intenci6n de Kave Coffee y luego de la Distribuidora

CIMEX de vender el cafe CUBITA en el mercado de los Estados Unidos tan pronto que la ley de los Estados Unidos permita la venta de productos cubanos alIa.

Declaro bajo pena de perjurio bajo las leyes de los Estados Unidos que 10 anterior es cierto y correcto basta 10 que yo sepa y creo.

Firmado este 10 dia de agosto 2009 La Habana, Cuba

GON~MAYOR

9

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD __________________________________________ ) RUTA MAYA ROYALTY, LTD., ) ) Opposer, ) ) v. ) Opposition No. 91189804 ) Serial No. 77252382 CORPORACION CIMEX, S.A., ) ) Applicant. ) ) DECLARATION OF GONZALO MANUEL BERNAZA MAYOR I, GONZALO MANUEL BERNAZA MAYOR, declare the following: 1.

I am over the age of 18, of sound mind, and capable of giving testimony herein. I

make this Declaration based on my own personal knowledge of the facts that are stated herein. 2.

I reside at Calle 24, No. 357 entre 21 y 23, Plaza, City of Havana, Cuba. I have

been retired since 2007. 3.

I am fluent and literate in Spanish. I am able to read documents in English and I

speak and understand some spoken English. However, I do not consider myself fluent in spoken or written English, and therefore I make this Declaration in Spanish. I previously provided a Declaration primarily addressed to these same matters in June 2008 in a previous trademark proceeding in the United States involving the CUBITA mark for coffee, Corporacion Cimex, S.A., v. DM Enterprises & Distributors, Inc., Opp. No. 91178943 (TTAB). 4.

I was involved in the creation of the CUBITA coffee brand in Cuba in 1991,

including the selection of the “CUBITA” word in 1990, and the design for the CUBITA mark. Through my employment with Kave Coffee, S.A. as well as Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A., I have personal knowledge of the continuous use of the CUBITA mark for coffee in Cuba, commencing 1

with the launch of the product in Cuba in 1991, and the sales and marketing of CUBITA coffee from 1991 through 2001, within Cuba and for export, as set forth in more detail below. In 2001, I began to work as an advisor to the company AGRILUCA S.A. in Cuba, which exports products for agricultural production. However, I continued to see CUBITA-branded coffee for sale in Cuba. 5.

CUBITA-branded coffee has always been packaged with the same design that is

currently used. This design includes the stylized word “Cubita”; the three lines in red, white and blue that represent the colors of the Cuban flag that run through the word “Cubita”; the black background; and the orange oval under the word “Cubita” with an image of the island of Cuba made from roasted coffee beans in the center of the oval. True and correct photocopies of the CUBITA coffee packaging are annexed hereto as Exhibit 1 (I am informed that the “C00__” numbers on the documents in the Exhibits to this Declaration were previously affixed by the U.S. attorneys for CIMEX as part of the prior trademark proceeding before the USPTO between CIMEX and DM with respect to the right to the trademark CUBITA.) 6.

I have spent almost all of my adult life involved in the production, marketing or

sale of coffee. I recently finished writing a book on coffee entitled “Café, sabor y mística” (in English “Coffee, Taste and Mysticism”), which will be published by Arte y Literatura at the end of 2009. 7.

In 1957, when I was 20, I worked in technical aspects of coffee production for

Empresa Operadora de Centrales de Beneficio de Café in Santiago de Cuba, which was a project directed by Banco Nacional de Cuba to improve the quality of Cuban coffee. In 1958, I was sent to New Orleans for about six months to learn about taste testing of coffee.

2

8.

In 1959, I returned to Cuba from the United States and began to work at Banco

para el Comercio Exterior de Cuba, where I attended to the export of unprocessed coffee beans. In 1960, I went to work at the Instituto Cubano de Estabilización del Café, where I was involved in the analysis of the adulteration of coffee. I worked briefly at the Ministry of External Commerce, but left to study agronomy at the University of Havana, and I graduated in 1965 as an Agronomy Engineer. 9.

After graduating, I worked at the Equipo de Investigación Económica de la

Revolución Cubana on several matters, particularly coffee, including as Sub-Director of the production of coffee in Oriente Province in 1968, and then from 1970-1972, I worked at the Dirección Nacional de Café y Cacao. From about 1973-1987, I worked at CUBAEXPORT, first as a taster of coffee and then from 1986-1987 as the Director of the Department of Coffee and Cacao. This Department was responsible for the export of coffee from Cuba, exclusively as unprocessed coffee beans. As the Department head, I was responsible for finding markets, assuring the quality of the coffee, transportation, and purchase of raw materials. 10.

