Court Opinion

ID: 9444527
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:04:03.329887+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:54.553217
License: Public Domain

O’CONNELL, Judge
(dissenting).
Thé concurrent decisions rendered by the office of the Commissioner of Patents sustaining Gold Medal’s opposition to appellee’s registration of the word “Turks” should be affirmed for the. reasons stated in the decision of the Examiner-in-Chief, 98 U.S.P.Q. 232.
Appellant has successfully relied upon certain weaknesses in appellee’s mark which should not have been considered here. There is no escape from the acknowledged fact that appellee’s mark and labels predominantly and pictorially emphasize a group of “Turks” illustrated in Turkish costume. Upward of 50 million bars of appellee’s goods bearing such mark and label have been placed into the hands of customers, mostly children. Accordingly “Turks” is the concept most likely to be remembered as a lasting impression in the mind of the purchasing public with respect to the candy bars in issue.
Thus, in Coca-Cola Co. v. Koke Co., 254 U.S. 143, 145, 41 S.Ct. 113, 65 L.Ed. 189, the Supreme Court enjoined the defendant from appropriation of the word “Koke” by a newcomer because the public had often bought the plaintiff’s soft drink by the abbreviated name or nickname of “Koke” or “Coke,” even though the trade-mark on plaintiff’s label was “Coca-Cola.” Justice Holmes pointed out that any weakness in Coca-Cola’s mark was no ground upon which its appropriation in abbreviated form by a newcomer may be justified to the detriment not only of the original trade-mark owner but also the public interest. That owner, under such circumstances, is entitled to relief not only by way of injunction but also damages for infringement. Coca-Cola Co. v. Koke Co., supra; Mishawaka Rubber & Woolen Mfg. Co. v. S. S. Kresge Co., 316 U.S. 203, 62 S.Ct. 1022, 86 L.Ed. 1381; John Morrell & Co. v. Doyle, 7 Cir., 97 F.2d 232.
On the same basis this court recently held that the applicant’s mark “Palm Wave,” enhanced by the illustration of the ocean waves therebelow, was confusingly similar to “Ocean Wave,” owned and in use by another on identical goods. In re Goodall-Sanford, Inc., 195 F.2d 542, 39 C.C.P.A., Patents, 908.
.1 am authorized to state that GARRETT, Chief Judge, concurs in this dissent- ..