OPINION
I, INTRODUCTION
During the 1998 Anchorage tourist season, both Robert Gottstein's Iditarod Properties and Caleb and Barbara Alderman's Alaska Guestours operated separate trolley tours named "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" from the front of the historic Fourth Avenue Theatre 1 owned by Iditarod. Iditar-od sued the Aldermans for trade name infringement. A jury found that the Alder-mans had infringed Iditarod's trade name "Fourth Avenue Theatre" 2 and had breached a lease agreement for the use of the theater's ticket booth. The Aldermans appeal numerous issues including the application of trade name law, the jury verdict, the interpretation of the business name registration statute, the amendment of the pleadings, and the award of attorney's fees. We affirm on all issues except the superior court's decision to allow amendment of the pleadings after the close of evidence.
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
Caleb and Barbara Alderman are the owners of Alaska Guestours, Inc. In 1994 the Aldermans started a trolley tour business in Anchorage. In 1996 they adopted the name "Anchorage Trolley Tours."
Robert Gottstein is the sole shareholder of Iditarod Properties In 1991 Iditarod acquired the Fourth Avenue Theatre, a historic building in downtown Anchorage. Iditarod spent approximately three and one half million dollars restoring the Fourth Avenue Theatre. Newspapers and historical preservation societies applauded the renovation of the theater. The newly renovated theater re-opened in 1992.
The theater contains a gift shop, cafe, television studio, movie and video theater, banquet room, and catering company. "Fourth Avenue Theatre" was used as the name for the gift shop and cafe. Iditarod advertised the theater on the radio and in tourist publications. The Fourth Avenue Theatre was listed among the largest banquet facilities in the state. At times, Iditarod received letters from customers addressed to the "Fourth Avenue Theatre," instead of to its corporate name.
In 1995 the Aldermans obtained a parking permit for their trolley in front of the Fourth Avenue Theatre. The Aldermans approached Gottstein to inquire about selling tickets for their trolley tour from the theater. Gottstein and the Aldermans made an oral agreement to rent the theater ticket booth as a location for the Aldermans to sell trolley
Despite the apparent misunderstanding, this arrangement survived until about October 1997. Other conflicts between Iditarod and the Aldermans culminated in a final confrontation, resulting in the Aldermans moving out of the theater and into an office next door. The Aldermans performed no accounting for 1997 rents owed to Iditarod.
Several months after the final disagreement, the Aldermans registered the business name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours." They had previously registered the name "Fourth Avenue Trolley."
Gottstein investigated the possibility of Id-itarod operating a trolley tour business. Idi-tarod requested a parking permit in front of the theater that required moving the Alder-mans' trolley parking space. The city allowed the Aldermans to choose a different space farther down the street, but they selected a location that was still partially in front of the theater. By May 1998 Iditarod and the Aldermans were operating competing trolley tours in front of the Fourth Avenue Theatre. Both operated under the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours." Customers were confused over which trolley tour business they had bought tickets for.
In May 1998 Iditarod's counsel sent the Aldermans a cease and desist letter demanding that the Aldermans stop using the name "Fourth Avenue Theater." The Aldermans rejected Iditarod's demand, and Iditarod filed this lawsuit.
Iditarod alleged trade name infringement and requested an injunction and damages. The Aldermans' answer denied using the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours." They counterclaimed against Iditar-od for unfair competition, trade dress infringement, intentional interference with contractual relations, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and punitive damages.
Both sides moved for partial summary judgment on various issues. Superior Court Judge Brian C. Shortell granted summary judgment, holding that the Aldermans did not have an exclusive right to use the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" by virtue of its registration under AS 10.35.040; that evidence did not support the Aldermans' claim of intentional interference with contractual relations; and that Iditarod had the right to use the name "Fourth Avenue The-atre Trolley Tours." The superior court denied summary judgment on the Aldermans' claims that Iditarod engaged in unfair competition; that the Aldermans had an exclusive right to use the "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" business name under AS 10.35.040; and that Iditarod did not infringe the Aldermans' trade dress.
Trial commenced in May 1999. The Alder-mans testified that they used the trade name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" in the fall of 1997. At the close of evidence, the trial court granted Iditarod's motion to amend its pleading to add a cause of action for breach of contract.
By special verdict, the jury found that: (1) "Fourth Avenue Theatre" was a trade name; (2) Iditarod owned the trade name; (8) the Aldermans used Iditarod's trade name in a way likely to cause confusion; (4) Iditarod did not engage in unfair competition; (5) Iditarod did not use trade dress belonging to the Aldermans; (6) the Aldermans violated the rent agreement by failing to pay fifteen percent of gross revenues from trolley tour tickets sold at the theater; and (7) the amount of the breach was $13,924.05. Based on the verdict, the trial judge entered a judgment on July 26, 1999.
On August 5 Iditarod moved for an award of attorney's fees. On August 19 the Alder-mans filed a notice of appeal. On August 27 the trial judge denied Iditarod's motion for attorney's fees without prejudice for failure to provide sufficient specificity of actual fees incurred. On November 4 Iditarod filed a corrected motion for attorney's fees. The trial court granted Iditarod an enhanced
The Aldermans appeal the jury findings of Iditarod's trade name and Aldermans' infringement of it, the summary judgment ruling that the Aldermans did not have exclusive right to the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" under AS 10.85.040, the amendment of the pleadings at the close of evidence, and the award of attorney's fees.
III. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
Denial of summary judgment is reviewed de mnovo 3 Issues of statutory interpretation are questions of law that we review in our independent judgment. 4 On questions of law, our duty is to adopt the rule of law that is most persuasive in light of precedent, reason, and policy. 5
We review a trial court's decision to permit amendment of the pleadings for an abuse of discretion.' 6 Jury instructions that involve rules of law are reviewed de novo." 7 "The jury's factual findings, if supported by the evidence presented at trial, will not be disturbed where there is room for diversity of opinion among reasonable people." 8
We review the trial court's award of attorney's fees for an abuse of discretion. 9 We will find that a trial court abused its discretion when, after reviewing the whole record, we are left with a definite and firm conviction that the trial court erred in its ruling. 10 If the award of attorney's fees requires interpretation of Alaska Civil Rule 82, we perform an independent review. 11
IV. DISCUSSION
Trade name infringement is an issue of first impression for this court. Alaska Statute 45.50.471(a) states that "[uJnfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce are declared to be unlawful." AS 45.50.471(b) defines "unfair methods of competition" and "unfair or deceptive acts or practices" to include acts:
(3) causing a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship, or approval, or another person's affiliation, connection, or association with or certification of goods or services. 12
Because the language of Alaska's unfair trade practices law echoes that of federal trademark law found in the Lanham Act
13
and because interpretation and application of the Lanham Act is well developed by existing case law in other jurisdictions, we look to decisions of other courts interpreting the Lanham Act and other states' trademark law where the text is similar to that of Alaska's unfair trade practices law.
