Amico, Inc. v. United States

586 F.2d 217, 66 C.C.P.A. 5, 1978 CCPA LEXIS 232
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedOctober 26, 1978
DocketNo. 78-6
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 586 F.2d 217 (Amico, Inc. v. United States) 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
Amico, Inc. v. United States, 586 F.2d 217, 66 C.C.P.A. 5, 1978 CCPA LEXIS 232 (ccpa 1978).

Opinion

Rich, Judge.

This appeal is from the judgment of the U.S. Customs Court, 79 Cust. Ct. 125, C.D. 4723, 447 F. Supp. 444 (1977), denying the [6]*6importer’s motion for summary judgment and granting1 the Government’s cross-motion for summary judgment. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

The imports were invoiced as “Musical Dancing Couple” or “Dancing Figures.” The bottom portion of each article consists of a musical mechanism or movement, encased in “Lucite,” the box being approximately 2}i inches high with brass corner posts and other fittings. The music box works consist typically of a metal cylinder with tiny knobs projecting from its surface, two gears, and a metal “comb” the plucking of the teeth of which produces the sound. When the spring-powered movement operates, the cylinder gears revolve and the metal teeth are plucked by the projecting knobs producing a melody. At the same time, a small rectangular plate is slowly oscillated vertically. Two small figurines, almost two inches high, representing a dancing couple in evening attire, are attached to a metal shaft which is inserted through an opening in the top of the “Lucite” box and rests on said oscillating plate, causing the metal shaft and the figures to bob up and down. This bobbing action, in turn, gives the figures, whose legs are free-swinging, the appearance of dancing to the music. The figures are enclosed in a transparent plastic dome, approximately 3 inches high, which fits on top of the music box portion. The music box, the figures, and the dome are not permanently attached to one another and may be easily disassembled.

Statutory Provisions

The articles were initially classified under TSUS item 737.80, as modified by Presidential Proclamation 3822, 32 F.R. 19002, T.D. 68-9.

Toys, and parts of toys, not specially provided tor:

737. 80 Toys having a spring mechanism_ 22% ad val.

Appellant claims the articles should be classified under TSUS item 725.50, as modified by Presidential Proclamation 3822, 32 F.R. 19002, T.D. 68-9.

Other musical instruments:

725.50 Music boxes_ 8% ad val.

Alternatively, appellant claims the imports should be classified as household articles under one of the following:2

[7]*7Schedule 6. — Metals and Metal Peoducts

Part 3. — Metal Products

Articles, wares, and parts, of base metal, not coated or plated with precious metal:

Of iron or steel:

Not enameled or glazed with vitreous glasses:

653. 95 Other_ 8.5% ad val.

Of copper:

654.00 Of brass_ 5% ad val.

* * * household articles not specially provided for; all the foregoing of rubber or plastics:

Schedule 7. — Specified Peoducts; Miscellaneous and Non-ENUMEEATED PEODUCTS

772. 15 Other_ 8.5% ad val.

In view of our disposition of the case, we do not reach this alternate claim and the other allegations of error made by appellant.

PEOCEEDINGS BELOW

The Customs Court disposed of the action on cross-motions for summary judgment. Appellant had pressed its claim for classification as “music boxes” under TSUS item 725.50, arguing that the Government’s initial classification was in error because the merchandise could not properly be thought of as toys. In support of its motion, appellant submitted a sample of the merchandise and three uncontroverted affidavits. The affidavit of Mickelberg, appellant’s vice president in charge of sales, stated that the article was chosen as a music box because it was thought that it would fit in appellant’s line; that a music box mechanism, per se, is not attractive and has little or no consumer appeal unless contained in an appropriate attractive box; and that the clear plastic box and dancing figures were selected as ornamental features which would appeal to certain classes of women as potential purchasers. He further stated that without the dancing figures the article would not have the same appeal to the target consumer group and that, by themselves, the dancing figures have no useful commercial application. Finally, he stated that he had never seen nor heard of the article being used for the type of amusement provided by playthings. The affidavits of Ms. Lorraine Squaresky, [8]*8assistant to the president of appellant and supervisor in charge of ordering and importing foreign merchandise, and Mrs. Ruth Arch, a Philadelphia, Pa., housewife who purchased, used, and observed the use of the imported articles, stated that they had never seen the article used for amusement of the kind usually associated with toys; that, to their knowledge, the article is used only for the listening enjoyment which it provides; and that the dancing figures are merely a decorative feature of the music box which makes it appeal to teenage girls.

The Customs Court held that appellant had satisfied the burden of overcoming the presumption of correctness of the Government’s classification:

On this question, we must agree with the plaintiff. For an examination of the sample without more is persuasive that the importation does not give the same kind of “frivolous enjoyment” one would derive from objects commonly thought of as toys.
* * * In addition, we have the uncontradicted affidavits of three persons making clear the kind of enjoyment teenagers obtain through use of the imported articles — an enjoyment which the court must conclude is scarcely the same kind of enjoyment as playthings give.

However, the Court held that appellant had not met the burden of showing that its own claimed classification was correct, and, applying the “more than” theory, denied its claimed classification. Adopting the definition of “music box” which that court had approved in I. Pukel v. United States, 60 Cust. Ct. 672, C.D. 3497 (1968), the Customs Court found that the function of the dancing figures was “not incidental or subsidiary” to the function of the music box portion of the article. In support of this finding, the court cited two decisions in which combination articles containing music box mechanisms had been held to be “more than” music boxes, Thorens, Inc. v. United States, 31 COPA 125, C.A.D. 261 (1943) (toilet paper dispenser with music box mechanism), Lador, Inc. v. United States, 4 Cust. Ct. 123, C.D. 304 (1940) (Christmas tree stand incorporating music box mechanism).

Turning to appellant’s alternative claim that the articles should be severed for classification purposes into the music box and figure portions,3 the court applied the doctrine of entireties, holding that the music box, dancing couple, and dome components form, in combination, a new article possessing a distinctive character different from that of its parts.

After denying appellant’s motion for summary judgment, the court then granted the Government’s motion for summary judgment, notwithstanding the fact that it had rejected the initial classification assigned upon liquidation and pressed by the Government as the [9]*9basis for granting its motion and had not considered appellant’s alternative claim that the articles should be classified under items 653.95, 654.00, or 772.15.

OPINION

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Bluebook (online)
586 F.2d 217, 66 C.C.P.A. 5, 1978 CCPA LEXIS 232, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/amico-inc-v-united-states-ccpa-1978.