In 1987, I became the President of Importadora-exportadora de Café

Centroamericano y de Brasil, S.A. in Panama, which later changed its name to Kave Coffee, S.A., and which was involved in the import and export of coffee from Central America and Brazil at that time. I returned to Havana in 1990, continuing as President of Kave Coffee until 1995. In 1995, I became Director of the Division of Exports and Brands of Distribuidora CIMEX, S.A, which exported various products from Cuba, and soon after my arrival, the company became responsible for the sale and export of CUBITA brand coffee in the domestic as well as the export market. I remained in that position until 2001 when I went to work as an

3

advisor to AGRILUCA S.A. (which was not involved in the sale of CUBITA coffee). I retired in 2007. 11.

As a result of my long involvement in the Cuban coffee industry, I am very

knowledgeable about Cuban coffee.

Coffee has long been one of Cuba’s most important

agricultural products, both for domestic consumption and for export. Although Cuba is not a large producer or exporter of coffee by volume, compared to countries such as Brazil or Colombia, Cuban coffee has long been renowned for its unique flavor and style, and Cuban coffee, primarily as unprocessed coffee beans, has been exported throughout the world for many years. Because of its reputation and renown, Cuban coffee typically sells at higher than average prices on the world market. 12.

Unlike Cuba’s traditional export of unprocessed coffee beans, CUBITA coffee

was specifically created as a high quality coffee product, roasted, ground and packaged in Cuba, to be marketed within Cuba to the tourist sector and for export to Western and other developed nations, and to Eastern Europe. 13.

In about 1989, I began to participate in discussions about the possible

development of Cuban-origin products that would be specifically identified with Cuba, for the emerging tourism industry. Because of my experience and position, I was specifically involved in developing a high quality coffee, processed and packaged in Cuba, which would be identified with Cuba to be sold to the tourism sector. In 1990, I returned to Cuba to open and manage the office of Kave Coffee in Havana. The Havana office was established specifically to create and market a high quality Cuban coffee product for sale to tourists in Cuba, and potentially for export from Cuba, that would promote and protect the image of Cuba and Cuban coffee.

4

14.

I personally came up with the name “Cubita” in 1990, for this high quality Cuban

coffee product, precisely to identify it with Cuba.

The word “Cubita” is a common (not

scientific), or folk, name that some farmers gave to a variety of coffee plant grown in Cuba that yields harvests twice a year, instead of only once, and is also called the “two time” plant. The name was also chosen because “Cubita” obviously sounds very similar to “Cuba,” using the diminutive form (“ita”) common in the Spanish language, although I had never heard or seen the word “cubita” used in any way other than to refer to the coffee plant just described. It was also my idea to place the map of Cuba on the package drawn with roasted coffee beans, and to have the colors of the Cuban flag running through the word “Cubita” on the package. I worked directly with a graphic designer to prepare the CUBITA packaging design in 1991. 15.

The CUBITA coffee brand was launched at the Paraíso Puente Arena Hotel in

Varadero, Cuba in 1991. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 2 are true and correct copies of photographs taken of the launch, which I attended (I am seated in the middle right, wearing a blue shirt and glasses, and facing the camera in C00270, and am also shown turned away from the camera in C00268). As President of Kave Coffee, I was aware that Kave Coffee applied to register the mark CUBITA for coffee with the Cuban trademark office, and that the mark was registered in late 1991. 16.

Sales of CUBITA branded coffee began in late 1991 to numerous hotels

throughout Cuba, and to Cubalse stores in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, including the Havana stores “Nautico”, 3rd and 70th Street Store, 5th and 42nd Street Store, and Flores. The hotels purchased CUBITA in large packages of 1000 grams for brewing coffee to serve to their guests, and also in smaller packages of 230 or 460 grams to sell in the hotel stores. Sales of CUBITA coffee also began in the duty free shops at José Martí Airport in Havana and the airport in

5

Santiago de Cuba in 1992. Since 1992, CUBITA coffee has been sold throughout Cuba to hotels for use within the hotels; to hotel stores for sale to tourists and other customers, in duty free shops in airports in Cuba, and in hard currency stores. From 1992, CUBITA was by far Cuba’s best selling roasted coffee, both domestically and for export. 17.

Annexed hereto as Exhibit 3 is a true and correct copy of the internal quality

control norms I issued in the name of Kave Coffee on July 2, 1992, for their application to achieve and maintain consistently the high quality of CUBITA coffee. 18.