14
We begin with
A. Trademark and Trade Name Low in General
1. Terminology: trade name v. trademark
In the modern legal vernacular, "trade name" means a symbol used to distinguish companies, partnerships, and businesses. 15 By contrast, "trademark" refers to symbols used to distinguish goods and services. 16 This distinction blurs somewhat when talking about a service company-does "Fourth Avenue Theatre" distinguish the business or the services provided? Because "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is more typical of a business name and the dispute here is over its use as a business name, we treat this as a case involving a trade name rather than a trademark.
The distinction between trade name and trademark, however, is generally not a critical distinction, 17 and we conclude that it is not in this case. The United States Supreme Court noted the identity of protection for trademarks and trade names:
Whether the name of a corporation is to be regarded as a trade-mark, a trade-name, or both, is not entirely clear under the decisions. To some extent the two terms overlap, but there is a difference, more or less definitely recognized, which is that, generally speaking, the former is applicable to the vendible commodity to which it is affixed, the latter to a business and its good will. A corporate name seems to fall more appropriately into the latter class. But the precise difference is not often material, since the law affords protection against its appropriation in either view, upon the same fundamental principles. 18
Protection of trade names and trademarks is the same because trade names and trademarks serve the same basic purposes. "Although trade names [and] trademarks are used differently, they [both] serve the same basic purposes, that is, to identify a business and its products or services, to create a consumer demand therefor, and to protect any goodwill which one may create as to his goods or services." 19
The same basic rules apply equally to trade names and trademarks.
20
Trademarks and trade names are classified in the same four categories. Analysis of infringement for both trademarks and trade names is done under a likelihood-of-confusion test.
21
Trade names, like trademarks and other types of trade symbols, are protected against use that is likely to cause confusion even if the related infringing use is noncompetitive.
22
The term "trademark infringement" covers the use of one party's
2. General concepts of trade name and trademark law
"Iwo elements must be proved to establish a prima facie case of unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Alaska Act: (1) that the defendant is engaged in trade or commerce; and (2) that in the conduct of trade or commerce, an unfair act or practice has occurred." 25 Neither party contests that the Aldermans are engaged in trade or commerce. Thus, the focus is on establishing an unfair act or practice.
According to AS 45.50.471(a2)8), it is an unfair act or practice to "caus[e] a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship, or approval, or another person's affiliation, connection, or association with or certification of goods or services" 26 -in other words, trademark or trade name infringement. In general, to establish an unfair act or practice like trade name infringement, "the law has traditionally required proof of two basic elements: (1) Validity-that the public recognizes plaintiffs symbol as identifying his [business] and distinguishing [it] from those of others, and (2) Infringement-that defendant's actions cause a likelihood of confusion among the relevant buyer class." 27 Validity could be shown in either of two ways: (a) that the symbol was inherently distinctive, or (b) that even if not inherently distinctive, the symbol has become distinctive through the acquisition of "see-ondary meaning," the mental association in buyers' minds between the trade name and a single business. Infringement is shown by analysis under a multi-factor likelihood-of-confusion test.
B. "Fourth Avenue Theatre" Is a Valid Trade Name.
1. General types of trade names
There are four types of trade names: (1) arbitrary or fanciful, (2) suggestive, (8) descriptive (including geographic or personal name), and (4) generic. 28 They differ in level of distinctiveness. Arbitrary, fanciful, and suggestive trade names are the most distinctive and qualify for protection under the Lanham Act or common law. Generic names are entirely non-distinetive and cannot receive such protection. In the middle are descriptive trade names, which may or may not receive protection depending on whether they have achieved a secondary meaning. 29
Arbitrary, fanciful, and suggestive trade names are inherently distinctive.
30
An arbitrary trade name is a common word or symbol that is applied in a manner not
Suggestive terms "connote, rather than describe," some particular product or service; they require "use of the consumer's ingenuity to envisage the nature of the product or service." 40 Some examples of trade names and trademarks held to be suggestive rather than descriptive are Citibank, 41 Orange Crush, 42 and Tie Rak. 43 The concept of suggestive trademarks developed to avoid the draconian result of the 1905 Trademark Act's lack of protection for descriptive marks. 44 Courts could uphold the registration of trademarks that were only subtly "descriptive" by placing them in the inherently distinctive category of suggestive trademarks. 45
Generic names lie at the other end of the distinctiveness spectrum and are not protected. 46 Generic names are the actual names of the goods or services and, thus, cannot be distinctive of a unique source. 47 Some examples of terms held to be generic are Discount Mufflers, 48 Convenient Store, 49 and Lite Beer. 50 Generic names are not pro-tectable as trade names because doing so would effectively remove words of common usage from the commercial vernacular. To permit exclusive trade name rights in a generic name would grant the owner of the generic name a monopoly because a competitor could not describe his business by its common generic term. 51
Descriptive terms are categorized as inherently non-distinetive and, as such, entitled to protection only upon a showing of "secondary meaning" or a mental connection between the trade name and a single business. 57 The United States Supreme Court has stated two reasons for this extra requirement for protection. 58 First, because de-sceriptive terms can be truthfully applied to a whole range of goods and services, a descriptive term cannot, per se, function to identify and distinguish the goods or services of only one seller in the marketplace. A descriptive term merely informs the buyer of an alleged quality of the product but does not help the consumer to distinguish between products of different sellers. 59 Second, descriptive terms are regarded as words in the "public domain" in the sense that all sellers should be free to truthfully use these terms to describe their merchandise. "[Olne competitor will not be permitted to impoverish the language of commerce by preventing his fellows from fairly describing their own goods. 60
A subcategory of descriptive terms is the geographically descriptive term.
61
Examples include ALASKA,
62
Bank of America,
63
and Boston.
64
Proof of secondary meaning is required for protection of geographically descriptive names for the same reasons that secondary meaning is required
-Personal names are another subcategory of descriptive names. Examples include Gueci 66 and Waterman. 67 They too are considered inherently non-distinetive for reasons similar to those for descriptive terms and gain protection only by secondary mean-mg. 68
2. Compostle trade names
Terms that are a combination of two or more types are called composite names. The proper analysis of a composite is to look at the name as a whole, not to dissect it into its component parts. 69 Thus, a composite generic-descriptive name may result in a protectable trade name. 70 The United States Supreme Court has stated the reason for this anti-dissection rule: "The commercial impression of a trade mark is derived from it as a whole, not from its elements separated and considered in detail. For this reason it should be considered in its entirety...." 71 The anti-dissection rule is not violated, however, by separately analyzing the component parts as a step in making the ultimate determination of probable customer reaction to the composite as a whole. 72
In Self-Realization Fellowship Church v. Ananda Church of Self-Realization, the Ninth Cireuit applied the anti-dissection rule.
