Deitsch Bros. v. Loonen
Deitsch Bros. v. Loonen
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court:
The testimony is ample to show that Loonen used the red cross symbol upon his tooth brushes first in the year 1899. It was conspicuously branded thereon. Quantities of those brushes were shipped to his selling agent in the city of New York, and by said agent and his salesmen sold to the trade in several States of the Union. That Loonen was the manufacturer, and that this was his trademark, was well known to the trade. As Deitsch Brothers did not allege use of the mark until 1902, Loonen has clearly established his prior right. Upon evidence submitted by the same parties in the infringement suit' heretofore referred to as pending, and which has since been decided, the learned district judge came to the same conclusion. Loonen v. Deitsch, 189 Eed. 487.
This conclusion renders it unnecessary to consider the effect of the former decision as a bar to the second application. In passing it by, we are not to be understood as intimating any opinion upon the question involved. As the evidence undoubtedly shows the prior use of the trademark by Loonen, we prefer to rest our decision upon that conclusion.
The question of the fraudulent or improper use of the trademark is satisfactorily discussed and settled in the opinion of Judge Hand in the case before referred to, and we see no occasion to add anything thereto. It hardly lies in the mouth of the applicants to urge as fraudulent and improper the same
The next contention of the appellants is that, as Loonen registered his trademark in Nrance in 18.99, and did not apply for registration in the United States within four months thereafter, he is not entitled to the benefit of the registration act of 1905. The registration was had under sec. 2 of that act, which permits registration of a trademark by one who resides in a foreign country if he makes a statement that he has registered his mark in the foreign country, or applied for registration therein. There is no limitation as to the time of this prior registration or application. Sec. 4 is an independent provision relating to the effect of applications in foreign countries which extend the same effect to applications and registrations by our citizens. If such privilege be extended by them to citizens of the United States, such an application shall be accorded the same force and effect as would be accorded to the same application if filed in this country on the date on which it was first filed in such foreign country; provided that such application is filed in this country within four months from the date on which the application was first filed in such foreign country; and provided also that the certificate of registration shall not be issued until registration has been made in the country in which the applicant is located.
We agree with the Commissioner, that “the act does not make it compulsory for a foreign applicant to file his application
The decision is right and will be affirmed. It is so ordered, and the Clerk will certify this decision to the Commissioner of Patents. Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DEITSCH BROTHERS v. LOONEN
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Trademarks; Registration; Cancelation; Public Policy. 1. An applicant will not be permitted to urge as fraudulent and improper the same trademark use on which he founds his claim to cancelation. 2. The use of the red cross symbol as a trademark, beginning prior to the year 1905, is not against public policy, in view of the proviso in the registration act of 1905 declaring the use of such marks permissible if they antedated that year. 3. The failure of a foreign applicant for a trademark to file his application in the United States within four months after the application in the country in which he is located does not exclude him from the benefit of the registration act of 1905, but merely deprives him of the benefit of the date of the foreign application.