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1997 Supreme(Bom) 411

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
A.P. Shah B.B. Vagyani, JJ.
Chimanlal Narsaji Suhan ..... Appellant.
Versus
Parasmal Mithalal Parmar another ..... Respondents.
Appeal No. 421 of 1997 From Notice of Motion No. 3263 of 1995 in Suit No. 4333 of 1995,
decided on 5-8-1997.
Advocates appeared :
Virendra Tulzapurkar with Manish Saurastra i/b Shantilal Co., for the appellant.
H.W. Kane, with M.R. Nair, for the respondents.

Headnote:Order XXXIX, Rule1 and 2 Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958, Section 33-Resemblance on trade marks-How to show the difference?-Contention, any educated can differentiate-Held-Differences should be overall-Similar designs may create confusion in public mind-Respondents mark is likely to cause confusion, and deception. There is hardly any convincing evidence to show that the respondents started using the mark in question from 1988. It is true that the respondents have produced affidavits of their customers to the effect that they were purchasing the goods of the respondents under the trade mark Ox Brand and Cow brand. However, the bills and invoices amexed to the affidavits do not describe the goods as Ox Brand or cow Brand. In opinion of court, the appellant has made out a strong prima facie case for grant of temporary injunction.

       Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2 Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, (1958), Sections 33, 29 and 38-Prima facie case for temporary injunction- Trade mark infringement Pictures of Cow and Ox-Similarity deceptive in trade mark-Distinction between mark visible-Confusion in mind of public and similar to trade mark-Contention not tenable, no injunction can be granted.-It is rue that while the picture device used by the respondents consist of an Ox, the device in the appellants trade mark consist of COW. Nevertheless both the devices bear a clear resemblance. Moreover, in comparing marks regard must be had not only to their form as they appear on the Register but also to the appearance they would present in actual user. It is pertinent to note that these marks are embossed on the milk cans manufactured by the parties. The embossed milk cans were produced for court examination. There embossed version on the milk cans looks almost identical. It is, therefore, not possible to agree with the view taken by the learned Judge that the device of cow is not likely to be confused with the device of Ox. one cannot compare two trade marks by putting them side by trying to find out similarities and differences in the two marks. What one has to see is the overall impression which the trade mark gives. Because this is what the members of the public carry in their minds.

       Section 33-See Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2.

       Sections 33, 29 and 38-See Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Order XXXIX, Rule 1 and 2.

JUDGMENT - A.P. SHAH, J.:---This appeal by the original plaintiff is directed against the order dated 18th February, 1997 whereby the learned Single Judge dismissed the plaintiff's notice of motion for interim injunction. The appellant is manufacturer and dealer in buckets, milk cans, containers and sieves and other similar goods. The appellant alleges that he has adopted trade mark and label mark consisting of the words "OM PRABHAT" written in English and device of "COW" in respect of buckets, milk cans and sieves in the year 1972. The trade mark and label are at Exs. A-1 and A-2 to the plaint. The essential features of the trade mark given in Ex. A-1 are the device of cow within two curved lines. Above the said device of cow, the words "OM PRABHAT" are represented along the top curved line and the bottom curved line similarly followed alongwith the word "BOMBAY" so as form the ground or base of the said device. The trade mark Ex. A-2 consist of the words "OM PRABHAT" written with an oval like device and is embossed on the product in addition to the printing on the outer package. On 20th August, 1975 the appellant applied for registration of the trade mark Ex. A-1 under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (hereinafter called "the Act") and the same has been registered under No. 307852 in respect of buckets included in Class 21 for sale in the State of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu on 18th July, 1979. The trade mark OM PRABHAT was registered under the Act as a trade mark No. 351518 in respect of sieves, milk cans and winnowing baskets. According to the appellant, the device of cow is the most essential integral and memorable part of the trade mark registered under No. 307852. The milk dhabbas, milk cans and buckets of the appellant bearing the said label are identified by the members of the public as the COW BRAND products of the appellant alone and of none else in the market. In or about 1990 the appellant added the words "GAI CHAAP" above the upper curved line and commenced describing the said device in Devnagiri script also. The said trade mark is continued to be used till today in respect of buckets including milk cans. According to the appellant the products bearing the aforesaid trade mark of the appellant are very popular. The appellant has annexed to the plaint the sale figures of the appellant's product at Ex. B.

2.The appellant has alleged that in or about 1993 he came across an advertisement in the Trade Mark Journal dated 16th November, 1994 for a label mark sought to be registered by the first respondent in respect of milk cans and buckets in respect of which the appellant's trade mark is already registered. The essential features of the said trade mark sought to be registered was a device of cow enclosed within two curved lines. The words COW BRAND were written under the top curved line and the word BOMBAY was written below the bottom curved line. Since the said trade mark was nothing but a slavish copy of the appellant's trade mark No. 307852, the appellant opposed the registration of the said trade mark by filing a notice of opposition in or about 9th March, 1994. In the reply filed by the respondents to the opposition, it was contended that the first respondent had applied for registration of another trade mark bearing No. 493496 having a device of Ox and has been using both the trade marks. On taking search at the Trade Marks Registry, the appellant found that the said trade mark had been advertised in the Trade Marks Journal No. 1064 dated 1st October, 1993 in respect of milk cans in Class 21. The essential features of the said trade mark sought to be registered was a device of an Ox enclosed in two similar curved lines. The word OX BRAND was written under the top curved line and the word BOMBAY is appearing below the bottom curved line. The trade mark was proposed to be used in respect of milk can. Thereafter the appellant came across another advertiseme



















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