73
The court held that "Self-Realization" was generic for "a class of organization dedicated to spiritual attainment in the manner taught by Yoga," and descriptive (without secondary meaning) of books and tapes sold by such an organization.
74
In addition, the court noted that "Church" and "Fellowship" were generic in connection with a spiritual organization's name.
75
Thus, "Self-Realization," "Fellowship," and "Church" were not protectable individually as trade names or trademarks. However, the composites of "Self-Realization Fellowship" and "Self-Realization Fellowship Church" were potentially protectable as composites.
76
The Ninth Circuit ruled that the district court erred in concluding that the composites were unpro-tectable based upon the analysis of the component parts and remanded for consideration
3. "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is a composite descriptive name.
The Aldermans argue that "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is not a distinctive name entitled to protection. They suggest that "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is a geographically descriptive name, and, without more, is not distinctive enough to warrant trade name protection. Iditarod does not dispute that "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is a descriptive name, arguing instead that the name has gained secondary meaning and is thus pro-tectable.
"Fourth Avenue Theatre" is a composite name. "Fourth Avenue" is geographically descriptive. "Theater" is generic of a type of business. Looking at the whole, "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is still a descriptive name. 78 As a composite descriptive trade name, "Fourth Avenue Theatre" must have acquired a secondary meaning in the minds of consuming public to be entitled to protection against infringement.
4. Secondary meaning generally
Marks which are merely descriptive of a product are not inherently distinctive. When used to describe a product, they do not inherently identify a particular source, and hence cannot be protected. However, descriptive marks may acquire the distinctiveness which will allow them to be protected under the Act. Section 2 of the Lanham Act provides that a descriptive mark that otherwise could not be registered under the Act may be registered if it "has become distinctive of the applicant's goods in commerce."
This acquired distinctiveness is generally called "secondary meaning." 79
The North Carolina Supreme Court elaborated on the acquired distinctiveness called "secondary meaning":
When a particular business has used words publict juris for so long or so exclusively or when it has promoted its product to such an extent that the words do not register their literal meaning on the public mind but are instantly associated with one enterprise, such words have attained a see-ondary meaning. This is to say, a secondary meaning exists when, in addition to their literal, or dictionary, meaning, words connote to the public a product from a unique source. 80
Thus, secondary meaning mainly concerns the mental association in buyers' minds between the trade name and a particular business. 81
Secondary meaning refers to the meaning developed second in time.
82
The primary or original meaning of a name is the general understanding of the words before the trade name gained distinction. In this case, the original meaning of the words "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is a movie house located on Fourth Avenue in some city. Over time, the name "Fourth Avenue Theatre" may attain secondary meaning when consumers identify the name with the one specific, historic land
The more descriptive the term, the closer it is to a generic name, and the greater the evidentiary burden on the party attempting to prove secondary meaning. 84 Like all trade names, descriptive trade names fall on a spectrum of distinctiveness. Some terms are only slightly descriptive and need only a minimum quantum of evidence to prove see-ondary meaning. Other terms are highly descriptive and may need a substantial quantity of significant secondary-meaning evidence to be protectable as a trade name. 85
In this case, "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is highly descriptive because the words alone describe a business and its location in common terms. The words could refer to any theater on Fourth Avenue. Accordingly, a substantial amount of evidence would be needed to prove secondary meaning.
Factors that support finding secondary meaning include both direct and circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence factors are consumer testimony and consumer surveys. 86 Cireumstantial evidence factors include (1) exclusivity, length, and manner of use; (2) amount and manner of advertising; (3) amount of sales and number of customers; (4) established place in the market; and (5) proof of intentional copying. 87 Some courts add a sixth factor: unsolicited media coverage. 88 "[Nlo single factor is determinative, and every element need not be proved. 89
The party seeking to establish the trade name is not required to prove that the term is recognized as a trade name by all prospective purchasers in the relevant market nor even by a majority of them. Instead, secondary meaning exists if a "significant number of prospective purchasers" connect the term with a particular entity. 90 Many courts require only that a "substantial part" of the buying class makes such an association. 91
5. The jury finding that "Fourth Avenue Theatre" had acquired a secondary meaning was supported by the evidence.
The Aldermans contend that the superior court erred as a matter of law in determining that "Fourth Avenue Theatre" was a trade name. Whether or not a symbol has acquired secondary meaning is a question of fact. 92 In this case, Iditarod has provided sufficient evidence-both direct and cireumstantial-to support the jury finding of secondary meaning.
Three of the cireumstantial evidence factors (exclusivity, length, and manner of use; established place in the market; and amount and manner of advertising) also support the finding of secondary meaning. The factor of exclusivity, length, and manner of use strongly favors Iditarod. The Fourth Avenue Theatre first opened around 1947. Even the Aldermans considered it to be a historic landmark in Anchorage. When Iditarod purchased the Fourth Avenue Theatre in 1991, it restored the theater to its original appearance and continued to use its original name.
The Fourth Avenue Theatre's established place in the market is shown by its appearance in newspapers and trade journals. Dictionaries, trade journals, magazines, and newspapers using a trade name to identify a business show that the business is commonly associated with that trade name. If the business is recognized by its trade name in professional circles, the buyer class is also likely to recognize the business by the trade name. 94 Here, Iditarod has presented substantial evidence showing the use of the trade name "Fourth Avenue Theatre" in newspapers and trade journals.
Advertising also helps support a finding of secondary meaning. Iditarod has provided substantial evidence of its advertising for the Fourth Avenue Theatre.
In sum, Iditarod presented ample direct and circumstantial evidence of secondary meaning. 95 We conclude that the jury verdict finding that the name "Fourth Avenue Theatre" had acquired secondary meaning was supported by the evidence.
6. Iditarod's trade name gained its secondary meaning prior to use by the Aldernans.
The general rule of priority for inherently distinctive trade names is that the first or senior user is entitled to legal protection."
96
Priority for inherently non-distinctive trade names like "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is more complex. Because rights by secondary meanings are gained solely by public recognition and association, the issue of priority and ownership is not which party first used the name, but which party first achieved secondary meaning in the trade name.
