SEC Faces Infringement Suit Over IDEA Mark

HOUSTON (CN) – The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to use a Canadian software company’s IDEA trademark for its online database program, according to a trademark infringement action in Federal Court. CaseWare International trademarked IDEA for its data analysis software, which is used by accountants, auditors and financial analysts.     The SEC allegedly announced plans to use an identical mark for its own electronic computer database. CaseWare says the two IDEA marks are “visually and phonetically identical.”     This will cause confusion, CaseWare claims, because most of its clients use CaseWare IDEA software to submit financial data and audit results to the SEC.     The plaintiff seeks an injunction preventing the SEC from infringing on the trademark.     John Keville is the plaintiff’s attorney.