Shull-Day Co. v. Levy Overall Manufacturing Co.

45 App. D.C. 342, 1916 U.S. App. LEXIS 2694

• Court: Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
• Decided: May 29, 1916
• Docket: No. 1032
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Shepard

delivered the opinion of the Court:

The Levy Overall Manufacturing Company applied for the registration of the trademark “Big 3.” The word “Big” is in large type and the figure “3” in still larger type. Within the figure is a picture of a man in overalls, having an arm extended displaying a placard.

The registration was opposed by the Shull-Day Company, which has a previous registered trademark of “Big 5,” consisting of a figure “5” in large type within the loop of which is a group of five workmen, in the upper bar of the figure are the words “Big Five” in comparatively small type. The mark was registered August 9, 1910.

It appears, also, that prior to this registration the Bice-Styx Company of St. Louis, Missouri, had registered a trademark “Big 4” for overalls.

Experts for the Shull-day Company testified that confusion in trade would likely result from the word “Big,” common to both marks, and the similarity of figures “5” and “3.” Experts on behalf of the Levy Overall Manufacturing Company testified to the contrary.

The Examiner of Interferences thus discussed the evidence of actual confusion.

He said: “There is some evidence in behalf of opposer that samples of overalls that were sent out by applicant to certain merchants were disposed of by substituting them for the Big Five overalls of opposer. It appears, however, that this was not the result of any confusion of marks, and that a garment of aiiy other make or brand could have been as easily substituted. The witness Harding testified that on one occasion when he asked for a pair of Big 5 overalls he was handed out a Big 3, and that he did not notice the difference until he opened the package. He does not say, however, that he saw the mark on the garment when he bought it. Furthermore, it appears that when he did take notice of the mark, he saw that it was not a Big 5. There is no evidence, therefore, of any actual confusion having resulted from the concurrent use of the marks.”

This is an accurate résumé of the evidence as to actual confusion.

The Commissioner was of the opinion' that the Eice-Styx Company registration must be taken as prima facie ownership by that company of the word “Big,” and the numeral “4,” and that the case was thereby within the rule laid down by the Supreme Court in Liggett & M. Tobacco Co. v. Finzer, 128 U. S. 182, 32 L. ed. 395, 9 Sup. Ct. Rep. 60.

See also Nestle & A. S. Condensed Milk Co. v. Walter Baker & Co. 37 App. D. C. 148, in wbicb it was Held that inasmuch as the Walter Baker Company was not the originator of the representation of a woman, it was only entitled to prevail over others that used the particular figure of the woman shown in its trademark.

Under this rule the Shull-Day Company is only entitled to exclusive use of the word “Big” in connection with the particular numeral it has used; namely, the figure “5.”

The decision of the Commissioner is correct, and it is affirmed.

The clerk will certify this decision to the Commissioner of Patents. Affirmed.