97
This would logically require a rule awarding priority to the party who was the first in a race to acquire secondary meaning. Instead, the rule has evolved to "an easier-to-apply, but stricter, surrogate test: the senior user must prove the existence of secondary meaning in
Almost all of Iditarod's evidence of secondary meaning existed prior to the Al-dermans' alleged first use. The Aldermans claim that they used the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" in the fall of 1997. Only Iditarod's marginally relevant supplier invoices post-date the fall of 1997; the remainder of Iditarod's evidence of see-ondary meaning pre-dates the Aldermans' first use. Thus, the same evidence that strongly supports the finding of secondary meaning also supports a finding that the secondary meaning had developed before the Aldermans' first alleged use. We conclude that the jury verdict finding that the trade name "Fourth Avenue Theatre" belonged to Iditarod was supported by the evidence.
C. The Aldermans' Use of the Name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" Infringed Iditarod's Trade Name.
1. Trade name infringement does not require direct competition.
The Aldermans argue that there can be rio likelihood of confusion unless there is competition. They correctly state that the trade name "Fourth Avenue Theatre" does
not automatically protect all conceivable goods or services emanating from that business. The Aldermans then suggest that the seope of protection for the trade name is limited to goods or services already in existence.
This is wrong. Despite the terminology "unfair competition," the vast majority of modern decisions have adopted the rule that competition is not necessary between the parties for there to be a likelinood of confusion. 99 "Confusion, or the likelihood of confusion, not competition, is the real test of trademark infringement." 100
There are four reasons for this broad protection of a trade name. First, protection from trade name use by non-competing businesses prevents placing the trade name holder's reputation in another's hands. 101 Second, it protects consumers from confusion. 102 Third, it allows a zone of natural expansion. 103 Fourth, it prevents unjust enrichment of the junior user-"reaping where one has not sown" and "riding the coat-tails" of the senior user. 104
The related goods doctrine is the modern rule.
105
This doctrine extends trade name protection beyond businesses in direct competition to businesses that are related."
2. Likelihood of confusion generally
"Likelihood of confusion" is the basic test of both common-law trademark infringe ment 108 and federal statutory trademark infringement. 109 State statutes modeled after the Lanham Act also use the same likelihood-of-confusion test. 110
The test has been stated in these terms: An appreciable number of reasonable buyers must be likely to be confused by the names for trade name infringement or unfair trade practice liability. 111 "Appreciable number" escapes a numerical value, but most courts find that a majority of confused customers is not needed. Some courts have found survey evidence of even low percentages of actual confusion to be strong evidence of a likelihood of confusion. 112 "Likely" has been interpreted as synonymous with probable, but not merely possible, confusion. 113
"Confusion" is a broad concept. Many courts have recognized not only point-of-sale confusion, but also post-sale confusion, pre-sale confusion, and even reverse confusion (where the junior user's advertising swamps the market and consumers are likely to think that the senior user's goods or services are those of the junior). 114 Also, "confusion" is not limited to confusion as to the source of goods or services; "confusion" includes confusion as to "affiliation, connection, or association," 115
The relevant class of people is purchasers and potential customers.
116
Both the senior and junior users' customers should be considered.
117
"Brand indifferent" customers
In determining infringement of a trade name, the court must take into account the goods and services of the contesting companies. Goods-related factors are important to consider in determining infringement of a trade name by another's use of a trade name. "The trade name interests that [the senior user] seeks to protect relate to the quality and reputation of the goods it produces [or the services it provides]. 119
There are at least three ways to prove a likelihood of confusion: (1) survey evidence; (2) evidence of actual confusion; or (3) argument based on a clear inference arising from a comparison of the conflicting marks and the context of their use. 120 While not required, actual confusion is a powerful indicator of a likelihood of confusion. 121 "There can be no more positive or substantial proof of the likelihood of confusion than proof of actual confusion." 122
The factors used to determine the likelihood of confusion vary from court to court, but most courts appear to have derived their tests from the factors listed in the Restatement of Torts. 123 The factors considered by the Ninth Circuit are:
1. strength of the mark;
proximity of the goods; po
similarity of the marks; &
evidence of actual confusion; s
marketing channels used; or
g type of goods and the degree of care likely to be exercised by the purchaser;
7. defendant's intent in selecting the mark; and
8. » likelihood of expansion of the product lines 124
In the instant case, the trial court used a six-factor test in its instructions to the jury:
Likelihood of confusion is also determined by evaluating the following factors:
(1) the degree of similarity of the names;
(2) the manner and method in which the plaintiff and defendant used the names;
(3) the strength of the name, "Ath Avenue Theatre";
(4) the length of time the parties used the names without evidence of actual confusion;
(5) the intent of a party in adopting the name, "Fourth Avenue Theater," that is, whether there was an intent to confuse; |
(6) other factors about the name, "Fourth Avenue Theater" that would tend to reduce any tendency to confuse the purchaser about the source or origin of the trolley service
This formulation is not erroneous. While the tests are similar, the Ninth Cireuit test is preferable because it is more comprehensive and well developed by case law.
3. The jury finding of a likelihood of confusion was supported by the evidence.
"The jury's finding on the likelihood of confusion issue is factual and must be affirmed if it was based on substantial evidence...."
125
The jury found that "Fourth
Regarding the strength of the trade name, Iditarod presented substantial evidence of secondary meaning. 127 The stronger the evidence of secondary meaning, the stronger the mark, and the greater the scope of protection because confusion is more likely. 128 This evidence of secondary meaning supports the jury's finding.
Other evidence shows that both Iditarod and the Aldermans provided tourist attractions that operated side-by-side. The similarities between their businesses indicate the danger that consumers will mistakenly assume an association between related businesses. 129
The evidence also shows that the disputed trade names are similar in sight, sound, and meaning. 130 Here, "Fourth Avenue Theatre" is exactly the same as the first part of the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours." The addition of the descriptive "Trolley Tours" does not avoid a likelihood of confusion. 131
Evidence of actual confusion also strongly supports a finding of likely confusion. Both sides acknowledge that once Iditarod started its trolley service, there was actual consumer confusion.
Iditarod also presented evidence that the Aldermans intentionally infringed the trade name. The evidence shows that the Alder-mans registered the name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" soon after the falling out with Iditarod and selected a trolley parking spot partially in front of the theater. Because this evidence raises the inference that the Aldermans intentionally infringed Iditarod's trade name, it also supports the jury finding.
Finally, Iditarod proved a likelihood of expansion when it presented evidence that it launched its own trolley tour business in the spring of 1998. We conclude that the jury's finding of likely confusion was amply supported by the evidence.
D. The Trial Court Correctly Interpreted AS 10.85.040 to Require Prior Use for Valid Registration of a Business Name and Property Denied Summary Judgment That the Aldermans Had Made Prior Use of the Name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours."
