"If the word Tank is in the name of the product you are selling it is really not an infringement of the trademark"
garagesale11,
Don't quit your day job, because you wouldn't make it as a lawyer. I would expect a "marketing manager for a very large company" to have a better understanding of trademark law. It is also surprising that it would take
anyone 3 VeRO takedowns before realizing they couldn't violate Cartier's trademark, especially considering the VeRO takedown notices from eBay are very clear about the potential consequences (suspension).
Cartier owns the exclusive right to use the word "Tank" as it applies to watches. They registered this trademark (trademark number 1,006,321) on March 11, 1975 for use of the word mark "Tank" as it applies to watches and have spent 4 decades and millions of dollars promoting the brand recognition of this trademark. They also registered the "tank" trademark for eyeglasses (1,546,139) and jewelry (3,006,779).
The watch you're trying to sell, an "Oakley Time Tank", actually got Oakley sued by Cartier:
1:06-cv-05841-LAP Cartier, A Division of Richemont North America, Inc. et al v. Oakley, Inc.
Loretta A. Preska, presiding
Date filed: 08/02/2006
Date terminated: 03/26/2007
Date of last filing: 03/26/2007
Cartier won this lawsuit. Cartier & Oakley reached a settlement (filed March 26, 2007) that enjoins Oakley from further use of the word "Tank" in naming or marketing any of its products. The financial details of the settlement weren't made public, but I would expect that it cost Oakley lots of $$$.
Greg