Aluminum Cooking Utensil Co. v. National Aluminum Works, 226 F. 815

Aluminum Cooking Utensil Co. v. National Aluminum Works

226 F. 815 | W.D.N.Y. | 1915

HAZEL, District Judge.

This action in'equity was brought for unfair competition in trade and to restrain the defendant, the National Aluminum Works, from using complainant’s trade-mark, adopted in 1903 and registered in August, 1905, consisting of the arbitrary word “Wearever,” comnlonly used in the hyphenated form “Wear-Ever,” and applied to the manufacture and sale of cooking utensils made of aluminum; and particularly to restrain the defendant from applying the trade-mark “Everlasting,” or “Everlasting Ware,” to the latter’s aluminum cooking utensils.

The first question is whether complainant’s trade-mark is descriptive of the character, ingredients, or quality of the product to- which it is applied, for, if so, its exclusive appropriation by complainant is not .permissible.

[1, 2] The Compiled Statutes (title 60, chapter 2, section 9490) prohibit the registration of a trade-mark consisting of words or devices which are descriptive of the grade or quality of the articles upon which they are used. But, according to the adjudications, a word or mark, even though descriptive of the character and quality of the goods, which has not been previously used in connection with like goods, may nevertheless, be entitled to protection, provided it has acquired a secondary meaning indicating 'origin and ownership of the articles to which it is applied; and if it is appropriated or closely imitated by another in connection with like goods, a presumption arises therefrom of an intention on his part- to deceive the public. United Lace & Braid Mfg. Co. v. Barthels’ Mfg. Co., 221 Fed. 456.

In support' of complainant’s contention that its trade-mark “Wear-ever” is valid, and not merely descriptive, Holeproof Hosiery Co. v. Wallach Bros., 172 Fed. 859, 97 C. C. A. 263, decided by the Circuit Court of Appeals for this circuit, is principally relied upon. There is manifest similarity between the two cases. “Holeproof,” as applied to hosiery, was considered to have acquired a secondary meaning by reason of extensive advertising and large sales during many years, a meaning indicating the manufacturer, and not that the hosiery was indestructible, and was therefore held to be nondescriptive. In N. Y. Mackintosh v. Flam, 198 Fed. 571, Judge Holt considered a similar contention, namely, that the arbitrary word “Bestyette,” as applied to waterproof capes, was invalid, in that it was descriptive; and he held that, while it was descriptively suggestive, it was nevertheless valid because of its peculiar spelling and the impression produced thereby, but was not infringed by the word “Veribest,” applied to a similar garment. So in the present case the word “Wearever,” or its hyphenated form, although expressive of durability, is also distinctive and entitled to protection from imitation by others dealing in a similar commodity.

I do not, however, think that defendant’s trade-mark “Everlasting” infringes the trade-mark “Wearever,” for, although it also suggests -.durability, it. does not so closely resemble the word “Wearever” in appearance and sound, when applied to cooking utensils, as to deceive an intending purchaser into believing that he is buying complainant’s *817goods when buying defendant’s, notwithstanding that the purchaser might perhaps be misled by the similarity in the shape of the utensils, and so does not warrant disposing of the action on that ground. In reaching this conclusion I was influenced by the decision in the “Best-jette” Case, wherein the word “Veribest,” which expresses the same idea as “Beslyette,” was held not to infringe. In Elliott Varnish Co. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 221 Fed. 797, Judge Sanborn, however, held that the words “Roof Reak,” as applied to roof paint, constituted a valid trade-mark, and were infringed by the words “Never beak,” used in connection with the same commodity. But I prefer to decide the case on the unfair competition claim, with regard to which I am of a different opinion.

[3] Defendant’s trade-mark “Everlasting” is used by it in connection with the word: “Ware,” and in this form simulates the trade-mark “Wearever,” or “Everwear,” as the proofs show it was sometimes called, and tends to deceive buyers into buying defendant’s ware. I have no doubt that it also creates confusion, which the use of the eagle and shield, together with the stamping of the corporate name on the ware, does not obviate. The defendant’s ware is inferior in workmanship and of a lighter and cheaper grade than complainant’s, and, in view of the reputation built up by the latter for producing a strong and durable grade of ware, the attempt by the defendant to palm off on the public its cheaper and lighter goods by so close an imitation of the complainant’s registered trade-mark as the use of the word “Everlasting” in connection with the word “Ware” conspicuously displayed thereon, is injurious to the complainant and unlawful. Seriven et al. v. North et al., 134 Fed. 366, 67 C. C. A. 348.

[4 ] The defendant urges, however, that the action must nevertheless be dismissed, as it has not been shown that any one was actually deceived. There is no evidence, it is true, that the defendant or its dealers have actually palmed off its wares for those of the complainant (although there was evidence of untruthful statements and unfair comparisons by dealers in connection therewith); but I think the similarity in dress, due primarily to the fact that the words “Everlasting Ware” closely resemble the words “Wearever” and “Everwear,” gives rise to the inference that the defendant intended to have its goods accepted by the buying public for complainant’s. If the defendant had distinguished its products by the use of simply the word “Easting,” or some other word, omitting the words “Ever” and “Wear,” there would ■have been no unlawful imitation on its part of complainant’s goods; but, assuming that there was no actual intention on the part of the defendant to deceive the public, it has, as the evidence shows, placed in the hands of dealers a means for misrepresentation as to the quality of its goods, and therefore I think the case falls within the decision of Notaseme Hosiery Co. v. Straus et al., 201 Fed. 99, 119 C. C. A. 134, wherein the Circuit Court of Appeals for this circuit held that in a suit for unfair competition it is unnecessary to show actual deception ; that it is sufficient if the proofs show that the actual and probable result of the use of defendant’s label will be to deceive the ordinary purchaser making purchases in the ordinary way.

*818There has been no undue delay, as contended, in bringing this action, nor such acquiescence by the complainant as to bar an injunction.

A decree, with costs, in accordance with this opinion may be entered.