Opinion ID: 75885
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Identical or Substantially Indistinguishable

Text: 20 Appellant Guerra claims that jury was not presented with evidence that would enable them to determine whether the labels were identical or substantially indistinguishable from the U.S.-registered trademarks for those goods. Specifically, Guerra maintains that: (1) no genuine Cohiba or Romeo y Julieta label, or cigar to which such a label was affixed, was introduced into evidence or shown to the jury; (2) no representative from any of the companies owning the trademarks testified; and (3) the agents who testified were not cigar experts. Guerra Br. at 31. 21 The identical or substantially indistinguishable standard is to be construed more narrowly in a criminal context than in a civil context. The legislative history of Section 2320 indicates that: 22 [A] mark need not be absolutely identical to a genuine mark in order to be considered counterfeit. Such an interpretation would allow counterfeiters to escape liability by modifying the registered trademarks of their honest competitors in trivial ways. However, the sponsors do not intend to treat as counterfeiting what would formerly have been arguable, but not clear-cut, cases of trademark infringement. 23 130 Cong. Rec. at 31,676. The statute does not specify the means by which the Government may establish that the marks were identical or substantially indistinguishable. There is no support for the proposition that in all cases, the trier of fact must determine indistinguishability based on the marks as affixed to the actual goods. Nor is there a requirement that the actual trademark owner testify in a criminal trial, or that the agent who conducted the investigation and seizure of the counterfeit merchandise be qualified as an expert in the particular type of product. In this case, the jury had been shown registered designs of the trademarks for each cigar, as well as various cigar labels or bands produced by authorized licensees. The jury therefore had a valid basis for comparison in determining whether the designs were identical or substantially identical. 24