Case Name: ELISHEWITZ v. LEYSER GREEN COMPANY
Court: Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
Decision Date: 1917-12-03
Citations: 47 App. D.C. 193
Docket Number: No. 1117
Parties: ELISHEWITZ v. LEYSER GREEN COMPANY
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
Volume: 47
Pages: 193–194

Head Matter:
ELISHEWITZ v. LEYSER GREEN COMPANY
Trademarks; Descriptive Words.
The word “Leghornette” as applied to hats is descriptive, and is, therefore, not registerable as a trademark.
No. 1117.
Patent Appeals.
Submitted November 13, 1917.
Decided December 3, 1917.
Hearing on an appeal from a decision of the Commissioner of Patents canceling the registration of a trademark.
Affirmed.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. Alan D. Kenyon for the appellant.
There was no appearance entered for the appellee.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Robu
delivered the opinion of the Court:
Appeal from a decision of the Patent Office canceling the registration of the word "Leghornette" as a trademark for hats on the ground that it is descriptive.
The Assistant Commissioner said: "A leghorn hat is a very well and widely known article of commerce, fully described., by the name 'leghorn,' whether it is a woman's hat or a man's hat. * -» * The real leghorn hat is marked 'Genuine Leghorn,' and the sample hat bands filed in the application of Elishewitz are marked 'Genuine Leghornette.' The petitioner for cancelation shows injury by the registration, though injury will be presumed to follow the improper registration of any descriptive word.
"I consider the word 'Leghornette' to be clearly descriptive. The suffix 'ette' is very commonly and widely used to indicate a small edition or else an imitation. I think nobody would hesitate in assuming that a leghornette hat was an imitation leghorn hat."
We agree with the Assistant Commissioner, for in our view "leghornette" clearly would convey to the average purchaser the idea of the character or quality of the hat to which it was affixed, and therefore should not be registered.
The decision is affirmed. Affirmed,.