TTAB Affirms Refusal of GRUPPO VAVA Apparel Mark

In a May 2026 decision released recently, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board affirmed the USPTO examiner's refusal to register GRUPPO VAVA for general apparel. The Board found the mark likely to cause confusion with a prior registered mark under Section 2(d) of the Lanham Act.

The applied-for mark GRUPPO VAVA was refused on grounds of similarity in sound, appearance, and commercial impression to an existing registration. The applicant argued distinctions in goods and trade channels, but the Board determined that the marks were sufficiently similar and the goods overlapped sufficiently to support the refusal.

The decision reinforces TTAB precedent on evaluating likelihood of confusion in apparel and fashion marks, where visual and phonetic similarities often drive outcomes. It provides additional clarity for applicants seeking to register marks in crowded classes like clothing.

The ruling stands as a precedential reminder that minor differences in wording may not overcome similarity findings when core elements align closely with existing registrations.