In 1993, two female students (whose names I do not recall) at the University of

Havana conducted a market study of CUBITA in connection with their graduation thesis, under my supervision and with my assistance, including information I provided them. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 4 are true and correct copies of excerpts of the market study conducted by these two students, with translation to English (the complete market study was produced as C00001C00096). The market study shows that during 1992, sales of CUBITA coffee grew from approximately USD $25,000 in January 1992 to over USD $150,000 in December 1992 (C00050). Cuba was well-known at the time for its exports of green unprocessed coffee, and the students set out to determine whether sales of processed coffee, specifically CUBITA coffee, could grow in importance. The introduction notes that marketing is the most important factor in the sale of consumer goods and services. The study then states, “We speak of our possible solution, the product CUBITA. This coffee is produced with the best beans from our mountains, roasted, ground, packaged and distributed under the direction of Kave Coffee S.A.,” and identifies four CUBITA coffee products then offered for sale in Cuba (C00003). The market study also noted that Cuban unprocessed coffee beans sold for the second highest price in the world, after Jamaican coffee (C00014; C00023: “Cuban green coffee has already achieved

6

international fame and prestige, to the point that it is the second highest priced coffee in the world.”). The price figures in the Marketing Study were taken from F.O. Licht, International Coffee Annual, 1992 (C00023). 19.

Although the great majority of CUBITA coffee was sold in Cuba, in

approximately 1993, Kave Coffee began to export CUBITA coffee to other countries, first Russia and Canada. In 1993, I went to Canada to see the Thomas Hinds store in Toronto, which was selling CUBITA coffee. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 5 (C00256) is a true and correct copy of a photograph that accurately depicts the storefront of the Thomas Hinds store in Toronto that I visited in 1993. By the middle of the decade of the 1990’s, CUBITA coffee was also being exported to Mexico, Germany, Belgium, and the Caribbean, and by the time I left Distribuidora CIMEX in 2001, exports had been extended to other countries, including Spain, England, Norway, Switzerland, and Panama. 20.

Annexed hereto as Exhibit 6 is a true and correct copy of the “Informe Annual del

1995” for “Café Cubita” (C00145-153), which provides detailed information on CUBITA brand coffee sales for 1995. Including the total sales for CUBITA and two other brands, they added to US$2,898,000, of which all but approximately $177,000 was for CUBITA (C00153) (by weight, 95.5% of sales were of CUBITA, C00145), and which also shows comparisons of sales for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 ((C00148-150). 21.

In 1993, and in every year since until at least 2001, when I left Distribuidora

CIMEX, CUBITA was displayed at the annual Havana International Fair and other trade fairs such as the Caribbean International Fair in Santiago de Cuba. The 1993 Fair, bestowed on CUBITA a Gold Medal in recognition of its quality. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 7 is a true and correct copy of the 1993 Gold Medal Certificate and the 1993 Havana International Fair

7

Catalogue (C00236-240).

CUBITA coffee was also honored at the July 1994 Caribbean

International Fair held in Santiago de Cuba. Annexed hereto as Exhibit 8 is a true and correct copy of the certificate for the prize for quality for CUBITA coffee (C00129). A certificate honoring the roasters of CUBITA coffee (referring to “Café Cubita, the pride of Cuba”) in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Cuban coffee in 1998 is annexed hereto as Exhibit 9. 22.

In the last half of February 1994, I met with Timothy Sheehan in Havana, Cuba,

in my capacity as President of Kave Coffee. My understanding was that Mr. Sheehan was from the United States, and he represented to me that he was the principal of a company that sold coffee in the United States. My recollection is that the name of Mr. Sheehan’s company at that time was not Ruta Maya. Mr. Sheehan proposed the meeting with me, and I understood from before we met that he wished to discuss the Cuban CUBITA coffee brand with me. At that meeting, Mr. Sheehan raised the topic of the Cuban CUBITA coffee brand, which was clearly his primary interest at that meeting. It was very clear to me during this meeting that Mr. Sheehan was already aware of and knowledgeable about the Cuban CUBITA coffee brand. It was my very clear understanding during this meeting that neither Mr. Sheehan nor his coffee company was selling coffee under the mark CUBITA at the time. 23.

During my employment, it was the intention of Kave Coffee and later

Distribuidora CIMEX to sell CUBITA coffee in the United States market as soon as United States law allowed Cuban goods to be sold there. I declare under penalty of perjury of the laws of the United States that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Signed this 10th day of August, 2009 Havana, Cuba

_________/s/___________________________ GONZALO MANUEL BERNAZA MAYOR

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