The Aldermans argue that the trial court erred by denying their motion for summary judgment that registration of the business name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" gave them exclusive right to use that name. The trial court concluded that AS 10.35.040 required prior use of the name for valid registration and found that the Alder-mans had admitted in their answer that they had made no prior use of the name at the time it was registered. First, the Aldermans contend that the trial court erred by denying summary judgment both legally by misinterpreting AS 10.85.040 and factually by finding on summary judgment that they had not used the name prior to registration. Second, they argue that the court erred when instructing the jury.
Alaska Statutes 10.35.010-500 provide procedures for reserving and registering business names. At the time relevant in this
The Aldermans first note that trademark law protects a prior user of a trade name. They then contend that if prior use of a business name were required for registration, the exclusive right to use the name conveyed by statute would be redundant with common law trademark rights. Because requiring prior use makes the statute redundant, the Aldermans argue that such an interpretation must be incorrect.
We first note that the text of former seetion .040 stated that "[a] person conducting a business may register its name." 134 In contrast, former section .020 applied to reserving a business name "by a person intending to start a business." The plain meaning of these two statutes is as follows: former seetion .020 applied to reserving a name for a new business, and former section .040 applied to registering a name for an existing business-in other words, a business name with prior use. 135
We do not stop at the plain meaning of the statute, however; we also consider legislative history in our sliding scale approach to statutory interpretation. 136 In order to interpret a statute contrary to its plain meaning, "the plainer the language, the more convincing contrary legislative history must be." 137 In this case, the Aldermans have not presented, nor have we found, any legislative history indicating that section .040 was intended to allow registration of new business names.
The Department of Community and Eeo-nomic Development, which administers business name registration, agreed. The department's publicly available instructions interpreted business name registration under former AS 10.85.040:
Unlike a name reservation, in order to register a business name, a person must be "transacting business" under the name being registered. Transacting business means that the name is used in advertis, ing, on accounts of record, on licenses and permits, stationery, or similar means of publicly identifying the name of a company.
In other words, according to the interpretation of the agency administering the statute, registering a business name under former AS 10.35.040 required the applicant to be transacting business under the name, while reserving a business name under former AS 10.35.020 did not require such prior use. Because AS 10.85.040 plainly required prior use and no legislative history exists to the contrary, we hold that the trial court correctly
We note that granting "exclusive use" of a business name to a junior user, but first registrant, allows the junior user to usurp the business name of a senior, but unregistered, user. The majority rule is that administrative acceptance of a corporate name by a state agency will be given no judicial weight in litigation over rights to the name, 138 reasoning that "a state [does not intend] to license the commission of what would otherwise be a tortious act" simply by allowing registration under its laws. 139 However, AS 10.35.040 is different from most states' registration statutes because it expressly grants a right to "exclusive use" of a business name and lists remedies of injunetion and damages. In any event, we need not resolve today this conflict between the exclusive right to a business name by registration or reservation under AS 10.35.010-500 and the right to protect a trade name against unfair competition under AS 45,50.471, because the Aldermans were not entitled to summary judgment that they made prior use of the trade name "Fourth Avenue Theater Trolley Tours" as required for valid registration.
The Aldermans argue that the trial court erred in finding on summary judgment that they had not used the business name prior to registration. They claim that they were using the name prior to registration and that they presented substantial testimony of prior use at trial. The Aldermans' testimony, however, was presented only after summary judgment was denied. At summary judgment, the only evidence concerning prior use was the Aldermans' denial of prior use made in their answer to the complaint. Based on the evidence before the trial court at summary judgment, the trial court did not err in denying the Aldermans' motion.
The Aldermans also argue that the trial court's instruction to the jury on AS 10.35.040 was erroneous. After the Alder-mans testified at trial to prior use of the trade name, the trial court recognized that the Aldermans' prior use was a question of fact for the jury. The trial court instructed the jury on AS 10.35.040 with the same interpretation it had applied at summary judgment-valid registration required prior use. Because the trial court's interpretation on summary judgment was correct, the trial court's jury instruction was likewise correct.
E. It Was an Abuse of Discretion to Allow Iditarod To Amend the Pleadings To Include a Cause of Action for Breach of Contract after the Close of Evidence.
After the close of evidence, the trial court allowed Iditarod to amend its complaint to add a cause of action for breach of contract. The court reasoned that amendment was proper because evidence of the contract's existence and terms had been presented by both parties. We review a trial court's decision to permit amendment of the pleadings for an abuse of discretion. 140
The Aldermans contend that whether the judge allowed amendment under Alaska Civil Rule 15(a) or 15(b),
141
amendment of the
Iditarod contends that Betz does not apply because the judge allowed amendment according to Rule 15(b), not 15(a). In addition, Iditarod argues that the Aldermans impliedly consented to the new issue by counterclaiming for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, failing to object when evidence on the new issue was presented, and presenting evidence relevant to the new breach of contract claim.
The trial court did not specify whether it granted the amendment of the pleadings under Civil Rule 15(a) or 15(b). Either could apply. Rules 15(a) and 15(b) substantially overlap, and there is no strong textual basis for concluding that only Rule 15(b) applies to amendments made during or after trial. 144 Prejudice to the opposing party is an important consideration under either section of the rule. 145 We conclude that the Aldermans were prejudiced by the inability to present evidence as to the amount of rent due (fifteen percent of the tickets sold at the Fourth Avenue Theatre) because the trial court allowed amendment of the pleadings after the close of evidence. Accordingly, under either Civil Rule 15(a) or (b), the trial court abused its discretion.
1. Amendment of the pleadings under Civil Rule 15(a) was improper because the prejudice to the Alder-mans outweighed the hardship to Iditarod.
For amendment under Civil Rule 15(a), we have instructed that the trial court "must apply a balancing test to decide whether the amendment should be granted, weighing the degree of prejudice to the opposing party against the hardship to the movant if the amendment is denied." 146 A trial court may also deny amendment when it is unduly delayed, offered in bad faith, or futile. 147
Iditarod's attempt to amend the pleadings to include the breach of contract claim was unduly delayed. In October 1997 Iditarod knew that the Aldermans had failed to pay rent according to the lease agreement, well before it filed its complaint against them in June 1998. While we have stated that delay alone is an insufficient basis upon which to deny a motion to amend, 148 this weighs against allowing the amendment.
