Case Name: BOOTH FISHERIES CO. v. ADAMS & SONS GROCER CO.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1926-02-01
Citations: 10 F.2d 1007
Docket Number: No. 1793
Parties: BOOTH FISHERIES CO. v. ADAMS & SONS GROCER CO.
Judges: Before MARTIN, Chief Justice, ROBB, Associate-Justice, and BLAND, Judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 10
Pages: 1007–1008

Head Matter:
BOOTH FISHERIES CO. v. ADAMS & SONS GROCER CO.
(Court of Appeals of District of Columbia.
Submitted January 11, 1926.
Decided February 1, 1926.)
No. 1793.
W. N. Cromwell and L. T. Greist, both of Chicago, Ill., for appellant.
R. R. Rommel, of Washington, D. C., for appellee.
Before MARTIN, Chief Justice, ROBB, Associate-Justice, and BLAND, Judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals.

Opinion:
ROBB, Associate Justice.
Appeal from a decision of the Patent Office in a trademark opposition proceeding, dismissing appellant's opposition to the registration by the appellee of the mark "Diamond A," associated with the representation of a diamond inclosing a large capital "A."
In its notice of opposition, appellant alleged that its -trade-mark was a diamond-shaped figure and the word "Diamond." In the answer filed by appellee, it was alleged that appellant's mark was not "Diamond," but "Black Diamond," "as shown in the registration No. 16,989, dated September 3, 1899." The evidence fully supported -this averment of the answer. . The Examiner of i Interferences found that the mark used by appellant- "is the notation 'Black Diamond,' " and the decision of the Assistant Commissioner was to the same effect.
There is no dispute that the goods of the. respective parties are of the same descriptive -properties. It appears that the Patent Office, both before and after adopttioii'of the mark "Black Diamond" by appellant, registered the word "Diamond" in vary-' ing forms to many different parties, and to several for use upon goods of the' same descriptive properties as those of appellant. Appellant, therefore, was not the originator of the. diamond as a trade-mark for canned-food products, and is not entitled to the exclusive use of that word or representation. Alaska Packers' Ass'n v. Admiralty Trading Co., 43 App. D. C. 198; Alaska Packers' Ass'n v. Getz Bros. & Co., 49 App. D. C. 55, 258 F. 527. See, also, Am. Steel Foundries v. Robertson et al., 46 S. Ct. 160, 70 L. Ed. —, decided in the Supreme Court of the United States January 4, 1926. On this point the Assistant Commissioner said:
"It s,eems to be fairly justifiable to hold that a diamond shape had been used to a considerable degree, upon goods of this same general class before the opposer entered the field. Each of those who followed the first user of a diamond shape is only entitled to such distinctive features as he adds to his figure."
A different conclusion would result in the granting to appellant of a monopoly in-the use of the word "Diamond" and representation of it, to which appellant is not entitled. We agree with the Patent Office that the difference between the two marks is such as to entitle appellee to the registration of its mark.
Appellant, in making up the record, failed to incorporate the registration to which reference has been made, and. this matter was brought into the record by certiorari, at the instance of appellee. The costs involved in this insertion should be borne by appellant.
The decision is affirmed.
Affirmed.