Hang Ten International (Substituted for Doris Moore of California, Inc.) v. Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Fifth Circuit

Hang Ten International (Substituted for Doris Moore of California, Inc.) v. Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc.

498 F.2d 326, 183 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 141, 1974 U.S. App. LEXIS 7389

Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit·Decided July 31, 1974·No. 326·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

In March, 1971, Doris Moore of California, Inc., appellant’s predecessor in interest, filed a trademark infringement complaint against Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc. The issue was settled by consent decree wherein appellee was enjoined from using appellant’s trademark, a pair of bare footprints side-by-side, with the right print positioned slightly ahead of the left. The mark is not restricted in size or color, although it primarily appears on the left breast of the appellant’s tee shirts, in gold, with the prints about % of an inch long. The design that appellee agreed to stop manufacturing was a tee shirt with a single set of bare footprints on the left breast with the words Galveston, Texas above and below the prints.

In April, 1973, Hang Ten filed a contempt motion against Sherry, alleging that they were making use of Hang Ten’s trademark or simulations thereof. It asked for indemnity, destruction of Sherry’s catalogs, injunction against sale of the offending goods, and costs. A hearing was had before Judge Atkins, the same judge who had signed the consent order. He found that the use of the bare footprints by appellee was not the use of a simulation of appellant’s trademark, that no likelihood of confu *327 sion had been shown. The contempt motion was accordingly denied.

In these circumstances, the rule of Eskay Drugs v. Smith, Kline & French Laboratories, 5 Cir., 1951, 188 F.2d 430, does not apply.

Findings as to likelihood of confusion are factual and not to be overturned unless clearly erroneous, Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California v. Sunaid Food Products, Inc., 5 Cir., 1966, 356 F.2d 467; National Association of Blue Shield Plans v. United Bankers Life Insurance Company, 5 Cir., 1966, 362 F.2d 374.

Consequently, the judgment is Affirmed.

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PER CURIAM:

In March, 1971, Doris Moore of California, Inc., appellant’s predecessor in interest, filed a trademark infringement complaint against Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc. The issue was settled by consent decree wherein appellee was enjoined from using appellant’s trademark, a pair of bare footprints side-by-side, with the right print positioned slightly ahead of the left. The mark is not restricted in size or color, although it primarily appears on the left breast of the appellant’s tee shirts, in gold, with the prints about % of an inch long. The design that appellee agreed to stop manufacturing was a tee shirt with a single set of bare footprints on the left breast with the words Galveston, Texas above and below the prints.

In April, 1973, Hang Ten filed a contempt motion against Sherry, alleging that they were making use of Hang Ten’s trademark or simulations thereof. It asked for indemnity, destruction of Sherry’s catalogs, injunction against sale of the offending goods, and costs. A hearing was had before Judge Atkins, the same judge who had signed the consent order. He found that the use of the bare footprints by appellee was not the use of a simulation of appellant’s trademark, that no likelihood of confu *327 sion had been shown. The contempt motion was accordingly denied.

In these circumstances, the rule of Eskay Drugs v. Smith, Kline & French Laboratories, 5 Cir., 1951, 188 F.2d 430, does not apply.

Findings as to likelihood of confusion are factual and not to be overturned unless clearly erroneous, Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California v. Sunaid Food Products, Inc., 5 Cir., 1966, 356 F.2d 467; National Association of Blue Shield Plans v. United Bankers Life Insurance Company, 5 Cir., 1966, 362 F.2d 374.

Consequently, the judgment is Affirmed.

Hang Ten International (Substituted for Doris Moore of California, Inc.) v. Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc., 498 F.2d 326, 183 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 141, 1974 U.S. App. LEXIS 7389 (5th Cir. 1974).

Pincite

498 F.2d 326 (Hang Ten International (Substituted for Doris Moore of California, Inc.) v. Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Opinion

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