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.
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