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Selecting the right type of survey format is critical to a successful trademark infringement case. The proper form of likelihood of confusion survey depends on the Courts have recognized three primary question formats as reliable:
In the Exxon format (accepted by the 5th Cir), the survey participant is shown the junior mark and asked: “What is the first thing that comes to your mind when looking at this name?” If the senior mark comes to mind when displaying the junior mark, then confusion exists between the two.
In the Eveready format (adopted by the 7th Cir.), the participant is shown the junior mark and asked:
(1) “Who do you think makes this brand?”
(2) “What makes you think so?”
(3) “Name any other products made by the same ”
Responses that include the name of the senior manufacturer or its products connote evidence of confusion.
In the Squirt format (accepted by the 8th Cir), the participant is asked whether the junior and senior marks are put out by the same or different companies (i.e., “Do you think SQUIRT and QUIRST are put out by the same or different company?”).
Retained by 115+ law firms, Ms. Rhonda Harper is courtroom proven in virtually every Circuit as well as JAMS and TTAB. Ms. Harper's 30+ year career includes serving as a Fortune 100 Chief Marketing Officer and an Adjunct MBA Marketing Professor. In addition to providing litigation consulting and research in the areas of business, licensing, marketing, advertising, in-store merchandising, and strategy, Ms. Harper is routinely retained to formulate expert surveys, conduct rebuttal critiques, or construct rebuttal surveys to show the potential difference in results with properly designed and executed surveys. She has extensive experience and a deep understanding of survey design, sampling, question construction, data analysis, and methodological pitfalls that introduce bias or systematic error.