The Aldermans argue that they were prej-udieced by the amendment at the close of evidence because at that point it was too late to present evidence that their rent agreement provided that they would pay fifteen percent of trolley tour ticket sales from the Fourth Avenue Theatre, not fifteen percent of their gross revenues. But the Aldermans admit that they both testified at trial that the rent agreement was for fifteen percent of sales from the theater ticket booth. The trial judge correctly found that both sides had actively litigated the issue. And in fact, the way the special verdict was worded, there was apparent agreement that the con
But the Aldermans also argue that they were prejudiced because the jury had no way to determine appropriate damages from the evidence actually presented. They note that the only evidence of their revenues presented to the jury was gross revenues, which did not separate out the revenues generated at the Fourth Avenue Theatre from those revenues generated elsewhere. Thus, although the jury found that the contract terms were for fifteen percent of revenues generated by ticket sales at the theater, the jury could only, and did, make an award based on the Aldermans' gross revenues from all sales. Our review of the record supports the Alder-mans' claim that the evidence contained no breakdown of the gross revenues between ticket sales at the Fourth Avenue Theatre and all other sales. The inability to present this evidence substantially prejudiced the Al-dermans.
The hardship to Iditarod did not outweigh the prejudice to the Aldermans. If the amendment had not been permitted, Iditarod may still have been able to collect its unpaid rents. 149 In any event, Iditarod's hardship is caused by its own lack of diligence. Thus, the trial court erred by allowing amendment of the pleadings after the close of evidence under Civil Rule 15(a).
2. Amendment of the pleadings under Civil Rule 15(b) was improper because the Aldermans did not impliedly consent to litigation of the breach of contract issue.
Analysis of Rule 15(b) 150 amendment of the pleading is slightly different. Application of this rule is appropriate in two general situations: when evidence supporting the amendment was offered at trial (1) with the opposing party's express or implied consent, or (2) over the opposing party's objection that the evidence is not within the issues raised by the pleadings. 151 In determining implied consent, prejudice to the party opposing amendment is relevant. 152
The Aldermans neither expressly consented to the amendment nor did they object to Iditarod's presentation of the evidence. Thus, the only way amendment of the pleadings would have been appropriate under Rule 15(b) is if the Aldermans had impliedly consented to litigating the breach of contract issue.
Professors Wright, Miller, and Kane explain Rule 15(b)'s concept of implied consent: "Implied consent ... is ... difficult to establish and seems to depend on whether the parties recognized that an issue not presented by the pleadings entered the case at trial. If they do not, there is no consent and the amendment cannot be allowed. 153
The Aldermans apparently failed to recognize that breach of contract was at issue in the trial. They did not offer any evidence of appropriate damages according to their interpretation of the contract-revenues of ticket sales from the Fourth Avenue Theatre. While the Aldermans did offer evidence of their interpretation of the contract terms and of their total revenues from all sources, introduction of evidence does not indicate implied consent where the evidence offered is relevant to issues already in the case. 154 Because the evidence was relevant to the Alder-mans' counterclaims and Iditarod's claim for trade name infringement damages, the Al-dermans' introduction of evidence did not show implied consent.
In sum, neither Rule 15(a) nor Rule 15(b) provides appropriate grounds for granting
F. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Awarding Attorney's Fees to Iditarod.
The Aldermans contend that the trial court erred in applying Rule 82(b)(2) as a matter of law. They further argue that the trial judge abused his discretion in granting attorney's fees because Iditarod waived its right to seek fees.
1. The trial court did mot abuse its discretion by allowing Iditarod seventy days to file a corrected motion for attorney's fees.
The Aldermans argue that Iditarod's failure to timely file its corrected motion for Rule 82 attorney's fees waived its claim. Idi-tarod contends that its original defective motion was timely and the trial judge allowed it unspecified additional time to correct; thus, its second motion was also timely. 155
Rule 82(c) establishes the time limits for filing a motion for attorney's fees:
Failure to move for attorney's fees within 10 days, or such additional time as the court may allow, shall be construed as a waiver of the party's right to recover attorney's fees 156
The trial court distributed its judgment on July 26, 1999; Iditarod timely filed its original motion for attorney's fees on August 5. The question is whether the trial court abused its discretion by allowing Iditarod seventy additional days to file its second motion. We have not yet interpreted the phrase "or such additional time as the court may allow." 157
Rule 82(c) gives the court discretion to allow additional time for filing a motion for attorney's fees. Prior to the adoption of the current version of Rule 82, we held that the trial court had discretion to allow motions for attorney's fees within a reasonable amount of time 158 In T & G Aviation v. Footh, we held that a motion filed seventy days after final judgment was within a reasonable amount of time. 159 Here, Iditarod filed its corrected motion seventy days after the first motion was denied without prejudice. The delay was not as serious as in T & @ Aviation because Iditarod timely filed its initial motion.
The Aldermans urge us to adopt the T & G Aviation dissent's view. But even if we did, it would be to no avail. The dissent argued that, without persuasive explanation of further delay, thirty days should be the outside limit of reasonableness. A losing party has thirty days to decide to appeal; a delay of more than thirty days in filing for attorney's fees may be prejudicial to the losing party if the losing party bases its decision to appeal on the size of an adverse award of attorney's fees 160 This rationale, however, does not directly apply if the losing party decides to appeal without considering the possible adverse award of attorney's fees. Here, the Aldermans filed their appeal on August 18. They did not wait for the trial court's decision regarding attorney's fees. Thus, the allegedly tardy motion for attorney's fees did not prejudice the Aldermans' decision to appeal.
Because a seventy-day delay is not unreasonable after the filing of a timely motion and because the Aldermans were not prejudiced by the delay, we conclude that it was within the trial court's discretion to allow the delay.
2. The trial court did not err as a matter of law by applying Rule 82(b)(@).
The Aldermans contend that award of attorney's fees under Rule 82(b)(2) was
Iditarod responds that the main issue in the litigation was the trade name infringe ment and that there was no money judgment on that issue. Iditarod extrapolates from the rule that the prevailing party is determined by success on the main issue to a proposed interpretation of Rule 82(b) that the determination of whether a money judgment was recovered is based only on the award, or lack, of a money judgment on the main issue.
We need not reach the issue. Because we vacated the monetary judgment for breach of contract in light of the erroneous amendment of the pleading after the close of evidence, the Aldermans' argument is rendered moot. After we vacate the breach of contract award, only the trade name issues remain. Iditarod is the prevailing party on the trade name issues and, by this decision, recovers no money judgment. Whether the trial court properly applied Civil Rule 82(b)(2) is moot; undoubtedly Rule 82(b)(2) applies now.
8. Iditarod did not waive its claim to an enhanced attorney's fee award because it did not request an enhanced award in its original motion.
The Aldermans argue that because Iditarod did not ask for an enhanced attorney's fees award in its original defective motion for attorney's fees, it waived any claim to an enhanced fees award under Rule 82(b)(8). Iditarod argues that the trial judge did not place any restrictions upon the amount of fees Iditarod could request in a revised motion.
