Case ID: f_63/html/1003-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "LACOMBE, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CUERVO v. LANDAUER et al.
    (Circuit Court, S. D. New York.
    September 7, 1894.)
    1. Tradk-Mark—Injunction against Infringement—Innocent Infringer.
    Injunction will not bo refused because defendants bought boxes with infringing labels on them without knowing of the infringement.
    2. Same—.Defenses.
    Injunction will not he refused because defendants have made no sales, where it appears that they bought for the purpose of selling, and would have done so but for complainant's suit.
    3. Same,—Origin of Comfuainant’s Ownership.
    Injunction will not be refused because complainant was not the original designer or owner of the trade-mark, lmt succeeded to the rights of a firm which owned it.
    This was a suit by G. Garcia Cuervo against Julius Landauer and others to enjoin the infringement of a trade-mark in certain cigar-box labels. Heard on motion for preliminary injunction.
    Jones & Govin, for complainant.
    Weed, Henry & Meyers, for defendants.
   LACOMBE, Circuit Judge.

This is an application to enjoin violation of complainant’s trademark in certain labels for cigar boxes. That the alleged infringing labels are imitations of complainant’s is self-evident; upon inspection. In fact, so close is the resemblance that, in the absence of any affidavit by the designer of the labels found in defendants’ possession, it may fairly be assumed that they ■were intentionally devised to simulate the complainant’s labels, and thus confuse the identity of the goods sold under their cover. That defendants did not know that the labels, which they bought, as they aver, from a cigar-box maker, were infringements, is no reason for refusing the relief prayed for. The owner of a trademark is entitled to protection against ignorant as well as against malicious infringers. Nor is the fact that no actual sale is shown material. It is manifest on the papers that defendants bought the boxes thus labeled to sell with their cigars, and that, but for complainant’s appeal to the courts, they would have offered them for sale. Nor is diere any force in the defendants’ contention that complainant is not the original designer and owner of the trademark. The cases cited, viz. Stachelberg v. Ponce, 28 Fed. 430; Medicine Co. v. Wood, 108 U. S. 218, 2 Sup. Ct. 436,—do not apply. In the case at bar, complainant, at the lime of the adoption of the trade-mark, was the manager of the business, and continued in that position undl 1872, when he became a partner in die Arm, and continued as such par bier with the original Manuel Garcia until 1878, when the latter retired from business, leaving complainant as sole proprietor thereof. Why these circumstances should deprive him of the protection of the courts when the trade-mark, which is a part of the assets of the business to which he succeeded, is infringed, it is difficult to perceive. See Fulton v. Sellers, 4 Brewst. 42. Preliminary injunction is continued undl trial.