Nestle's Milk Products, Inc. v. Baker Importing Co., Inc

182 F.2d 193, 37 C.C.P.A. 1066, 86 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 80, 1950 CCPA LEXIS 287
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedMay 9, 1950
DocketPatent Appeals 5655
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 182 F.2d 193 (Nestle's Milk Products, Inc. v. Baker Importing Co., Inc) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nestle's Milk Products, Inc. v. Baker Importing Co., Inc, 182 F.2d 193, 37 C.C.P.A. 1066, 86 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 80, 1950 CCPA LEXIS 287 (ccpa 1950).

Opinions

JOHNSON, Judge.

This is an appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents, 76 U.S.P.Q. 392, reversing the decision of the Examiner of Interferences sustaining appellant’s notice of opposition 1 to appellee’s application for registration of the notation “Hycafe” as a trade-mark for “coffee extract,” and holding that appellee was entitled to register the mark under Section 5 of the Trade-Mark Act of February 20, 1905, 33 Stat. 725, 15 U.S.C.85 [§ 1052].

It is alleged in appellee’s application for registration that appellee has continuously used its mark on its goods since June 18, 1945.

In its notice of opposition dated October 27, 1945, appellant alleges that it is the owner of the trade-mark “Nescafe”; that it has used its mark on its goods since prior to June 18, 1945; that it “has extensively advertised and used the trade mark, Nescafe, itir coffee extracts, coffee preparations and the like, exclusively prepared and sold” by it throughout the United States, and that “as a result of such use, said trade mark has become well known to the public and has attained a wide secondary meaning” as designating appellant’s goods; that the trademark “Nescafe” is duly registered in the United States Patent Office and is now in full force and effect, unrevoked and uncancelled ; that the goods upon which applicant claims use of its mark are identical with and of the same descriptive properties as those upon which opposer uses “Nescafe”; that the goods of applicant and those of opposer are sold in the- same trade channels; that “Hycafe” so closely resembles “Nescafe” as to be likely to produce confusion and mistake in the minds of the public and to deceive purchasers, causing them to believe that applicant’s goods have their origin with appellant; that the use and registration of the mark “Hycafe” by appellee will work irreparable injury to appellant’s business, and that the use by appellee of the mark “Hycafe” on its goods will enable appellee to trade on and get the benefit of the reputation of appellant and its goods and lead the public to believe appellee and its goods are associated with the appellant.

In its answer dated January 15, 1946, appellee admits the registration by appellant of the trade-mark “Nescafe” and that the goods of the parties are of the same descriptive properties and are sold in the same trade channels. Appellee denies, however, that “Nescafe” has attained a secondary meaning as designating opposer’s goods, that “Hycafe” so closely resembles “Nescafe” as to cause confusion o'r mistake in the mind of the public or to deceive purchasers into believing that his goods are associated with appellant. Appellee also alleges that the only similarity between the marks of the respective parties resides in the use of the descriptive word “cafe,” which is disclaimed in appellee’s application, and that the word “cafe” is now and has for many years prior to the alleged date of adoption of the trade-mark “Nescafe,” meant to the trade and the purchasing public generally a coffee product, and has been used by the trade generally in combination with distinctive designation to define a concentrated coffee product.

Both parties filed briefs and were present at the oral argument. Appellant alone took testimony.

The sole issue presented by the record is whether or not the marks are confusingly similar within the meaning of the TradeMark Act of 1905.2

[195]*195The examiner conceded that “cafe” is the French equivalent of “coffee” and would thus have, when applied to coffee products, a descriptive significance to persons familiar with the French language, but considered that purchasers not so informed would regard-'the term as distinctive when applied to such products. Considering the terms “Nescafe” and “Hycafe” in their entireties, he held that despite the difference between the prefixes “Nes” and “Hy,” the marks so resemble each other as to be likely to cause confusion in trade. Thus, he sustained the opposition.

