Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc., the provider of instructor education and
products for indoor cycling, announced success in its opposition
proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office against
the trademark application for “SPNERGY” based on the mark being
confusingly similar to MDA’s federally registered SPINNER trademark.

 Although the applicant, Wen Cheng Hsieh, contended that his SPNERGY
mark could be used on indoor cycles without resulting public confusion
with MDA’s SPINNER mark for indoor cycles, the USPTO rejected his
contention and refused registration of his mark. In so doing, the USPTO
held that MDA’s SPINNER mark was “indeed well known and a strong mark
in the field of stationary exercise bicycles,” and entitled to a broad
scope of protection.

“MDA is committed to providing authorized fitness facilities, Spinning
instructors, and Spinning program participants with the exceptional
programming and best-in-class Spinner indoor cycles and related
products that have made the Spinning program one of the most successful
group exercise programs in history,” states MDA president John
Baudhuin. “Vigorously enforcing our trademarks is critical to ensuring
that our customers receive the exceptional quality they have come to
expect from us since the Spinning program originated 20 years ago.”

MDA has licensed the right to use its trademarks to such noteworthy
corporations as Nike, Star Trac, and Body by Jake, and has placed its
Spinner brand stationary exercise cycles in numerous films and
commercials.