Land O'Lakes Creameries, Inc. v. Oconomowoc Canning Co.

199 F. Supp. 124, 131 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 328, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5968
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedNovember 21, 1961
DocketNo. 59-C-234
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 199 F. Supp. 124 (Land O'Lakes Creameries, Inc. v. Oconomowoc Canning Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Land O'Lakes Creameries, Inc. v. Oconomowoc Canning Co., 199 F. Supp. 124, 131 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 328, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5968 (E.D. Wis. 1961).

Opinion

GRUBB, District Judge.

This is an action to cancel trade-mark registrations, for trade-mark infringement and unfair competition, and for other relief. Defendant has moved to dismiss the claim relating to cancellation of the trade-mark registrations on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim.

1. Lack of Jurisdiction

Defendant contends that plaintiff failed to commence this action within the time limits set by statute and regulations. The statute upon which jurisdiction rests in this case, § 146 of Title 35 U.S.C.A., pursuant to § 1071 of Title 15 U.S.C.A., requires that a party who is dissatisfied with a decision of the patent office commence a civil action for a determination in the district court within such time after such patent office decision, not less than sixty days, as the Commissioner appoints.

Patent Practice Rule 304, 37 C.F.R. § 1.304, 35 U.S.C.A.Appendix, applicable here, states that such civil’ action must be brought sixty days from date of the patent office decision. This rule also provides as follows:

“ * * * If a petition for rehearing or reconsideration is filed within thirty days after the date of the decision of the Board * * *, the time is extended to thirty days after action on the petition. No petition for rehearing or reconsideration filed outside the time specified herein after such decision, nor any proceedings on such petition shall operate to extend the period of sixty days hereinabove provided. * * * ”

The motion papers and affidavits submitted in respect thereto show that plaintiff seasonably requested an extension of time for filing its petition for reconsideration of the decision rendered August 3, 1959 — see Land O’Lakes Creameries, Inc. v. Oconomowoc Canning Company, 122 U.S.P.Q. 411 — because of the hospitalization of one of its attorneys and the necessary absence of another resulting from an automobile accident. In the order granting said request, the Assistant Commissioner noted that a new appeal period would be fixed at the time the request for reconsideration was acted upon. In the decision denying the petition for reconsideration, dated September 23, 1959, the Board noted the limit of appeal as thirty days from date of order, or October 23, 1959. Defendant did not object to or ask to be heard on the prior order indicating that a new time for appeal would be fixed, or in respect to the limit of appeal time noted by the Board. Plaintiff’s request for additional time for taking an appeal was denied on October 19, 1959. This action was commenced within the time limit set by the Board.

Trade-mark Practice Rule 2.148, 37 C. F.R. § 2.148, 15 U.S.C.A.Appendix, authorizes the Commissioner to suspend or waive any requirements of the rules of practice in trade-mark cases which are not a requirement of the statute in extraordinary situations when justice requires and when no other party is injured thereby.

The cases are divided on the question of the Commissioner’s authority to waive the requirements of Rule 304. A recent decision, Eckey v. Watson, 106 U.S.App. D.C. 16, 268 F.2d 891 (D.C.Cir.1959), wherein this question was specifically raised, holds that the sixty day provision of Rule 304 was not a requirement of the statutes within the meaning of Patent Practice Rule 183, 37 C.F.R. § 1.183, which is similar to Trade-mark Practice Rule 2.148. Accordingly, the Commissioner had authority to suspend or waive its operation under proper circumstances as determined by him.

On the other hand, the Commissioner of Patents and the Court of Customs and [126]*126Patent Appeals have held that the patent office rule setting forth the time limitation for filing an appeal had the force of law and could not be waived. Non-compliance with its requirements deprived the court of jurisdiction in the matter. These decisions were rendered in ex pcurte and inter partes proceedings. See In re Horton, 58 F.2d 682, 19 CCPA 1151 (CCPA 1932); In re Retail Clerks International Protective Ass’n, 108 F.2d 1008, 27 CCPA 875 (CCPA 1940); In re Terres, 150 F.2d 711, 32 CCPA 965 (CCPA 1945); and Cincinnati Floor Company v. United States Plywood Corporation, 115 U.S.P.Q. 386 (1957). The decisions in these cases do not reveal whether or not rules authorizing a waiver or suspension of the operation of certain rules were considered, or whether or not the cases involved extraordinary circumstances justifying the exercise of the Commissioner’s authority in extending the time set by the rule.

It is the opinion of the court that the circumstances of this case, in light of the decision in Eckey v. Watson, supra, bar the defense of lack of jurisdiction in respect to the claim for cancellation.

Plaintiff made a showing of unusual circumstances upon which the Assistant Commissioner predicated the extension of time granted in respect to the filing of the petition for reconsideration. It may be assumed that the Assistant Commissioner and the Board determined that these circumstances justified a similar extension with respect to the time for filing notice of appeal or commencing a civil action. Defendant had notice of the extensions of time granted and offered no objections thereto.

Further, defendant has made no showing that it has been injured thereby. Plaintiff commenced this action within the time limit set by the trade-mark office. Defendant cannot now be heard to question the exercise of the official’s authority in extending the time for commencing this action. The motion to dismiss, insofar as it rests on the ground of failure oí jurisdiction, is denied.

The court notes the conflict as to the authority of the Commissioner to waive or suspend the operation of the rule designating the time within which this action must be commenced. Other claims alleged by the complaint are not challenged by defendant on this motion. Since these claims remain for further proceedings, an appellate determination of the question of jurisdiction as to the claim for cancellation would not materially advance the ultimate termination of this litigation.

2. Failure to State a Claim

Defendant contends that plaintiff’s claim for cancellation of trade-mark registrations as stated in paragraphs 4 to 12, inclusive; 14; 16 to 19, inclusive; 24; and 26 to 29, inclusive, of the complaint, as amended, fails to state a cause of action. In addition to other authority, defendant relies on the decision with which the plaintiff is dissatisfied, allegedly based on similar claims — Land O’Lakes Creameries, Inc. v. Oconomowoc Canning Company, 122 U.S.P.Q. 411 (1959). The Board there held at page 412:

“Considering first the petitions for cancellation, it is clear that petitioner’s pleadings do not allege facts upon which relief can be granted, nor do any such facts appear from the record herein.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
199 F. Supp. 124, 131 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 328, 1961 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5968, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/land-olakes-creameries-inc-v-oconomowoc-canning-co-wied-1961.