Masterpiece of Pennsylvania, Inc. v. Consolidated Novelty Co.

368 F. Supp. 550, 180 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 785, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10913
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedNovember 27, 1973
Docket73 Civ. 2693
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 368 F. Supp. 550 (Masterpiece of Pennsylvania, Inc. v. Consolidated Novelty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Masterpiece of Pennsylvania, Inc. v. Consolidated Novelty Co., 368 F. Supp. 550, 180 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 785, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10913 (S.D.N.Y. 1973).

Opinion

GURFEIN, District Judge:

This is an action for patent infringement and trademark infringement which was commenced on June 15, 1973. The case comes before this Court only with respect to the alleged trademark infringement on plaintiff’s motions for a preliminary injunction under Fed.R.Civ. P. 65 and 15 U.S.C. § 1116. Plaintiff also moves pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56, for a partial summary judgment. Plaintiff, Masterpiece of Pennsylvania, Inc. (“Masterpiece”), is in the business of manufacturing and selling artificial Christmas trees and shrubbery and since March 1970 has marketed artificial trees under the trademark, “Mountain King,” and the related marks, “Traditional Mountain King” and “Giant Mountain King.” The defendant, Consolidated Novelty Co. (“Consolidated”), subsequent to Masterpiece’s use of the trademark “Mountain King” began advertising and selling its artificial trees under the marks “Alpine King,” “Traditional Alpine King,” and “Giant Alpine King.” Specifically, plaintiff seeks preliminarily to enjoin the defendant and its agents from further selling, distributing, or advertising any artificial trees using the words “Alpine King,” or any other word or trademark deceptively similar or likely to cause confusion with plaintiff’s trademark, “Mountain King.” Plaintiff also seeks summary judgment on the issue of the alleged trademark infringement. There is jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) and 15 U.S.C. § 1121.

In March, 1970 plaintiff adopted and used “Mountain King” as a trademark on artificial Christmas trees which were transported in interstate commerce. 1 The defendant’s mark is used in advertising similar material 2 and appears in its price lists and catalogs. The products of both parties are sold in the same channels of trade, and appear in some of the same stores, where they are offered to the same potential customers. Plaintiff’s registra *552 tion of the trademark, “Mountain King,” for artificial trees is presumptively valid. Aluminum Fabricating Co. of Pittsburgh v. Season-All Window Corp., 259 F.2d 314, 316 (2 Cir. 1958), 15 U.S.C. § 1057(b). The plaintiff has done extensive advertising and promotion of its marks, and with its parent company will have spent $170,365.80 for such purposes by the end of 1973. For the years 1971 through 1973 to date, it has sold about seven million dollars worth of its artificial trees under the “Mountain King” trademark. The plaintiff also contends that its product is of high quality, and protected by a valid patent. U.S. Patent No. 3,594,260. The plaintiff alleges that defendant’s use of its marks causes confusion and constitutes a violation of Section 32(1) of the Trademark Act of 1946,15 U.S.C. § 1114. 3

A classic definition of the kinds of similarity that can lead to confusion was stated in Northam Warren Corp. v. Universal Cosmetic Co., 18 F.2d 774, 775 (7 Cir. 1927):

“Whether there is infringement of a trademark does not depend upon the use of identical words, nor on the question as to whether they are so similar that a person looking at one would be deceived into the belief that it was the other; but it is sufficient if one adopts a trade-name or trademark so like another in form, spelling, or sound that one, with a not very definite or clear recollection of the ■real trademark, is likely to be confused or misled.”

Indeed, similarity of sound, appearance or meaning may be sufficient to warrant a finding of confusion, Cluett Peabody & Co. v. Wright, 46 F.2d 711 (Cust. & Pat.App.1931), just as where the last words of two marks are identical. Stamford Foundry Co. v. Thatcher Furnace Co., 200 F. 324 (S.D.N.Y.1912) (“Shipmate” found to infringe “Messmate”); Smith v. Clyde Collins, Inc., 101 U.S.P.Q. 447 (D.C.Tenn.1954) (“Eat-Um-Aid” found to be confusingly similar to “Lik-M-Aid,” where the package dress was similar); International Postal Supply Co. v. Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Co., 38 F.2d 692 (Cust. & Pat.App.1930) (“Seal-O-Meter” found to infringe “Mail-O-Meter”); American Lead Pencil Co. v. L. Gottlieb & Sons, 181 F. 178, 180 (S.D.N.Y.1910). Cf. Mem Company, Inc. v. Hes Company, Inc., 149 U.S.P.Q. 8 (D.C.Cal.1966) (“London Leather” found to infringe “English Leather”); Burstein v. Seven-Up Company, 111 F.2d 903, 27 C.C.Pa. 1202 (1940) (“Hy-Up” found to infringe “Seven Up”). The use of different words with similar meaning may also tend to confuse. Hancock v. American Steel & Wire Co. of New Jersey, 203 F.2d 737, 40 C.C.Pa. 931 (1953) (“Tornado” found confusingly similar to “Cyclone”); S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. v. Drop Dead Co., Inc., 210 F.Supp. 816 (D.C.Cal.1962) (“Promise” infringed' “Pledge” — label imitated). Cf. Florence Manufacturing Co. v. J. C. Dowd and Company, 178 F. 73 (2 Cir. 1910 “Sta-Kleen” infringed “Keepelean”).

It is well established that one who adopts a mark similar to the mark of another for closely related goods acts at his own peril, and any doubt concerning the similarity of the marks must be resolved against him. United Merchants and Manufacturers v. R. A. Products, Inc., 404 F.2d 399 (Cust. & Pat. App. 1968).

' Both the plaintiff and defendant are active in the highly competitive business of manufacturing and selling artificial trees, and, since they are direct competitors, each of these companies must be aware of the products of the other. It *553 is a fair inference that when the defendant adopted a similar mark, it intended to capitalize on the plaintiff’s reputation and to appropriate its good will.

While defendant concedes its use of “Alpine King” and the related marks, it argues that the utilization of these terms has only been minimal and that in fact its trademark, “Magic Hinge” 4 has been stressed in its product’s promotion to emphasize its unique structual design and thereby to distinguish its trees from those of its competitors.

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368 F. Supp. 550, 180 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 785, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10913, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/masterpiece-of-pennsylvania-inc-v-consolidated-novelty-co-nysd-1973.