Puerto Rico Distilling Co. v. Coca-Cola Co.

120 F.2d 370, 28 C.C.P.A. 1143, 49 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 660, 1941 CCPA LEXIS 78

• Court: Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
• Decided: June 9, 1941
• Docket: No. 4471
• Status: Published

Opinions

Garrett, Presiding Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This is an appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents reversing that of the Examiner of Interferences in a trade-mark opposition proceeding instituted in the United States Patent Office by appellee, Coca-Cola Company, against an application filed by appellant, Puerto Eico Distilling Company, for the registration of the 'notation “EONEICOLA” as a trade-mark for rum, alcoholic cocktails, and beverages containing substantial portions of rum.

The appellant is á corporation duly organized under the laws of the territory of Puerto Eico, and for many years has been engaged in the manufacture of a rum which is sold under the trade name or brand of “Eonrico.” In 1937 it began the manufacture of a drink, referred to as “Cuba Libre,” composed of Eonrico rum, cola sirup, and lime juice, the rum being the principal ingredient, and on June 16, 1937, filed the application for registration of “EONEICOLA” as a trade-mark for such mixed drink, alleging use “since April 15, 1937.” The application having been passed for publication and published, appellee filed notice of opposition, pleading the use and registration of the well known mark “Coca Cola” on its sirup product, used in making soft drinks long prior to the date of appellant’s application, and alleging, in substance, that the goods are of the same descriptive properties; that the respective marks are of such close resemblance that the use of “EONEICOLA” by appellant would be likely to cause confusion or mistake in the mind of the public or to deceive purchasers,- and that appellee would be injured by its registration. Appellant made answer to the notice-of opposition and so the issue was joined.

Testimony was taken on behalf of both parties which it is unnecessary to review in detail.

The Examiner of Interferences dismissed the notice of opposition and held that appellant was entitled to the registration sought. In so doing, he did not hold the goods of the respective parties to be of different descriptive properties, but said, inter alia:

The record shows that the beverage sold by the applicant is a mixture of rum and cola syrup and that in this beverage the rum is the dominant part thereof and the cola syrup a minor part. Cola syrup is the generic name of an article of trade and is commonly used in the making of beverages. Its significance to purchasers as a feature of a composite mark used on a beverage of which it is also an ingredient is deemed not to be fanciful or arbitrary. * * *

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The goods of the opposer are in the nature of a soft drink and are so regarded by the general public. Their trade appeal is obviously quite different. It is thus apparent that the differences in the marks and the properties of the goods are considerable and it is believed that in view of the cumulative effect thereof concurrent use of these marks in trade on these goods would not be likely to confuse the public or to deceive purchasers. * * *

In reversing the decision of the Examiner of Interferences and sustaining the opposition, the commissioner held that the goods of the respective parties “do in fact possess the same descriptive properties within the meaning of the Trade-Mark Act.”

In connection with his holding on this phase of the case, the commissioner cited certain prior decisions made by him. The first decision so cited was that in the case of California Packing Corporation (applicant) v. Silver Swan Liquor Corporation (opposer), 477 O. G. 770, 32 U. S. P. Q. 581. The applicant there applied for registration of “Gold Band” for use on whisky. The opposer pleaded, among other things, a registration of the same mark owned by it for ginger ale. The commissioner, seemingly basing his view largely upon certain reasoning of this court in the case of Meredith Publishing Co. v. O. M. Scott & Sons Co., 24 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 956, 88 F. (2d) 324, 32 U. S. P. Q. 516, held “that whisky and ginger ale are merchandise of the same descriptive properties,” saying, that “they are frequently mixed together and imbibed from the same glass”; that “they are closely associated in the mind of the drinking public,” and that “confusion may well result from their sale under identical marks.” [Italics ours.] The second case cited was that of White Rock Mineral Springs Company v. Neurad, 477 O. G. 770, 33 U. S. P. Q. 163, in which the commissioner held, in effect, that carbonated water possessed the same descriptive, properties as distilled alcoholic liquors, including whisky, for which latter Neurad was seeking registration of the term “White Rock,” a term which the appellant there had had registered either alone or in combination with other features prior to Neurad’s filing date “for mineral water, ginger ale, and other carbonated beverages.” The third case cited was that of Continental Distilling Corporation (opposer) v. Buston (applicant), 500 O. G. 772, 40 U. S. P. Q. 566, wherein the commissioner held, in effect, that gin and cola beverages of the soft drink type were of the same descriptive properties and that confusion would likely result from the registration of “Dixie Bell,” the mark used by opposer for gin, for use on such soft-drink beverages.

