Recreational Equipement, Inc. is a consumer co-operative that was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1935 (see link).
REI attempted to register its CO-OP trademark for bicycle and bicycle parts. The Examining Attorney rejected the application. REI appealed to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (see TTABVUE link), and the Board found that the Examining Attorney had determined that the CO-OP mark was descriptive of REI, but did not find that CO-OP was descriptive of the bicycle goods at issue. Thus, the Board reversed (see TTABVUE link to decision).