Nicholson v. Wm. A. Stickney Cigar Co.

59 S.W. 121, 158 Mo. 158, 1900 Mo. LEXIS 67
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedNovember 12, 1900
StatusPublished

This text of 59 S.W. 121 (Nicholson v. Wm. A. Stickney Cigar Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nicholson v. Wm. A. Stickney Cigar Co., 59 S.W. 121, 158 Mo. 158, 1900 Mo. LEXIS 67 (Mo. 1900).

Opinion

MARSHALL, J.

This is a proceeding in equity to enjoin the defendant from infringing the plaintiff’s trademark and for damages therefor.

The plaintiffs adopted a trade-mark and registered the same with the Secretary of State on the eleventh of August, 1894. The defendant adopted a trade-mark and registered it with the Secretary of State on the thirteenth of November, 1895. The plaintiffs’ trade-mark briefly stated is: On the outside of the top of the box the words “Union Station, St. Louis” with the letters “D. N.” are burnt into the wood. Below is a paper label with the words “Extra Eina.” On the right end of the box is a large label containing a picture of the St. Louis Union Station. On the front side of the box the words “Union Station” are burnt into the wood. When the top of the box is raised there appears a large paper label, being a picture of the Union Station, taken from Eighteenth and Market streets, with a view of these streets. On the inside of the box there is a paper label on the rear end thereof with the words “Union Station, St. Louis,” in large type.

The defendant’s trade-mark is this: On the top of the box the words “The Gilpin, Union Station” with a small picture of the Union Station stamped on the box. On the right end of the box there is a paper label with the words “The Union Station, Gilpin,” and a small picture of the Union Station between the words “The Union Station” and “Gil-pin.” On the front side of the box the word “Invincibles” [162]*162is burnt into tbe box. On tbe left end of tbe box tbe words “Colorado Clara” are stamped. When the top of tbe box is opened a large paper label appears, on tbe upper left band corner thereof is a small picture of tbe Union Station, taken from Eighteenth and Market streets with a view of those streets. Diagonally across the face of the trade-mark on tbe inside of tbe top of tbe box, tbe words “Tbe Gilpin” appear in large red letters. On tbe right lower quarter there is a scroll with the words “Union Station,” beneath which in a straight line in plain type appear tbe words “Wm. A. Stickney Cigar Ob., St. Louis.” On tbe rear inside end of tbe box tbe words “Wm. A. Stiekney Cigar Co.” appear in large red letters.

When tbe boxes are viewed, either with tbe tops closed or opened there is no such similarity between tbe appearance of tbe two trade-marks as would be calculated to deceive even tbe most unwary purchaser, or be calculated to induce a reasonable belief in tbe mind of tbe most unobservant purchaser that tbe same cigar was being offered for sale.

Tbe circuit court dismissed the bill, and plaintiffs appeal.

I.

Tbe briefs of counsel on both sides are exceedingly full and evidence marked ability and deep research. Many propositions are discussed and the authorities in support cited and elaborated. In the view we take, however, the case lies within a very small compass and there is scarcely any diversity of opinion in tbe precedents or between counsel as to tbe law applicable thereto.

In Filley v. Fassett, 44 Mo. l. c. 176 et seq., tbe rule was clearly stated as follows: “Tbe books are full of authorities establishing tbe proposition that any contrivance, design, device, name, symbol, or other thing, may be employed as a [163]*163trade-mark which is adapted to accomplish the object proposed by it — that is, to point ont the true source and origin of the goods to which said mark is applied, or even to point out and designate a dealer’s place of business, distinguishing it from the business locality of other dealers. The mark, however, must possess the requisite characteristics, pointing out the source and origin of the goods, and not be merely descriptive of the style, quality, or character of the goods themselves...... If the name........was calculated to mislead, the intention to deceive is to be inferred therefrom.”

“The imitation of an original trade-mark need not be exact or perfect. It may be limited and partial; nor is it requisite that the whole should be pirated. Nor is it necessary to show that any one has in fact been deceived, or that the party complained of made the goods.......Nor is it necessary to prove intentional fraud. Tf the court sees that complainant’s trade-marks are simulated in such a manner as probably to deceive customers or patrons of his trade or business, the piracy should be checked at once by injunction.’ ” [Ibid., p. 178.]

The first crucial test is whether the trade-mark complained of is calculated to and probably will mislead ordinary purchasers into believing that the goods are manufactured by the complainant. [Browne on Trade-Marks, secs. 33, 43, 309, 328.] Exact similitude is not necessary. [Ibid. secs. 28 and 385.] Nor is the comparative value of the goods a controlling criterion. [Ibid., secs. 35, 344, 401, 496, and 505.]

In McCartney v. Garnhart, 45 Mo. l. c. 595, it was aptly said: “To justify an injunction, as prayed by the plaintiffs, it should at least appear that the resemblance between the two brands was sufficient to raise the probability of mistake on the part of the public, or design and purpose to mislead and deceive on the part of the defendant.”

[164]*164In Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Co. v. Sam Reid Tobacco Co., 104 Mo. l. c. 60, Black, J., said: “The general principles of the law concerning trade-marks are well settled. A person has a right to the exclusive use of marks, forms or symbols appropriated by him for the purpose of pointing out the true origin or ownership of the article manufactured by him. The limitation upon this right is that such designs or words may not be used for the simple purpose of naming or describing the quality of the goods; for to permit that would be to foster a monopoly, while the great purpose of the law of trade-marks is to protect the owner in the exclusive use of his device which distinguishes his product from other similar articles, and to protect the public against fraud and deception. Any contrivance, design, device, name or symbol may be used as a trade-mark for the purpose of pointing out the true source and origin of the goods to which it is affixed. Under some circumstances the name of a place may be used as a trade-mark. The law is also well settled that one who has appropriated a trade-mark, to distinguish his goods from other similar goods, has a property right in it, a right that will be protected by injunction against the infringing party. To entitle the plaintiff to a perpetual injunction, the imitation need not be exact or perfect. To constitute an infringement it will be sufficient to show that the imitation is such as would be likely to mislead one in the ordinary course of purchasing the goods and lead him to suppose or believe that he was purchasing the genuine article. It is not necessary to show that any one has in point of fact been deceived, nor is it, at this day, necessary to show intentional fraud.”

In Oakes v. Candy Co., 146 Mo. l. c. 400, Gantt P. J., adopted the language of the Supreme Court of the United States in Lawrence Mfg. Co. v. Tenn. Mfg. Co., 138 U. S. 546, which in turn, was quoted from Canal Co. v. Clark, 13 Wall. 322, as follows: “In all cases where rights to exclu[165]*165sive use of a trade-mark are invaded, it is invariably held that tbe essence of tbe wrong consists in tbe sale of goods of one manufacturer or vendor as those of another; and that it is only when this false representation is directly or indirectly made that the party who appealed to a. court of equity can have relief. This is the doctrine of all the authorities.

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Related

Canal Co. v. Clark
80 U.S. 311 (Supreme Court, 1872)
Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. v. Finzer
128 U.S. 182 (Supreme Court, 1888)

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Bluebook (online)
59 S.W. 121, 158 Mo. 158, 1900 Mo. LEXIS 67, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nicholson-v-wm-a-stickney-cigar-co-mo-1900.