289 F. 626 | D.C. Cir. | 1923
The United Electric Company made application for the registration of a trade-mark entitled "A Red Band," applied to vacuum cleaners, as shown in the following drawing:
It showed that it had used the mark continuously in its business since 1918. Replogle opposed the registration on the ground that he owned a registered trade-mark which he had applied continuously to vacuum cleaners since its registration in 1912. The certificate of registration describes the mark as “a red ring and the words ‘Red Ring,’ ” which is illustrated as follows:
No testimony was taken by either party, and the matter was submitted on the single proposition by the applicant that the marks, although applied to goods of the same descriptive properties, were so dissimilar that there was no likelihood that, if used, they would produce confusion in the minds of persons desiring to purchase vacuum cleaners. The applicant confines the use of its ring or band to the base of the motor, and counsel claims that this distinguishes it from the mark of the opposer. But we do not think the position in which applicant places its mark is determinativel As s~d by the E~xaminer of Interferences, Replogle by virtue of his registration-
\“is entitled to assert ownership of the words ‘Red Ring’ and the representation of a red ring as applied to vacuum cleaners. The colored band applied to applicant’s. goods might aptly be described as a ‘red ring,’ and it is believed that a purchaser who had been advised to buy a ‘Red Ring’ cleaner, or had seen a reference to a ‘Red Ring’ cleaner, would ordinarily accept applicant’s product bearing the red band or ring as answering the description of ‘Red Ring.’ ”
Replogle caused his mark to be registered in 1912. This was known, or should have been, to the applicant when it adopted its mark • six years later. The field from which applicant could have drawn a
The Commissioner was undoubtedly right in sustaining the opposition, and therefore we affirm his decision.
Affirmed.