Document: 376 U.S. 225 84 S.Ct. 784 11 L.Ed.2d 661 SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO., Petitioner,v.STIFFEL COMPANY. No. 108. Argued Jan. 16, 1964. Decided March 9, Rehearing Denied April 6, See 973, 1131. Will Freeman, Chicago, Ill., for petitioner. Warren C. Horton, respondent. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The question in this case is whether a State's unfair competition law can, consistently with federal patent laws, impose liability or prohibit copying an article which protected by neither nor copyright. respondent, Stiffel Company, secured design and mechanical patents on 'pole lamp'—a vertical tube having lamp fixtures along outside, being made so that it will stand upright between floor ceiling room. Pole lamps proved decided commercial success, soon after brought them market Sears, Roebuck Company put substantially identical lamp, sold more cheaply, Sears' retail price about same as Stiffel's wholesale price. then his action against Sears United States District Court Northern Illinois, claiming its first count had infringed second selling copies caused confusion trade to source thereby engaged under Illinois law. There was evidence identifying tags were not attached although labels appeared cartons they customers, customers asked differed from Sears', two cases who bought complained learning at much lower 2 Court, holding patents, invalid want invention, went find fact 'a exact copy' alike, both appearance functional details, 'that likely, some has already occurred.' On these findings court held guilty competition, enjoined 'from unfairly competing (Stiffel) attempting sell pole confusingly similar to' ordered accounting fix profits damages resulting 'unfair competition.' Appeals affirmed.1 313 F.2d 115. That that, make out law, there no need show been 'palming off' lamps; only prove 'likelihood products'—that articles sufficiently could tell particular one. Impressed 'remarkable sameness appearance' lamps, upheld trial court's likelihood actual confusion, appellate construed mean 'as lamps.' thought enough sustain thus liable doing than marketing unpatented article.2 We granted certiorari consider use compatible 374 826, 83 1868, 10 1050. 3 Before Constitution adopted, either special act general statute,3 but when adopted provision one enumerated powers Congress because, Madison Federalist 43, 'cannot separately effectual provision' copyrights.4 constitutional Art. I, § 8, cl. empowers 'To promote Progress Science useful Arts, securing limited Times Authors Inventors exclusive Right their respective Writings Discoveries.' Pursuant authority, 1790 enacted copyright Stat. 109, ever since time fixed condition upon copyrights shall be granted, see17 U.S.C. §§ 1—216; 35 1—293. These like other laws pursuant consitutional are supreme land. Sperry v. Florida, 373 379, 1322, 428 (1963). When state touches area statutes, 'familiar doctrine' policy 'may set naught, benefits denied' Sola Elec. Co. Jefferson Co., 317 172, 173, 176, 63 87 L.Ed. 165 (1942). This true, course, even if exercise otherwise undoubted power. 4 grant statutory monopoly;5 indeed, England explicit exception statute James I prohibiting monopolies.6 Patents given favors, monopolies Tudor monarchs, see Case Monopolies (Darcy Allein), Co.Rep. 84, b., 77 Eng.Rep. 1260 (K.B.1602), meant encourage invention rewarding inventor right, term years patent, exclude others invention. During period may use, patented product without patentee's authority. 