Katonah Village Improvement Society

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Stewart Gives Up Trademark Bids In Katonah Fight

With Appreciation

The Katonah Village Improvement Society would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to the Manhattan based legal firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP for providing us with the excellent counsel, on a pro bono basis, which has led to the positive resolution of our trademark dispute with the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Corporation. Our legal team was led by Andrew H. Seiden, and included Michael Brown, Gabriel Hertzberg, Turner P. Smith and Eric J. Stenshoel. We could have never suceeded in this effort with out your generous and intelligent help.

Katonah Resident and partner at the Stamford, CT law firm of Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perlle, LLP, Terrence J. McAllister, Esq. was the "eagle eye" who spotted the four applications for a registered trademark on the name "Katonah", and brought it to our attention. Mr. McAllister also filed the original oppositions with the Patent and Trademark Office on behalf of KVIS, on a pro bono basis. We are most grateful.

We'd also like to thank Alan D. Barson, Esq of Manhattan for introducing us to Andrew Seiden and the Curtis Mallet-Prevost team, and for his wisdom and guidance, particularly in the early stages of the action.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, LLP
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, LLP
The Law Office of Alan Barson

Joint Statement Regarding "Katonah" Trademark

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., the Katonah Village Improvement Society, Katonah Paint and Hardware, Inc. and Katonah Architectural Hardware Ltd. have reached an amicable resolution to their trademark dispute.

As a result of the agreement, the Katonah Village Improvement Society, Katonah Paint and Hardware and Katonah Architectural Hardware, in recognition of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s legitimate need to protect its intellectual property and business interests, will drop their opposition to the company’s application to register “Katonah” as a trademark in connection with the line of furniture the company has developed using that name. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has agreed to pursue only one trademark application, for furniture, mirrors, pillows and chairpads, and to drop applications for additional goods such as hardware, paint, lighting and home textiles. The company currently produces a line of furniture named “Katonah” for which it will continue with the trademark registration process. The company believes its registration of the name “Katonah” as a trademark in association with its particular products in no way interferes with the rights of businesses like Katonah Paint and Hardware and Katonah Architectural Hardware to continue to use the name “Katonah” for their stores. The company has never challenged the right of Katonah-based businesses to use their town’s name in their company names and would only challenge a use of the name if a product (like furniture) were branded with the name “Katonah” in a way that infringed the company’s trademark rights, which could cause confusion for consumers.

All parties are pleased to have resolved any misunderstandings and to join in mutual appreciation of the Westchester County hamlet of Katonah.