Williams v. Brooks

50 Conn. 278
CourtSupreme Court of Connecticut
DecidedJune 15, 1882
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 50 Conn. 278 (Williams v. Brooks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. Brooks, 50 Conn. 278 (Colo. 1882).

Opinions

Pardee, J.

The plaintiffs are now, and for ten years last past have been, partners under the name and firm of D. F. Tayler & Co., at Birmingham, England, manufacturing among other articles hair-pins of different sizes and qualities, some of them known as “best double japanned,” “plain” and “curvilinear;” these were gathered into ounce packages, the curvilinear in pink, the plain in yellow paper; these were made into pound packages; these last into pack[280]*280ages ■weighing six, twelve and eighteen pounds, wrapped in brown or drab paper, and in this last form were brought into the United States, where by reason of their superior quality they had a good reputation and ready sale under the name of “Tayler’s Hair-pins,” “Tayler’s Plain Hair-pins,” “Tayler’s Curvilinear Hair-pins,” and “D. F. Tayler & Co.’s Hair-pins.”

The device or trade-mark printed upon the wrapper of each ounce package has been used exclusively by the plaintiffs during the past ten years upon their pins sold in the United States, and has become, and is, in combination with the pink and yellow wrappers, well known to the trade. The device upon each ounce package can be seen only in part when these are gathered into pound packages.

Since 1879 the defendants have manufactured, put up, and sold in the United States, curvilinear and plain hair-pins in ounce packages; the former in pink and the latter in yellow wrappers, upon which there is the printed statement that the hair-pins were manufactured by L. B. Taylor & Co., Cheshire, Connecticut, and the finding is that “ the size and color of the labels and wrappers and the trade-mark or device printed thereon on the ounce packages used by the defendants * * resemble the plaintiffs’ labels, wrappers and devices thereon used on ounce packages * * to such a degree that they are liable to deceive careless and unwary purchasers, who buy such goods hastily and with but little examination; but purchasers who read the entire trademark and label on the defendants’ goods cannot be deceived, nor mistake the defendants’ goods for the plaintiffs’.” The defendants used their label with full knowledge of the plaintiffs’ trade-mark and of the reputation of their hair-pins in the United States.

All manufacturers of hair-pins put them in ounce packages, combining the ounce into pound, and the pound into packages of six or more pounds; and many inclose the ounce packages in pink and yellow paper.

Generally, the defendants sold their hair-pins to jobbers in six pound packages or more, rarely retaining them in ounce [281]*281packages. Nothing in the appearance of the six pound packages would mislead jobbers or wholesale dealers as to the place of manufacture.

The defendants have always sold their pins as of domestic manufacture, and for a less price than that obtained by the plaintiffs; and when their ounce packages are looked at separately, the words “Cheshire, Conn.” plainly appear; but when these are gathered into pound packages the whole of the printed label is not seen.

In 1869 Levi B. Taylor and his father Milo A. Taylor were manufacturing hair-pins in Massachusetts as partners under the name of L. B. Taylor & Co., and inclosing ounce packages in wrappers having printed thereon a label substantially like the one of which the plaintiffs now complain. In that year, upon the death of the father, Levi B. Taylor sold the tools, machinery and stock, together with a quantity of these wrappers, with the right to use the same, to the Connecticut Cutlery Company of Naugatuck in this state, and subsequently became president thereof. In 1875,' when the defendants began to manufacture hair-pins at Cheshire in this state, Levi B. Taylor closed his connection with the Connecticut Cutlery Company, 'and became and still continues to be a traveling salesman for them, his remuneration depending upon the amount of sales effected by him; and it was orally agreed between them that they should have the right to. use the name of “ L. B. Taylor & Co.” upon such hair-pins of full weight as they should manufacture and that he should have the exclusive sale of them. Both parties have observed this contract, and under the authority thus given the defendants placed the name of “ L. B. Taylor & Co.” upon packages of hair-pins; the name being printed in imitation of the signature made by L. B. Taylor.

In 1879, the defendants having manufactured and sold hair-pins inclosed in a wrapper upon which was printed a device and a statement that the pins were manufactured by “ L. B. Taylor & Co.,” and which resembled the one used by the plaintiffs, the latter claimed damages for the injury [282]*282resulting therefrom to their business. A compromise was effected, and as part consideration therefor the defendants signed an agreement thereafter to desist from any infringement of the plaintiffs’ legal or equitable rights in or-to their device within the United States. The committee annexed a copy thereof to his report, marked as exhibit 13.

The device and label complained of were subsequently adopted by the defendants upon the advice of counsel, in good faith, and in the belief that it is not an infringement of the plaintiffs’ rights.

Conceding as a general rule to all persons the privilege of selecting the name under which they will transact business, yet the defendants have no right to destroy or diminish the property of the plaintiffs in the name of “ E>. P. Tayler & Co.” and in the device and vignette with which it is connected, applied to the manufacture and sale of hair-pins, by so printing the name of “ L. B. Taylor & Co.,” not borne by either of them, but purchased solely for use in connection with this particular branch of their business, as part of a device and vignette upon a pink or yellow wrapper inclosing an ounce of hair-pins, as that their entire device shall so closely resemble that of the plaintiffs as to- be liable to deceive careless and unwary purchasers; and this regardless of the fact that the defendants believed their manner of use of the name and vignette to be within the law; for the injury to the plaintiffs remains the same.

In Croft v. Day, 7 Beav., 84, the Master of the Rolls said (p. 89) : My decision does not depend upon any peculiar or exclusive right the plaintiffs have to use the name of “Day & Martin,” but upon the fact of the defendants using their name in connection with certain circumstances, and in a manner calculated to mislead the public, and to enable the defendant to obtain, at the expense of Day’s estate, a benefit for himself, to Avliich he is not in fair ‘and honest dealing entitled. * * He has the right to carry on the business of a blacking manufacturer honestly and fairly; he has the right to the use of his own name. I Avill not do anything to debar him from the use of that or any other name calcu[283]*283lated to benefit himself in an honest way; but I must prevent him from using it in such a way as to deceive and defraud the public.”

In Thorley’s Cattle Food Co. v. Massam, 42 Law Times, (N. S.,) 851, Bramwell, L.

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Bluebook (online)
50 Conn. 278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-brooks-conn-1882.