Lim Hoa vs Director of Patents

G.R. 8072 October 31, 195

Ponente! "#stice $ontema%or
&acts!
Lim Hoa fi'e( an a))'ication for re*istration of a tra(emar+ s,o-in* t-o mi(*et roosters
in an attit#(e of combat -it, t,e -or( ./antam0 )rinte( above t,em for a foo( seasonin*
)ro(#ct. 1*ricom Deve'o)ment 2o., 3nc., o))ose( t,e a))'ication on t,e *ro#n(, t,at t,e
tra(emar+ so#*,t to be re*istere( -as conf#sin*'% simi'ar to its re*ister mar+, consistin* of a
)ictoria' re)resentation of a ,en -it, t,e -or(s .Hen /ran(0 an( .$arca $ano+0, -,ic, mar+
or bran( -as a'so #se( on a foo( seasonin* )ro(#ct, before t,e #se of t,e tra(emar+ b% t,e
a))'icant.
3ss#e!
3s t,ere an infrin*ement of tra(emar+4
He'(!
5es. 6,e co#rt r#'e( t,at t,e tra(emar+s are simi'ar to eac, ot,er -,ic, -o#'( 'i+e'%
create conf#sion to t,e or(inar% b#%er. 1't,o#*, t,e ,en an( t,e rooster are of (ifferent se7es,
t,e% sti'' be'on* to t,e same s)ecie -,ic, is t,e .mano+0. 6o t,e or(inar% b#%er, it ma% not 'oo+
an% (ifferent. 6,e simi'arit% ma% com)e' a )erson to b#% one )ro(#ct t,in+in* t,at it is t,e ot,er.
$oreover, -it, a'' t,e anima's in t,e 'an(, ocean an( air, t,e co#rt co#'( not ),antom -,% t,e
)'aintiff c,ose t-o roosters facin* eac, ot,er +no-in* t,at a simi'ar tra(emar+ is #se( b%
anot,er estab'is,ment )ro(#cin* t,e same )ro(#ct.
$arve8 2ommercia' 2o., 3nc., vs Petra Ha-)ia an( 2o.
18 92R1 1178 December 22, 19
Ponente! "#stice 2astro
&acts!
Res)on(ent so#*,t to re*ister t,e tra(ename .L3O:P190 for its bran( of me(icate(
)'aster. Petitioner fi'e( an o))osition ar*#in* t,at .L3O:P190 resemb'es its tra(ename
.91LO:P190 for anot,er me(icate( )'aster. 6,e Director of Patent,,o-ever, (enie( t,e
o))osition.
3ss#e!
3s t,e tra(emar+ .L3O:P190 conf#sin*'% simi'ar -it, .91LO:P1904
He'(!
5es. .91LO:P190 an( .L3O:P190 are conf#sin*'% simi'ar in so#n(. /ot, ,ave t,e
s#ffi7 .P190 an( -,en t,e t-o )ro(#cts are a(vertise( in t,e ra(io, simi'arit% in so#n( is of
*reat si*nificance. 9imi'arit% of so#n( is s#fficient to r#'e t,at t,e t-o mar+s are conf#sin*'%
simi'ar -,en a))'ie( to merc,an(ise of t,e same (escri)tive )ro)erties.
9ta. 1na vs $a'i-at
G.R. :o. L;23023 1#*#st 31, 198
Ponente! "#stice Re%es
&acts!
On 21 "#ne 192, &'orentino $a'i-at fi'e( -it, t,e Patent Office an a))'ication for
re*istration of t,e tra(emar+ &LOR$1::, -,ic, is #se( on s,irts, )ants, <ac+ets an( s,oes for
'a(ies, men, an( c,i'(ren. On 18 9e)tember 192, "ose P. 9ta. 1na fi'e( an a))'ication for t,e
re*istration of t,e tra(ename &LOR$=: 9HO= $1:>&126>R=R9 ?9HO=
$1:>&126>R=R9 (isc'aime(@, -,ic, is #se( in t,e b#siness of man#fact#rin* 'a(iesA an(
c,i'(renAs s,oes. 3n vie- of t,e a(mitte('% conf#sin* simi'arit% bet-een t,e tra(emar+
&LOR$1:: an( t,e tra(ename &LOR$=:, t,e Director of Patents (ec'are( an interference.
1fter tria', t,e res)on(ent Director *ave (#e co#rse to $a'i-atAs a))'ication an( (enie( t,at of
9ta. 1na.
3ss#e!
3s t,e tra(emar+ conf#sin*'% simi'ar4
He'(!
