Case ID: app-dc_47/html/0375-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Robb", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

IN RE AMERICAN SUGAR REFINING COMPANY.
    Trademarks ; Descriptive Words.
    The word “Kanelasses” as applied to cane molasses or syrup is not registerable, as tbe law prohibiting the registration of descrix>tive words cannot be avoided by resorting to x>honetic spelling.
    No. 1128.
    Patent Ax>peals.
    Submitted January 15, 1918.
    Decided February 4, 1918.
    
      Hearing on an appeal from a decision of the Commissioner of Patents denying an application for registration of a trademark.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    The facts are stated in the opinion.
    
      Mr. F. L. Fishback and Mr. Edwin 8. Hall for the appellant.
    
      Mr. Theodore A. Hostetler for the Commissioner of Patents.
   Mr. Justice Robb

delivered the opinion of the Court:

Appeal from a decision of the Patent Office denying registration of the word “Kanelasscs” as a trademark for food syrup.

The syrup to which this mark is applied is made from sugar cane. • We think the test is whether the words, “cane molasses,” would be registerable. Obviously they would not, for these words would aptly describe applicant’s product, which is cane molasses or cane syrup. We have1, repeatedly said that the law prohibiting such registrations could not be avoided by merely resorting to phonetic spelling. The mark “Kanelasscs” conveys, and obviously was intended to convey, to the purchasing public definite information as to the character of the product sold under it. Certainly any producer of cane molasses would be entitled to sell it under that name.

It follows, therefore, that the Patent Office properly refused registration to this applicant. The decision is affirmed.

Affirmed.