Rushton Co. v. F. W. Woolworth Co.

135 F. Supp. 317, 108 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 80, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2578
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedOctober 10, 1955
StatusPublished

This text of 135 F. Supp. 317 (Rushton Co. v. F. W. Woolworth 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
Rushton Co. v. F. W. Woolworth Co., 135 F. Supp. 317, 108 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 80, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2578 (S.D.N.Y. 1955).

Opinion

HERLANDS, District Judge.

This is a motion for a preliminary injunction to restrain the five defendants from allegedly infringing plaintiff's copyrighted chimpanzee doll, known as “Zippy.”

The motion is denied as to Bijou Toys, Inc. and F. W. Woolworth Co. The motion is granted as to Sam Riehman, Dreamland Doll, Inc. and Plastiplate Co. Inc. This disposition of the motion is predicated upon the findings and conclusions set forth in this opinion. Fed. Rules Civ.Proc. Rule 52(a), 28 U.S.C.

The complaint seeks a permanent injunction, an accounting, and related relief. Since the allegations in the complaint parallel those in plaintiff’s motion papers, they will be considered together in determining the merits of plaintiff’s application.

The complaint contains two causes of action under the Copyright Laws, U.S.C., Title 17. Sam Richman, Bijou Toys, Inc. and F. W. Woolworth Co. are named as defendants in the first cause of action. Dreamland Doll, Inc. and Plastiplate Co. Inc. are named as defendants in [319]*319the second cause of action. It is alleged that both causes of action present common issues of law and fact. The defendants are referred to in this opinion as “Richman,” “Bijou,” .“Woolworth,” “Dreamland” and “Plastiplate,” respectively.

Plaintiff’s Charges: In July 1953, plaintiff, Mary Phillips Rushton, conceived the idea of a chimpanzee doll entitled “Zippy.” It was inspired by the live chimpanzee, Zippy, which has appeared on the television program known as “Howdy Doody.” The first sketch was made in September 1953. The first shipment of the complete doll occurred on March 8, 1954. On or about May 10, 1954, plaintiff filed an application of a claim to copyright. Plaintiff received a certificate of registration dated and identified as “May 10, 1954, Class G, No. GP 6320.” Plaintiff has a license to use the name “Zippy” or “Zip” and the title “Howdy Doody” in connection with its toy. She assigned all of her rights to Zippy to plaintiff-partnership, of which she is the sole owner. The individual plaintiff and the plaintiff-partnership will be referred to herein as the “plaintiff.”

Every copy of Zippy has had a notice impressed upon the shoes of the figure reading: “Copyright The Rushton Co.” On the lower tab of the face, under the chin, are the letters and words: “(C) The Rushton Co.”

Since March 8,1954, plaintiff has manufactured, published and marked its Zippy in conformity with the copyright statute. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has adjudged the copyright to be valid. Rushton v. Vitale, 2 Cir., 1955, 218 F.2d 434.

The certificate of registration contains the following description of Zippy:

“A little chimp, exact reproduction of ‘Howdy Doody’s pal ‘Zippy.’ Made of combination of black shaggy rayon plush and vinyl parts. Impish handpainted. vinyl face, hands, ears and shoes. Costumed in bright red velveteen overalls and tee shirt.”

Notwithstanding this somewhat elaborate description, the parties have agreed that, for purposes of this litigation, Zippy’s face is the essential feature that is the subject of the alleged infringement by copying. Plaintiff’s charge of “unfair competition” is identical with the charge of “infringement.” Thus, the factual dispute resolves itself into the question: Have the defendants copied Zippy’s face ?

