Meriden Britannia Co. v. Rogers

13 A. 405, 55 Conn. 496, 1887 Conn. LEXIS 64
Supreme Court of Connecticut·Decided December 16, 1887·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

Pardee, J.

On March 16th, 1868, a written contract was [502] signed by the plaintiff, of the first part, and by William Rogers and William Rogers, Jr., of the second part, the pertinent portions of which are as follows, viz:—

“ This agreement, made and concluded this 16th dajr of March, 1868, by and between the Meriden Britannia Company, a joint stock corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Connecticut relating to joint stock corporations, and located in Meriden, party of the first part, and William Rogers and William Rogers, Jr., both of Hartford, Connecticut, parties of the second part, witnesseth:— That the party of the first part, in consideration of the promises, covenants and agreements of the parties of the second part, herein contained, hereby promises, covenants and agrees, to and with said parties of the second part, to pay the said parties of the second part, jointly or to the survivor of them in the case of the death of either of them, the sum of five hundred dollars per month, payable in advance each month, for the period of one hundred-and twenty months, commencing on the 20th day of March, 1868. In consideration of said promise and agreement of said party of the first part, said parties of the second part do for themselves, both jointly and severally, covenant, promise and agree with said party of the first part as follows, to wit:—
“1st. That they will, and each of them will, during the period aforesaid, use the influence they have in the market to secure trade for said party of the first part in the articles of silver-plated forks and spoons and other silver-plated ware.
“ 2d. That said party of the first part shall have and enjoy the sole and exclusive right to the use of certain trade marks heretofore used by the parties of the second part, to wit :o ‘(Anchor) Wm. Rogers & Son, A A,’ also, ‘1847, Rogers Bros., A 1,’ upon all silver-plated -forks and spoons made or sold by said parties of the first part after the 20th of March, 1868. And said party of the first part may authorize the use of said trade marks, or either of them, upon spoons and forks manufactured or sold by other parties, where said party of [503] the first part is to be benefited by the manufacture or sale thereof.
“ That they, the said parties of the second part, will not, and neither of them shall, use either of said trade marks during all the period aforesaid, or any other trade mark or stamp in which the name of Rogers shall be used or form a part thereof, or engage in the business of making spoons or forks, either directly or indirectly.
“ That they will not allow, suffer or permit any other person or persons, party or parties, to use, infringe upon or imitate either of the trade marks aforesaid, to wit: 6 (Anchor) Wm. Rogers & Son, A A,’ and ‘1847, Rogers Bros., A 1.’
“That they will not permit, suffer or allow any other person or party, persons or parties, to use the name of said William Rogers, or of the said William Rogers, Jr., upon any stamp or trade mark upon silver-plated forks and spoons or other plated ware during the period aforesaid; but that the right of the said party of the first part to the use of the said trade marks, and each of them, and to the use of the names of the said William Rogers and of said William Rogers, Jr., upon forks and spoons, shall be sole and exclusive to the said party of the first part.
“ And whereas certain parties in Hartford, to wit: Thomas Birch and William J. Pierce, are now using the trade mark 6 (Anchor) Wm. Rogers & Son, A A,’ it is understood that the aforesaid payment is not to commence until said parties of the second part, at their own expense, shall have enjoined said Birch & Pierce, and prevented the use of said trade mark by them.
“ And it is further understood and agreed that the payment of said sum shall at all times be dependent upon said party of the first part being fully secured and protected in the exclusive use of said trade marks, and that if any other person or party shall establish their right to use either of the aforesaid trade marks, said payments shall thereupon cease. But all suits that may be necessary to defend them in the use of said trade marks, shall be maintained at the expense of said parties of the first part, except only in the [504] case of said Birch & Pierce; and if necessary to use the names of said William Rogers and William Rogers, Jr., or either of them, in any suit for the protection of said parties of the first part, the same is hereby authorized.”

On this contract the plaintiff indorsed the following:—

“ West Meriden, Jan. 1st, 1872.—The Meriden Britannia Company agree ■ to pay the full amount called for by this contract from January 1st, 1872, and to waive the performance by the parties of the second part of all conditions in this contract in relation to the use of the name Rogers by the concern in Hartford, and consider and admit the claims of Wm. Rogers and Wm. Rogers, Jr., to the full amount of five hundred dollars per month, as specified in this contract, to be in full force from January 1st, 1872, and thereafter until the expiration of this contract.
“Meriden Britannia Company,
“ H. C. Wilcox, President.'1'’

William Rogers died in 1873. The William Rogers, Jr., above named, is the defendant; and the discussion will proceed upon the assumption that he alone was the party of the second part.

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Meriden Britannia Co. v. Rogers, 13 A. 405, 55 Conn. 496, 1887 Conn. LEXIS 64 (Colo. 1887).

13 A. 405 (Meriden Britannia Co. v. Rogers) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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