Both Credit Unions Denied Fees in ‘Not A Bank’ Trademark Fight

A credit union’s success in reversing the invalidation of its “Not A Bank. Better” trademark rights on appeal nullified a pre-appeal award of attorneys fees, a California federal judge found.

Citizens Equity First Credit Union and San Diego County Credit Union both prevailed on substantive claims, leaving no one as the prevailing party that could be awarded fees, Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel said in his ruling Tuesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of California said. SDCCU succeeded in winning a declaration that its “It’s Not Big Bank Banking. It’s Better.” slogan didn’t infringe, and CEFCU prevailed ...