The trial judge denied Iditarod's initial motion for attorney's fees stating, "This denial is without prejudice to its right to re-apply and make the appropriate showing." Black's Law Dictionary defines "without prejudice" as follows: "Where ... a motion is denied ... 'without prejudice,' it is meant as a declaration that no rights or privileges of the party concerned are to be considered as thereby waived or lost, except in so far as may be expressly conceded or decided. 161 The trial judge made no express limitations on Iditarod's ability to re-apply. The trial court's denial without prejudice effectively declared that none of Iditarod's rights to attorney's fees were considered waived or lost. Thus, Iditarod did not waive its right to move for an enhanced award in its subsequent motion for attorney's fees, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in considering and granting an enhanced attorney's fees award.
v. CONCLUSION
Because the trial court correctly applied trade name law and the jury verdict was supported by the evidence, we AFFIRM the judgment that the Aldermans infringed Idi-tarod's trade name "Fourth Avenue The-atre." We also AFFIRM the trial court's interpretation of AS 10.35.040. Because the Aldermans were substantially prejudiced by the amendment of the pleading after the close of evidence, we REVERSE the trial court's grant of the motion to amend the pleadings and VACATE the award for the added breach of contract claim. Finally, we AFFIRM the trial court's award of attorney's fees.
Notes
. The theater is variously referred to in the pleadings on file as the "Fourth Avenue Theater" and the "Fourth Avenue Theatre." This opinion uses the latter spelling, which appears to be both the oldest and most consistently used.
. The jury was asked, "Are the names, '4th Avenue Theatre,' '4th Avenue Theater," Fourth Avenue Theatre," and Fourth Avenue Theater," trade names?" It answered in the affirmative.
. See Western Pioneer, Inc. v. Harbor Enter., Inc.,
. See Sauve v. Winfree,
. See Guin v. Ha,
. See Betz v. Chena Hot Springs Group,
. See Aviation Assocs. Ltd. v. TEMSCO Helicopters, Inc.,
. See Municipality of Anchorage v. Baugh Constr. & Eng'g Co.,
. See Stosh's v. Fairbanks North Star Borough,
. See id.; see also Buster v. Gale,
. See City of Kodiak v. Parish,
. AS 45.50.471(b)(3).
. The Lanham Act states the federal rule in substantially similar terms:
(1) Any person who, on or in connection with any goods or services, or any container for goods, uses in commerce any word, term, name, symbol, or device, ... which-
(8) is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of such person with another person, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of his or her goods, services, or commercial activities by another person....
15 U.S.C. § 1125(a).
. "Common law liability for unfair competition (which includes trademark infringement) is gov
. See 1 J. Thomas McCarthy, McCarthy on Trademarks and Unfair Competition § 9:1 (4th ed.2000).
. See id.
. 'The major legal distinction between trademarks and trade names is that trade names cannot be [federally] registered...." Accuride Int'l, Inc. v. Accuride Corp.,
. American Steel Foundries v. Robertson,
. Younker v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co.,
. See 1 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 9:1.
. See Accuride,
. See Standard Oil Co. v. Standard Oil Co.,
. See John Roberts Mfg. Co. v. University of Notre Dame Du Lac,
. See Safeway Stores, Inc. v. Safeway Properties, Inc.,
. State v. O'Neill Investigations, Inc.,
. AS 45.50.471(a)(3).
. 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 15:1.
. See Railroad Salvage, Inc. v. Railroad Salvage, Inc.,
. See Metro Brokers, Inc. v. Tann,
. Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 11:11.
. See Sun Microsystems, Inc. v. SunRiver Corp.,
. See Stork Restaurant, Inc. v. Sahati,
. See WGBH Educ. Found., Inc. v. Penthouse Int'l, Ltd.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 11:5.
. See Exxon Corp. v. Xoil Energy Resources, Inc.,
. See Polaroid Corp. v. Polaraid, Inc.,
. See Clorox Chemical Co. v. Chlorit Mfg. Corp.,
. See Stork Restaurant,
. Railroad Salvage,
. See Citibank, N.A. v. Citibanc Group, Inc.,
. See Orange Crush Co. v. California Crushed Fruit Co.,
. See Capitol Tie Rak, Inc. v. Tie Rack Stores, Inc.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 11:63.
. See id.
. Seerid.§ 12:1.
. See id.
. See Discount Muffler Shop, Inc. v. Meineke Realty Corp.,
. See Convenient Food Mart, Inc. v. 6-Twelve Convenient Mart, Inc.,
. See Miller Brewing Co. v. G. Heileman Brewing Co.,
. See CES Publ'g Corp. v. St. Regis Publications, Inc.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 11:64.
. Seeid. § 11:16.
. See Beer Nuts, Inc. v. Clover Club Foods Co.,
. See Franklin Knitting Mills, Inc. v. Fashionit Sweater Mills, Inc.,
. See Skinner Mfg. Co. v. Kellogg Sales Co.,
. See Two Pesos,
. See Estate of P.D. Beckwith, Inc. v. Commissioner of Patents,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 11:18.
. Bada Co. v. Montgomery Ward & Co.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 14:1.
. See Alaska Northwest Publ'g Co. v. A.T. Publ'g Co.,
. See In re BankAmerica Corp.,
. See Boston Beer Co. v. Slesar Bros. Brewing Co.,
. See Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. v. Clark,
. See Gucci v. Gucci Shops, Inc.,
. See L.E. Waterman Co. v. Modern Pen Co.,
. "The known multiplicity of similar personal names may make consumers hesitant to assume a common source for products bearing a particular name. The name will therefore not function as a trademark or trade name unless, through use, it has become accepted by prospective purchasers as an indication of source or association with a particular person." Restatement (Third) of Unfair Competition § 14, cmt. e (1995); see also 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, §§ 13: 1-3.
. See id. § 11:27.
. See Association of Coop. Members, Inc. v. Farmland Indus., Inc.,
. See Estate of P.D. Beckwith,
. "It is perfectly acceptable to separate a compound mark and discuss the implications of each part thereof with respect to the question of descriptiveness provided that the ultimate determination is made on the basis of the mark in its entirety." In re Hester Indus., Inc.,
.
. Id. at 909-12.
. See id. at 912.
. See id. at 912-13.
. See id. at 913; see also California Cooler, Inc. v. Loretto Winery, Ltd.,
. See Bank of Texas v. Commerce Southwest, Inc.,
. See Two Pesos,
. Charcoal Steak House, Inc. v. Staley,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 15:5.
