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By Compiled by Eric Agovino
December 30, 2004

Supreme Court Rules Defendant Does Not Bear Burden to Prove Absence of Confusion in Fair Use Cases

On Dec. 8, 2004, the Supreme Court held that it is not a defendant's burden to negate a finding of consumer confusion when raising a “fair use” affirmative defense. In KP Permanent Make-Up, Inc. v. Lasting Impression I, Inc., No. 03-409, 2004 WL 2804921 (2004), the Court vacated a decision of the Ninth Circuit, which held that the Central District of California committed error when it concluded that KP had made out a fair use defense without addressing whether there was possible consumer confusion. The Ninth Circuit's ruling established a conflict with a Second Circuit decision, setting the stage for Supreme Court review.

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