271. But 'rights welfare community must fairly dealt effectually guarded.' Kendall Winsor, 21 How. 322, 328, 16 (1859). To end prerequisites obtaining strictly observed, issued limitations equally enforced. begin with, genuine 'invention' 'discovery' demonstrated 'lest constant demand new appliances heavy hand tribute laid each slight technological advance art.' Cuno Engineering Corp. Automatic Devices Corp., 314 92, 62 37, 41, 86 58 (1941); Great Atlantic Pacific Tea Supermarket Equipment 340 147, 152—153, 71 127, 130, 95 162 (1950); Works Brady, 107 192, 199—200, 225, 230—231, 27 438 (1883). Once issues, construed. Masonite 316 265, 280, 1070, 1078, 1461 (1942), cannot used secure any monopoly beyond contained Morton Salt G. S. Suppiger 488, 492, 402, 405, 363 control over leaves hands sharply limited, Univis Lens 241, 250—252, 1088, 1093—1094, 1408 disregard antitrust International Business Machines States, 298 131, 56 701, 80 1085 (1936); Shoe Machinery 258 451, 463—464, 42 363, 367, 66 708 (1922). Finally, especially relevant here, expires created expires, too, right article—including precisely shape carried patented—passes public. Kellogg National Biscuit 305 111, 120 122, 59 114—115, 73 (1938); Singer Mfg. June 163 169, 185, 1002, 1008, 41 118 (1896). 5 Thus system uniform standards carefully while preserving free competition.7 Obviously State not, Supremacy Clause Constitution,8 extend life expiration date give lacked level required patents. do would run counter granting true inventions, time. Just encroach directly, cannot, such forbidding protection kind clashes objectives laws. 6 In present lamp' entitled patent. An unpatentable article, expired, public domain whoever chooses so. What did copy almost those Stiffel. every originated popular immaterial. 'Sharing goodwill unprotected trade-mark possessed all—and consuming deeply interested.' supra, allow prevent represents too permit block off something said belongs result grants 14 17 years' 154, perpetual lacking novelty merit all standards. great encroachment tolerated. 7 here because finding based copied consequently looked exactly alike. Of course 'confusion' manufactured nearly articles. mere inability apart support injunction award copied. Doubtless may, appropriate circumstances, require goods, unpatented, labeled precautionary steps taken misled source, just protect businesses trademarks, labels, distinctive dress packaging goods others, imitating markings, misleading purchasers goods.9 uncopyrighted, itself copying. Cf. Ricordi Haendler, 194 914, 916 (C.A.2d Cir. 1952). judgment below gave equivalent lamp. error, favor. 8 Reversed. 9 (For concurring HARLAN, U.s. 239, 782.) No review sought ruling affirming Court's invalid. F.2d, nn. 7. At least exhaustive unless defendant shown have 'palmed he sells another seller; '(t)he courts treat doctrine merely designation typical class announce rule itself—the test determined facts constitutes matter . expressed positive, concrete form admit 'broadening' 'widening' proper judicial process.' Stevens-Davis Mather 230 Ill.App. 45, 65—66 (1923). spite opinions Day-Brite Lighting, Inc. Compco Cir., 311 26, rev'd, 375 234, 779, relied previous decisions trade-name case, Independent Nail Packing Stronghold Screw Products, 205 921 (C.A.7th 1953), concluded names overruled subsequent decisions. Those cases, however, discussed names, trade. One prohibited name seller deceive confuse though company products plaintiff sense palmed competitor, competitor. Lady Esther, Ltd., Esther Corset Shoppe, Inc., 46 N.E.2d 165, 148 A.L.R. (1943). mandamus corporation properly denied registration 'deceptively similar' registered. Investors Syndicate America, Hughes, 378 Ill. 413, 38 754 (1941). Appeals, forbids also palming off, appears extended greatly scope limits indicated Seventh Circuit itself. Because our disposition we decide correct Walker, (Deller ed. 1937), (Cooke 1961) 288. Patent rights exist virtue statute. Wheaton Peters, Pet. 591, 658, 1055 (1834). Statute Monopolies, Jac. c. (1623), declared 'contrary Laws Realm' 'utterly void none Effect.' Section VI, excepted 'the Inventor Inventors' 'new Manufacturers' long 'not contrary Law, mischievous State, raising Prices Commodities home, Hurt Trade, generally inconvenient * *.' Much American derives English Pennock Dialogue, 1, 18, 327 (1829). purpose national uniformity can inferred statutes vests jurisdiction hear courts, 28 1338(a), section Copyright Act expressly saves unpublished writings does include published writings, 2. U.S.Const., VI. It seems apparent seen fit sellers label goods. Neither discussions briefs before us cite decision requiring labeling.

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