In the first cause of action, the complaint joins Richman, Bijou and Woolworth as defendants. The charge is made that Richman, subsequent to May 10, 1954, manufactured and sold large quantities of a doll that contained several of the copyrighted component parts of Zippy; that Richman, subsequent to May 10, 1954, sold and distributed the infringing parts and figures to Bijou; that Bijou then incorporated in dolls manufactured by it (and sold under the name “Mambo”) the substantial portions of plaintiff’s copyrighted doll; that Bijou, subsequent to May 10, 1954, sold its Mambo doll in large quantities to Woolworth, who in turn sold large quantities of that toy to the public through its retail stores.

These statements in the complaint— that Richman has supplied Bijou with large quantities of infringing dolls or doll parts — are alleged upon information and belief; and they are repeated in plaintiff’s moving affidavit. Such facts are said by plaintiff to have been “learned” from “investigations” conducted by plaintiff. However, the sources of plaintiff’s information and the basis for her belief are not set forth.

Plaintiff charges that “the essential parts” of Zippy “are identical” with those used in Mambo and with the toy parts manufactured or sold by defendants ; and that there is no difference between Zippy and Mambo, either in shape, dimension or measurement of any facial features. Plaintiff asserts that the offending dolls and parts were made either from molds procured from plaintiff’s mold makers or from new molds constructed with genuine parts of plaintiff’s toy used as a core. Plaintiff further [320]*320claims that some of the characteristic marks, such as mold numbers, were copied from plaintiff’s original figure. In other words, it is charged that defendants “copied” plaintiff’s copyrighted Zippy, and that that fact can be ascertained by mere visual inspection, as well as by the other proof contained in plaintiff’s affidavits.

To support its claims against Bijou and Woolworth, plaintiff has submitted two chimpanzee dolls. One — marked Exhibit “D” — is Zippy, plaintiff’s doll. The other — marked Exhibit “E” — is Mambo, a doll of defendant Bijou. An expert witness (Dr. Bruins), whose affidavit is presented by plaintiff, has examined and measured both Zippy and Mambo. According to this witness, there is an irregularity of the surface at a point under the chin on Mambo; and, at the corresponding point under the chin ■on Zippy, there is a “C.” This witness •claims that there has been an attempt by Bijou to obliterate plaintiff’s marking “(C)” under the chin on the Mambo doll (Exhibit E); and that this is evidence of copying. Furthermore, this witness compares and lists various measurements of facial features on both Zippy and Mambo. For example, the total vertical length of the face as measured from the bottom of the chin to the center top of the forehead is longer in'Mambo (4%2 inches) than in Zippy (32%2 inches). The width of the mouth, measured between the corners of the mouth, is less in Mambo (2%2 inches) ■than in Zip (21%2 inches). However, plaintiff’s expert says that these variations are due to a distortion or stretching ■out of Mambo’s flexible face in a vertical direction, resulting from the method of sewing and stuffing Mambo. Plaintiff’s ■expert cites the following asymmetrical nostril-lip measurements: the measurement from the right nostril to the right ■corner of the lip is longer both in Zippy’s face (11%2 inches) and in Mambo’s face (11%2 inches) than the measurement from the left nostril to the left corner of the lip, both in Zippy’s face (lu/s2 inches) and in Mambo’s face (lx%2 inches). Plaintiff’s witness is of the opinion that Mambo’s face (Exhibit E) was copied from Zippy’s (Exhibit D). He states that such copying .may be done by making a plaster or wax impression of Zippy’s face, then slightly remodeling the impression to alter some details and following this by the use of such altered duplicates in the preparation of molds, from which Mambo’s face would be made.

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

Related

Rushton v. Vitale
218 F.2d 434 (Second Circuit, 1955)
Smith v. Wilkinson
97 F.2d 506 (First Circuit, 1938)
Sheldon v. Moredall Realty Corporation
95 F.2d 48 (Second Circuit, 1938)
Vitaphone Corporation v. Hutchinson Amusement Co.
19 F. Supp. 359 (D. Massachusetts, 1937)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
135 F. Supp. 317, 108 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 80, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2578, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rushton-co-v-f-w-woolworth-co-nysd-1955.