. See Levi Strauss & Co. v. Blue Bell, Inc.,
. There is a territorial aspect of trade name protection that can be factored into a secondary meaning analysis. See Lerner Stores Corp. v. Lerner,
. See American Heritage Life Ins. Co. v. Heritage Life Ins. Co.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 11:26.
. See Echo Travel, Inc. v. Travel Assocs., Inc.,
. See id.
. See Thompson Medical Co. v. Pfizer Inc.,
. Id. (internal quotations and citation omitted).
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 15:45; Restatement (Third) of Unfair Competition § 13, cmt. e (1995).
. See, eg., Coach Leatherware Co. v. AnnTaylor, Inc.,
. See First Brands Corp. v. Fred Meyer, Inc.,
. See Norsan Prods., Inc. v. R.F. Schuele Corp.,
. See Food Fair Stores, Inc. v. Lakeland Grocery Corp.,
. Iditarod also provided supplier invoices as evidence of secondary meaning. In most cases, the relevant buyer class consists of actual or potential consumers, see 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 15:46, and the state of mind of persons who are not in this buyer class-like a business's suppliers-is often deemed irrelevant. See Irvisible, Inc. v. National Broad. Co.,
. See 2 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 16:4.
. Seeid. § 16:34.
. Id.; see also PaperCutter, Inc. v. Fay's Drug Co.,
. See 4 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 24:13.
. Continental Motors Corp. v. Continental Aviation Corp.,
. See Sweetarts v. Sunline, Inc.,
. See James Burrough, Ltd. v. Sign of Beefeater, Inc.,
. This reason is not decisive because it is offset by the desire to prevent giving the senior user a monopoly over the name. See S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. v. Johnson,
. Stork Restaurant v. Sahati,
. See 4 McCarthy, supra note 15, §§ 24:154:6.
. Compare Yale Electric Corp. v. Robertson,
. Fleischmann Distilling Corp. v. Maier Brewing Co.,
. See McLean v. Fleming,
. See Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc.,
. See 3 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 23:1, n. 1, &n. 7.
. See id. § 23:2.
. See, eg., Exxon Corp. v. Texas Motor Exch., Inc.,
. See American Steel Foundries v. Robertson,
. See 3 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 23:5.
. AS 45.50.471(b)(3); 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a); see Champions Golf Club, Inc. v. Champions Golf Club, Inc.,
. See Electronic Design & Sales, Inc. v. Electronic Data Sys. Corp.,
. See Yarmuth-Dion, Inc. v. D'ion Furs, Inc.,
. 3 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 23:5; see also Sleekcraft,
. Accuride Int'l, Inc. v. Accuride Corp.,
. See 3 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 23:2.1; see also Tisch Hotels, Inc. v. Americana Inn, Inc.,
. See Tisch Hotels,
. World Carpets, Inc. v. Dick Littrell's New World Carpets,
." Restatement of Torts §§ 729 & 731 (1938).
. Sleekcraft,
. John H. Harland Co. v. Clarke Checks, Inc.,
. We note that the trade name "Fourth Avenue Trolley Tours" would have a different analysis and may have resulted in a finding of no likelihood of confusion because that name lacked reference to the theater. However, this name was not contested by Iditarod and was not decided at trial.
. See supra Part IV.B.5.
. See Levi Strauss,
. See Sleekcraft,
. See id. at 351.
. See, eg., Bellbrook Dairies, Inc. v. Hawthorn Mellody Farms Dairy, Inc.,
. The state legislature has recently amended AS 10.35.020 and .040. See ch. 50, §§ 17-19, SLA 1999; ch. 115, § 5, SLA 2000. Former AS 10.35.040 stated the rule for registering a business name:
A person conducting a business may register its name if the name is not the same as, or deceptively similar to, the name of a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state, or a name reserved or registered under this title. Registration of the name gives the exclusive right to the use of the name and the person who has registered the name may enjoin the use of the same name or a deceptively similar name and has a cause of action for damages against anyone who uses the same name or a deceptively similar name.
. Former AS 10.35.020 stated the rule for reserving a name for a new business:
Reservation of a business name is made by filing an application with the commissioner. Upon finding that the name is available for business use, the commissioner shall reserve it for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of 120 days. A name is not available which is the same as, or deceptively similar to, the name of a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state, or a name reserved or registered under this title or gives the impression that the business is incorporated.
. Former AS 10.35.040 (emphasis added).
. The Aldermans did not attempt to reserve the name under AS 10.35.020. On their registration form, the Aldermans checked the box to register a business name; they did not check the box to reserve a name.
. See Romann v. State, Dep't of Transp. & Pub. Facilities,
. State v. Alex,
. See 1 McCarthy, supra note 15, § 9:8; see, eg., MacPhail v. Stevens,
. Powder River Oil Co. v. Powder River Petroleum Corp.,
. See Betz v. Chena Hot Springs Group,
. Alaska R. Civ. P. 15 provides:
(a) Amendments. A party may amend the party's pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served or, if the pleading is one to which no responsive pleading is permitted and the action has not been placed upon the trial calendar, the party may so amend it at any time within 20 days after it is served. Otherwise a party may amend the party's pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party; and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires....
(b) Amendments to Conform to the Evidence. When issues not raised by the pleadings are tried by express or implied consent of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings. Such amendment of the pleadings as may be necessary to cause them to conform to the evidence and to raise these issues may be made upon motion of any party at any time, even after judgment; but failure so to amend does not affect the result of the trial of these issues.If evidence is objected to at the trial on the ground that it is not within the issues made by the pleadings, the court may allow the pleadings to be amended and shall do so freely when the presentation of the merits of the action will be subserved thereby and the objecting party fails to satisfy the court that the admission of such evidence would prejudice the party in maintaining the party's action or defense upon the merits. The court may grant a continuance to enable the objecting party to meet such evidence.
.
. 6A Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1493 (2d ed.1990).
. Seeid., § 1488.
. See Betz,
. Betz,
. See id. (citing Foman v. Davis,
. See id.
. Under certain circumstances, a party denied the opportunity to amend the pleadings to conform to the evidence may bring a separate action to seek relief. See Hake v. Gunter,
. See supra note 141.
. See 6A Wright, Miller & Kane, supra note 143, § 1491.
. See id. § 1493.
. Id. (footnote omitted).
. See id.
. Iditarod incorrectly counts forty-three days between August 26, the date of the trial court's denial of Iditarod's first motion for fees, and November 4, the date Iditarod's corrected motion was signed. The actual number of days is seventy.
. Alaska R. Civ. P. 82(c).
. Id. This version of Rule 82(c) was adopted in 1995.
. See T & G Aviation, Inc. v. Footh,
. See id.
. See id. (Matthews, C.J., dissenting).
. Black's Law Dictionary 1179 (6th ed.1990).