Alligator Co. v. Larus & Brother Co. Inc

196 F.2d 532, 39 C.C.P.A. 939
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedMay 23, 1952
Docket5837
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 196 F.2d 532 (Alligator Co. v. Larus & Brother Co. Inc) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alligator Co. v. Larus & Brother Co. Inc, 196 F.2d 532, 39 C.C.P.A. 939 (ccpa 1952).

Opinions

GARRETT, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal from the decision of t)he Commissioner of Patents, speaking through Assistant Commissioner, Honorable Joe E, Daniels, 86 U.S.P.Q. 332, affirming that of the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences dismissing appellant’s notice of opposition to the application of appellee for a trademark registration on the Principal Register under the Trade-Mark Act of July 5, 1946, commonly known as the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 1051 et seq.,1 and according appellee the right to register.

The mark which appellee seeks to register consists of the word “Alligator” in capital letters enclosed within an oval-shaped ring which rests upon a 'base that simulates alligator leather. At the top of the ring there is a caricature of an alligator standing upright on its hind legs with curved tail, the tip of which points toward the back of the body. In the right paw there is what is assumed to be a representation of a “walking stick,” or cane, and the corresponding left member holds a representation of a cigarette. In front of the head, which is placed at practically a right angle to the body, three circles are shown which represent rings such as those frequently blown by smokers, particularly by cigarette smokers.

Appellee’s application is for registration of the composite mark as a trade-mark “for tobacco and tobacco products, namely smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, and snuff.” November 12, 1946, was alleged as the date on which it was “first used in commerce which may be lawfully regulated by Congress.” This is a date long subsequent to the time when appellant acquired ownership and registration of marks which it pleaded in its notice of opposition, as hereinafter stated.

With respect to the grounds of appellant’s opposition, we quote the following statement from the decision of the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences:

“The opposer’s right of action is predicated upon general allegations of confusion in trade and unfair competition and more specifically (1) upon allegations of prior use by opposer of the word ‘Alligator’ as a corporate name and trade name, as well as a trade-mark upon rainwear and sportswear, such as raincoats, topcoats and jackets and that the word ‘Alligator’ has become strongly associated in the public mind with opposer’s business and reputation; (2) allegations of ownership by op-poser of the trade-mark Registrations Nos. 75,365, 251,201, 268,072, 346,241, 346,414 and 358,254, ‘which embody the word “Alligator” ’; (3) allegation of prior use by opposer of pictorial representations of an alligator, in connection with advertisements of its products; (4) allegation of prior use by opposer of a distinctive commercial signature ‘which appears on its advertisements and elsewhere’ and which is characterized by ‘the use of shaded capital letters for the word “Alligator” and by the use of script for the word describing the goods, the latter word appearing directly under the former’ which commercial signature, petitioner alleges, applicant has copied; and (5) allegation of prior manufacture and sale by opposer of ‘other products, such as sheets, ground blankets, curtains, awnings, tarpaulins, tobacco pouches, hospital sheeting and baggage covers.’ As a statutory ground of opposition, the opposer relies upon the first clause of section 2 (d) of the Act of 1946 and upon sections 2 (a), 44 (g) and 44(h) of the same Act.”

Of the various registrations pleaded by appellant the only one which shows a pictorial representation of an alligator is No. 75,365, which, originally was registered [534]*534September 28, 1909, in the name of a predecessor in business of appellant. It was renewed to appellant September 28, 1949.

For the purposes of visual comparison we here reproduce prints, the first being that of appellee and the second that of appellant.

Much testimony was taken on behalf of both parties and many exhibits were placed in evidence. Briefs for both parties were filed in the Patent Office and oral arguments presented. The decisions — both that of the examiner and that of the Assistant Com[535]*535missioner — evidence careful study of the factual record and full consideration of the questions of law arising from the changes made in the trade-mark registration statutes.

One of the changes from the Trade-Mark Act of February 20, 1905, relates to the registration of names.

The third proviso of section 5 of that act read in part:

“ * * * That no mark which consists merely in the name of * * * [a] corporation * * * shall be registered under the terms of this Act.”

That provision had no relation whatsoever to the question of confusion in trade or unfair competition. Hence, applications to register merely corporate names were rejectable without any reference to the question of confusion.

Appellee here, in fact, first applied for registration under that act, but its application was summarily refused, the name of appellant being cited as a statutory bar. Appellee thereupon converted its application into one under the Lanham Act, which has no provision such as that which was present in the third provision of section 5 of the 1905 Act, a portion of which is quoted, supra.

Another vital change respecting the registration of trade-marks relates to the phrase “same descriptive properties.”

Section 5 of the 1905 Act read:

“Sec. 5. That no mark by which the goods of the owner of the mark may be distinguished from other goods of the same class shall be refused registration as a trade-mark on account of the nature of such mark unless such mark— ******
“ * * * Provided, That trademarks which are identical with a registered or known trade-mark owned and in use by another and appropriated to merchandise of the same descriptive properties, or which so nearly resemble a registered or known trade-mark owned and in use by another and appropriated to merchandise of the same descriptive properties as to be likely to cause confusion or mistake in the mind of the public or to deceive purchasers shall not be registered: * * (Italics supplied.)

For the foregoing the Lanham Act substitutes the following in section 2 thereof:

“No trade-mark by which the goods of the applicant may be distinguished ■from the goods of others shall be refused registration on the principal register on account of its nature unless it—
******
“(d) Consists of or comprises a mark which so resembles a mark registered in the Patent Office or a mark or trade name previously used in the United States by another and not abandoned, as to be likely, when applied to the goods of the applicant, to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive purchasers : * * (Italics supplied.)

In view of the foregoing changes, the Assistant Commissioner, in the course of his decision in the instant case, said:

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Alligator Co. v. Larus & Brother Co. Inc
196 F.2d 532 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1952)

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Bluebook (online)
196 F.2d 532, 39 C.C.P.A. 939, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alligator-co-v-larus-brother-co-inc-ccpa-1952.