It will be observed that in two of the cases the applicant sought registration for use on a per se nonalcoholic beverage of a mark identical with one previously registered for use on alcoholic beverages and in the other case the applicant sought registration for use on an alcoholic beverage of a mark identical with one previously registered for a nonalcoholic beverage. No one of those cases was appealed but we may say that it is our present view that had we been called upon to review them, we would have felt constrained, under the facts there appearing, to agree with the commissioner’s denial of the registrations.

In the case of American Brewing Company, Inc. v. Delatour Beverage Corporation, 26 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 778, 100 F. (2d) 253, which was a cancellation proceeding, the goods consisted of ginger ale on the one hand and beer and ale on the other, and we concurred in the view of the commissioner that these “are of the same descriptive properties.” The appellant there sought cancelation of a registration by the appellee, for use on ginger ale, of a mark consisting “of a representation of the Statue of Liberty and the printed words ‘AMERICA DRY GINGER ALE,’ ” the printed words being disclaimed. The mark of appellee, used on beer and ale, consisted of a composite mark comprising a representation of the Statue of Liberty and the word “Liberty.”

The commissioner took the view that while the goods were of the same descriptive properties within the meaning of the Trade-Mark Act, they nevertheless were specifically different and held that regardless of the presence of the representation of the Statue of Liberty in both marks there was no reasonable likelihood of confusion between them as applied to the goods involved.

In the course of our decision reversing that of the commissioner,, we said, inter alia:

If the disclaimed words, “America Dry Ginger Ale,” in registrant’s mark should be given the same prominence and weight as the representation of the-Statue of Liberty therein, we could agree with the commissioner that, considering the difference in goods and the differences in the marks, there is no reasonable likelihood of confusion arising from the use of the respective marks; but we are of the opinion that disclaimed descriptive words in a mark should not be given the same prominence as that portion of the mark which possesses all of the qualities of a valid technical trade-mark. It is true that the general rule is that marks should be regarded in their entirety, including disclaimed words, but we do not think it could well be argued that disclaimed descriptive words could ever constitute the dominant part of a mark.

After citing certain authorities, we found that “the essential and dominant feature of the mark sought to be canceled is the pictorial representation of the' Statue of Liberty,” and upon that basis held, in eifect, that confusion would likely result from, the use of the mark on ginger ale. The intimation of the opinion clearly is to the effect that had the marks not been, as respected the dominant feature of appellee’s mark, substantially identical, our decision might have been different “considering the difference in goods and the differences in the marks.”

Under the authorities above cited, we feel constrained to agree with the view of the commissioner that the respective goods of appellant and appellee in the instant case “possess the same descriptive properties within the meaning of the Trade-Mark Act,” but it is also true, as was said by the commissioner of the goods involved in the American Brewing Co. case, supra, “they are nevertheless specifically different,” and it is, of course, well settled that specific differences in goods which are of the same general descriptive character should be considered in connection with differences in marks in fairly determining the question of likelihood of confusion. Vick Chemical Co. v. Central City Chemical Co., 22 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 996, 75 F. (2d) 517; Joseph Tetley & Co., Inc. v. Fant Milling Co., Etc., 27 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 1180, 111 F. (2d) 485.

In the instant case the commissioner first considered the question relating to the descriptive properties of the respective goods, and then considered the matter of similarity of the marks. It was his conclusion that the statement of the Examiner of Interferences, quoted supra, was in conflict with views expressed by this court in the case of Corn Products Refining Co. v. Coca-Cola Company, 26 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 1181, 103 F. (2d) 385.

In that case we held “DENTEA-COLA,’’ “COLA” being disclaimed, applied to a nonalcoholic, maltless sirup for making soft drinks, to* be confusingly similar to “COCA-COLA” (citing our decision in the case of Steinreich v. The Coca-Cola Co., 21 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 722, 67 F. (2d) 498, where “Vera-Coca” for use upon a noncereal, nonalcoholic, maltless beverage, sold as a soft drink, was held to be confusingly similar with “Coca-Cola”), saying, inter alia\

Appellant insists that the word “Cola” is descriptive as used in the marks of the respective parties, and points to the fact that it has disclaimed the exclusive use of the word “Cola” apart from tl^e mark as shown in the drawing.

Upon this point we would observe that if the word “Cola” in appellee’s registered mark is descriptive, so is the word “Coca,” and the effect of appellant’s contention is to challenge the validity of appellee’s registrations upon which it relies. That this may not be done in an opposition proceeding is well established. * * *

As to the foregoing, it may be said that in the instant case there has been no disclaimer as to any part of appellant’s mark, “NON-ETCOLA,” nor has it been suggested that it is descriptive of the goods for use upon which the registration is sought; neither has there been any challenge of the validity of appellee’s mark (which, incidentally, was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Coca-Cola Co. v. Koke Co., 254 U. S. 143), and whatever may have been the view which the Examiner of Interferences intended to state (his decision was prior to our decision in the Corn Products Refining Co. case, supra, we think there is no conflict between our conclusion here reached and that which was reached in the latter case.