The commissioner thought that “cafe” though of French derivation had become an accepted word of the English language designating either coffee or an establishment for serving refreshments, and quoted Webster’s New International Dictionary as follows:

“1. Coffee.
“2. A coffeehouse; a room for coffee and light refreshments; a restaurant; formerly, in the United States a barroom.” Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition, 1934 (1949 reprint), however, indicates3 that “cafe” is a French word meaning “coffee,” and when used not as a foreign word (not italicized) means “A coffeehouse, etc.” That dual nature of the word, as a French term for coffee, or as an English term for restaurant or coffeehouse, is corroborated by the Oxford “A New English Dictionary,” Vol. II, 1893,4 and is not changed hy the supplemental volume with new and additional meanings of words, published in 1933. Funk & Wagnalls “New Standard Dictionary,” 1942, identifies 5 the word “cafe” as a foreign word (French) whose most common and important meaning is “A coffee-house, refreshment-room, or restaurant” with a less common meaning as “coffee.” Words and Phrases states,6 “The word ‘cafe’ as ordinarily and popularly used means a restaurant or house for refreshments. Proprietors’ Realty Co. v. Wohltmann, 95 N.J.L. 303, 112 A. 410.”7

We must disagree with the commissioner’s statement that “cafe” has become an accepted word of the English language designating coffee. The dictionaries make it manifest that only as a foreign language term (French) does cafe mean coffee. [196]*196That, however, does not invalidate the commissioner’s conclusion that “cafe” has descriptive significance relating to coffee. Foreign language words, not adopted into the English language, which are descriptive of a product, are so considered in registration proceedings despite the 'fact that the words may be meaningless to the public generally. In re Northern Paper Mills, 64 F.2d 998, 20 C.C.P.A. Patents 1109, and cases cited; Walgreen Co. v. Godefroy Manufacturing Co., 74 F.2d 127, 22 C.C.P.A. Patents 818.

Appellant’s label, Exhibit 3, appears to bear out the descriptive nature of “cafe” in the statement there set forth, as follows :

“A cup of Nescafe, made according to directions, is a cup of full-flavored, full strength coffee with added carbohydrates.
“The carbohydrates (dextrins, maltose and dextrose) are added for the sole purpose of protecting the natural flavor of the freshly-roasted, freshly-brewed coffee. They are not a coffee substitute, no'r do they diminish the coffee’s flavor, strength or stimulation. In Nescafe you get all the flavor, all the ‘lift’ of really fine coffee.”

Further showing that appellant recognizes “cafe” as meaning “coffee” is appellant’s Exhibit 8, used in its advertising, which states:

“ ‘Nescafe certainly makes a grand cup of coffee’ * * * makes it every time. You’ll want a second cup and can have it so-o easily. (Italics quoted.)
* # * * * *

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

Related

Mark Thomas
TTAB, 2006
In Re National Data Corporation
753 F.2d 1056 (Federal Circuit, 1985)
Jerry Finn v. Cooper's Incorporated
292 F.2d 555 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1961)
Phillips Petroleum Company v. Knox Industries Corp
277 F.2d 945 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1960)
Lauritzen & Company, Inc. v. The Borden Company
239 F.2d 405 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1956)
Burton-Dixie Corporation v. Restonic Corporation
234 F.2d 668 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1956)
House of Worsted-Tex, Inc. v. Deering Milliken & Company, Inc.
233 F.2d 333 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1956)
The Quaker Oats Company v. St. Joe Processing Company, Inc.
232 F.2d 653 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1956)
Magnaflux Corporation v. Sonoflux Corporation
231 F.2d 669 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1956)
Hat Corporation of America v. John B. Stetson Company
223 F.2d 485 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1955)
L. J. Mueller Furnace Co. v. United Conditioning Corp.
222 F.2d 755 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1955)
Dietene Co. v. Dietrim Co.
121 F. Supp. 785 (D. Nebraska, 1954)
Lightnin Chemical Co. v. Royal Home Products, Inc.
197 F.2d 668 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1952)
North Star Mfg. Co. v. Wells Lamont Corp.
193 F.2d 204 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1951)
Nestle's Milk Products, Inc. v. Baker Importing Co., Inc
182 F.2d 193 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1950)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
182 F.2d 193, 37 C.C.P.A. 1066, 86 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 80, 1950 CCPA LEXIS 287, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nestles-milk-products-inc-v-baker-importing-co-inc-ccpa-1950.