Century Distilling Co. v. Continental Distilling Corp. (Two Cases)

205 F.2d 140
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedJuly 21, 1953
Docket10717_1
StatusPublished
Cited by38 cases

This text of 205 F.2d 140 (Century Distilling Co. v. Continental Distilling Corp. (Two Cases)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Century Distilling Co. v. Continental Distilling Corp. (Two Cases), 205 F.2d 140 (3d Cir. 1953).

Opinion

McLAUGHLIN, Circuit Judge.

In this trade-mark infringement suit both the adjudged infringer, Century Distilling Company (Century), and the infringed, Continental Distilling Corporation (Continental), appeal. The former would have us hold that it need not account for profits or damages despite the finding of infringement, the latter that its award is inadequate.

Continental, a Delaware corporation, was organized in April, 1933, as a subsidiary of a corporation which had been manufacturing alcohol since 1912. With the repeal of prohibition in December, 1933, Continental began to sell Dixie Belle and Dixie Beaux gin to the public, 1 engaging in an extensive advertising campaign on behalf of Dixie Belle in 1933 and 1934. On February 13, *142 1934, Continental registered, the trademarks Dixie Belle and Dixie Beaux with the United States Patent Office. 2 Although both marks were to be applied to other distilled alcoholic beverages as well as gin, we are here chiefly concerned with the use of the mark Dixie Belle on gin and gin products.

Century, an Illinois corporation, was organized in November, 1933, as a subsidiary of a grain and feed corporation. It began the sale of bottled liquors early in 1934 and on September 24, 1934, filed an application in the Patent Office for registration of the trade-mark Dixiana, claiming to have used the mark since September 10, 1934. Continental filed a notice of opposition thereto within two months. On March 9, 1935, Century applied for another registration, this time for the trade-mark Dixie Dew, claiming to have used the mark since February 20, 1935. Again Continental promptly filed a notice of opposition to the application alleging, as in the case of Dixiana, that this mark infringed its own prior-registered marks, Dixie Belle and Dixie Beaux. On October 28, 1936, after the taking of evidence, both notices of opposition were sustained by the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences. These decisions were affirmed by the Assistant Commissioner of Patents on July 2, 1937. In the meantime Continental had tried without success to persuade Century to discontinue voluntarily its use of the marks Dixiana and Dixie Dew. 3 Century manufactured and sold Dixie Dew whiskey and Dixiana gin until June 30, 1939, the date on which we affirmed the lower court’s interlocutory decree. Dixie Dew whiskey constituted approximately 30% of the total number of cases of all liquors sold by Century during the period covered by the account. In 1943 Century sold its business to another distilling corporation at a substantial profit.

On July 28, 1937, Century brought suit against Continental under Section 4915 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, 4 for a determination of its right to register the two trade-marks. Continental counterclaimed for an injunction and an accounting. The district court, in an interlocutory decree filed June 27, 1938, dismissed the bill on procedural grounds. With respect to the counterclaim the court held that Century’s marks Dixiana and Dixie Dew infringed Continental’s Dixie Belle and Dixie Beaux, that Century’s marks were a color-able imitation of Continental’s, that they were calculated or liable to cause confusion, mistake or deception in the minds of the public, that both Century’s and Continental’s goods were of the same descriptive character and properties and were sold in interstate commerce. It concluded that Century’s use of the marks constituted an infringement and ordered “the usual accounting” to be taken on reference to a master. On appeal to this court, 1939, 106 F.2d 486, the decree was affirmed. 5 The United States Supreme Court denied cer-tiorari, 309 U.S. 662, 60 S.Ct. 581, 84 L.Ed. 1010. It is conceded, however, that the propriety of ordering an accounting was not argued during any of the above proceedings.

The accounting before the master commenced early in 1940. In June, 1943, Century moved the district court for a modification of the interlocutory decree, arguing that under the then recently decided case of Mishawaka Rubber & Woolen Mfg. Co. v. S. S. Kresge Co., 316 U.S. 203, 62 S.Ct. 1022, 86 L.Ed. 1381, it was not liable to Continental for profits on its sales of Dixie Dew whiskey. The motion was denied. The master filed Parts I and II of his re *143 port on November 17, 1948, and Part III on February 21, 1951. Altogether almost 10,-000 pages of testimony were taken. On December 20, 1951, the district court entered judgment against Century on Continental’s counterclaim in the amount of $129,296.20. This figure represents 25% of Century’s profits ($110,248.95) on its sales of Dixiana and Dixie Dew products during the accounting period (June 30, 1935, to June 30, 1939), plus interest and costs. The only item of damages to Continental which had been included in the master’s award was disallowed by the court. As stated, Century appeals on the ground that it need pay none of its profits on account of the infringement while Continental is dissatisfied with the award, contending that it is entitled to all Century’s profits on the infringing goods plus several items of damages. Century also argues that the master erred in disallowing certain overhead charges as a deduction from profits. Both parties contest various other items allowed or disallowed by the master and the court below on this accounting.

This action is governed by Sections 16 and 19 of the Trade-Mark Act of 1905, 15 U.S.C. §§ 96 and 99 6 .

Century’s Appeal

Century does not, and indeed cannot, dispute the determination of infringement, but argues that it has established that there was no palming off, no fraud and no confusion of source and therefore it should not be held to account for even 25% of its profits on the infringing goods. Reliance is placed on cases holding that while an injunction is proper where an infringement has been found no accounting will be ordered absent a showing of confusion. See, for example, Straus v. Notaseme Hosiery Co., 240 U.S. 179, 36 S.Ct. 288, 60 L.Ed. 590; Durable Toy & Novelty Corp. v. J. Chein & Co., 2 Cir., 1943, 133 F.2d 853, certiorari denied, 320 U.S. 211, 63 S.Ct. 1447, 87 L.Ed. 1849; Coca Cola Co. v. Snowcrest Beverages, Inc., D.C.Mass.1946, 64 F.Supp. 980, affirmed, 1 Cir., 1947, 162 F.2d 280, certiorari denied, 332 U.S. 809, 68 S.Ct. 110, 92 L.Ed. 386.

*144

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Zurco, Inc. v. Sloan Valve Co.
785 F. Supp. 2d 476 (W.D. Pennsylvania, 2011)
Fendi Adele S.R.L. v. Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp.
642 F. Supp. 2d 276 (S.D. New York, 2009)
A & H Sportswear Co., Inc. v. Victoria's Secret Stores, Inc.
967 F. Supp. 1457 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 1997)
Allen-Myland, Inc. v. International Business MacHines Corp.
770 F. Supp. 1014 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 1991)
USM Corp. v. Marson Fastener Corp.
467 N.E.2d 1271 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1984)
Durbin Brass Works, Inc. v. Schuler
532 F. Supp. 41 (E.D. Missouri, 1982)
Robert Bruce, Inc. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.
343 F. Supp. 1333 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 1972)
Fleischmann Distilling Corp. v. Maier Brewing Co.
386 U.S. 714 (Supreme Court, 1967)
Carter Products, Inc. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company
214 F. Supp. 383 (D. Maryland, 1963)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
205 F.2d 140, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/century-distilling-co-v-continental-distilling-corp-two-cases-ca3-1953.