The commissioner also cited our decision in- the case of King Kola Mfg. Co. v. Coca-Cola Co., 26 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 704, 99 F. (2d) 983, where the notation “King Kola” applied on a sirup and a nonalcoholic beverage containing such syrup was held to be confusingly similar to “Coca-Cola.”

It will be observed that in each of the last three cases cited the sirup and drinks of the respective parties contesting with the Coca-Cola Co. were nonalcoholc in character and were seemingly directly competitive with Coca-Cola. It can hardly be said that the product of appellant here is competitive with Coca-Cola. The “Cola” element of appellant’s “KONKICOLA” may be larger in volume, but unquestionably the product is purchased primarily because of its alcoholic content. When the marks are compared, each as a whole, they do not impress us as being similar in suggestiveness, appearance, or sound.

The notation “KONKICOLA” was obtained by adding “LA” to appellant’s brand mark “Konrico.” We take it that the notation is suggestive of a mixed drink containing rum (Spanish “Kon”) and •cola sirup or extract, but to our minds it does not even suggest a product such as Coca-Cola is well known to be. That appellant had knowledge of appellee’s mark at the time it adopted its mark is obvious and is conceded, but under the facts here appearing, we find no reason to draw any inference adverse to appellee from that circumstance.

Coca-Cola, by reason of its long and widely extended use, has come to have an almost universally understood meaning. In the case of Coca-Cola Co. v. Koke Co., supra, the court said:

It: [Coca-Cola] means a single thing coming from a single source, and well known to the community. It hardly would be too much to say that the drink characterizes the name as much as the name the drink.

“KONKICOLA,” on the other hand, appears to be a comparatively new product and presumably is not widely known, but to those who purchase it, its characteristics undoubtedly are known and they will become known to those who become purchasers of it in the future, and it is inconceivable to us that it is or ever will be purchased by anyone who wants nothing other than the soft drink universally known as Coca-Cola, or that there is likelihood of confusion either as to the characteristics or origin of the respective goods, or as to the origin of the ingredients composing appellant’s product.

The Coca-Cola Co., of course, has no monopoly upon the production of cola sirup or cola extract, or whatever that particular element which enters into its Coca-Cola product may be. Cola sirup or extract, as is well known, is derived from a product of nature— a species of nut or bean — and is open to the world to produce. We are unable to conclude that by reason of appellee’s mark it can prevent another producer of such sirup or extract from describing his product by use of the word “Cola” so long as the word is used in a manner which does not impinge upon appellee’s mark. The record here discloses that in the beginning appellant used a label on which it was stated that-Coca-Cola was an ingredient of Ronricola, but the use of such label, apparently having been objected to by appellee, was discontinued, and it appears that any cola product may be used.

Appellee urges that there is grave danger of confusion as to origin — that is, that purchasers may conclude that Ronricola is the product of appellee. We are unable to discern any sound reason for such apprehension, in view of the distinctive differences between the goods and the marks, and in view of the widely known character of appellee’s product and business. It has not been suggested that appellee has any purpose or desire of expanding its business so as to include a product similar to that of appellant, nor is there anything in this record to indicate that appellant proposes to produce a product having the actual per se characteristics of Coca-Cola, as was the case in the instances of the “Vera-Cola,” “DEXTRA-COLA,” and “King Kola” marks above recited.

Appellee also has stressed vigorously the contention that it would be damaged by confusion resulting from the purchasing public concluding that the “cola” which enters the “RONRICOLA” drink originated with the Coca-Cola Co. We are of the opinion that there is no more likelihood of confusion arising by reason of the last stated consideration than there would be by reason of the'first.

While we recognize the validity of appellee’s mark and its right to protection thereof, we must also, when a case comes before us for adjudication, recognize that all who are engaged in interstate commerce have rights under the Trade-Mark Registration Act and be governed accordingly in our decisions. So, here, in view of the differences between the goods and the marks, we feel constrained to hold that the registration sought should be allowed.

It is understood by us that a requirement made by the commissioner for the deletion of the word “rum” where it first appears in appellant’s application, “If upon further appeal it be adjudged that applicant is entitled to the registration applied for,” has been or will .be acquiesced in by appellant. We think its deletion proper, and approve the commissioner’s holding in that respect.

For the reasons stated, the decision of the commissioner sustaining the opposition and denying appellant’s right of registration is reversed.