Court Opinion

ID: 9473020
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:17:17.558623+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:16.723362
License: Public Domain

CLARK, Chief Judge,
dissenting:
I concur in all of Judge Williams’ opinion for the court except that part which permits defendant to continue its use of the name CONAN outside of the city of Austin. Since this court has chosen to frame a proper injunction, we are bound to balance the equities in ordering its terms.
It could be true in some abstract setting that use of the name CONAN becomes innocuous when it is disembodied from THE BARBARIAN and other associated trappings adopted by the plaintiff. I think it is unlikely here. CONAN does not refer to Arthur Conan Doyle or his family. Nor does it refer to Scott Leist or Gerald Strader. It is not descriptive of defendant’s restaurant by style or product.
The majority says that once CONAN has been civilized by isolating it from its creation, it carries none of the good will defendants appropriated from plaintiffs intellectual property. That being so, the name alone can be of no business significance to defendant either. This leaves but two possible effects to its continued use: One, no one will know what CONAN means. Two, those who are familiar with plaintiff’s property will continue to associate CONAN with THE BARBARIAN.
Defendant’s use of CONAN originated in infringement, albeit innocent. As the majority observes, this gives defendant no right to expand that original use and the likelihood of confusion which this jury found it carried. Continued use of CONAN outside of Austin creates a distinct hazard that plaintiff will be injured. That use is of no established benefit to defend*157ants. Balancing the- equities between the parties in framing the injunctive relief granted clearly indicates we should wipe the slate clean outside of Austin.