$o(ern 'a- reco*ni8es t,at t,e )rotection to -,ic, t,e o-ner of a tra(emar+ mar+ is
entit'e( is not 'imite( to *#ar(in* ,is *oo(s or b#siness from act#a' mar+et com)etition -it,
i(entica' or simi'ar )ro(#cts of t,e )arties, b#t e7ten(s to a'' cases in -,ic, t,e #se b% a <#nior
a))ro)riator of a tra(emar+ or tra(ename is 'i+e'% to 'ea( to a conf#sion of so#rce, as -,ere
)ros)ective )#rc,asers -o#'( be mis'e( into t,in+in* t,at t,e com)'ainin* )art% ,as e7ten(e(
,is b#siness into t,e fie'(. $ere (issimi'arit% of *oo(s s,o#'( not )rec'#(e re'ief -,ere t,e
<#nior #serAs *oo(s are not too (ifferent or remote from an% t,at t,e o-ner -o#'( be 'i+e'% to
ma+e or se''B an( in t,e )resent case, -earin* a))are' is not so far remove( from s,oes as to
)rec'#(e re'ief, an% more t,an t,e )anca+e f'o#r is from s%r#) or s#*ar cream. :ote t,at t,e
)rovision (oes not reC#ire t,at t,e artic'es of man#fact#re of t,e )revio#s #ser an( t,e 'ate #ser
of t,e mar+ s,o#'( )ossess t,e same (escri)tive )ro)erties or s,o#'( fa'' into t,e same cate*ories
as to bar t,e 'atter from re*isterin* ,is mar+ in t,e )rinci)a' re*ister. 6,erefore, -,et,er or not
s,irts an( s,oes ,ave t,e same (escri)tive )ro)erties, or -,et,er or not it is t,e )revai'in*
)ractice or t,e ten(enc% of tai'ors an( ,aber(as,ers to e7)an( t,eir b#siness into s,oes ma+in*,
are not contro''in*. 6,e meat of t,e matter is t,e 'i+e'i,oo( of conf#sion, mista+e or (ece)tion
#)on )#rc,asers of t,e *oo(s of t,e <#nior #ser of t,e mar+ an( t,e *oo(s man#fact#re( b% t,e
)revio#s #ser. Here, t,e resemb'ance or simi'arit% of t,e mar+ &LOR$1:: an( t,e name
&LOR$=: an( t,e 'i+e'i,oo( of conf#sion, one to t,e ot,er, is a(mitte(B t,erefore, t,e )rior
a(o)ter, res)on(ent $a'i-at, ,as t,e better ri*,t to t,e #se of t,e mar+.
1co<e $inin* 2o., 3nc., vs Director of Patents
39 92R1 D80 1)ri' 29, 1971
Ponente! "#stice &ernan(o
&acts!
6,e facts as set fort, in t,e a))ea'e( (ecision fo''o-! EOn 9e)tember 1D, 195, 1co<e
$inin* 2o., 3nc. a (omestic cor)oration, fi'e( an a))'ication for re*istration of t,e tra(emar+
LO6>9, #se( on 9o% 9a#ce, 2'ass D7. >se in commerce in t,e P,i'i))ines since "#ne 1, 195 is
asserte(. 6,e 2,ief tra(emar+ =7aminer fina''% re<ecte( t,e a))'ication b% reason of conf#sin*
simi'arit% -it, t,e tra(emar+ LO6>9 re*istere( in t,is Office #n(er 2ertificate of Re*istration
:o. 12D7 iss#e( in favor of P,i'i))ine Refinin* 2O., 3nc., anot,er (omestic cor)oration. 6,e
cite( mar+ is bein* #se( on e(ib'e oi', 2'ass D7.E
3ss#e!
$a% )etitioner 1co<e $inin* 2om)an% re*ister for t,e )#r)ose of a(vertisin* its )ro(#ct,
so% sa#ce, t,e tra(emar+ LO6>9, t,ere bein* a'rea(% in e7istence one s#c, re*istere( in favor of
t,e P,i'i))ine Refinin* 2om)an% for its )ro(#ct, e(ib'e oi', it bein* f#rt,er s,o-n t,at t,e
tra(emar+ a))'ie( for is in sma''er t%)e, co'ore( (ifferent'%, set on a bac+*ro#n( -,ic, is
(issimi'ar as to %ie'( a (istinct a))earance4
He'(!
t,e (eterminative factor in a contest invo'vin* re*istration of tra(e mar+ is not -,et,er
t,e c,a''en*in* mar+ -o#'( act#a''% ca#se conf#sion or (ece)tion of t,e )#rc,asers b#t -,et,er
t,e #se of s#c, mar+ -o#'( 'i+e'% ca#se conf#sion or mista+e on t,e )art of t,e b#%in* )#b'ic. 3n
s,ort, to constit#te an infrin*ement of an e7istin* tra(e;mar+ )atent an( -arrant a (enia' of an
a))'ication for re*istration, t,e 'a- (oes not reC#ire t,at t,e com)etin* tra(emar+s m#st be so
i(entica' as to )ro(#ce act#a' error or mista+eB it -o#'( be s#fficient, for )#r)oses of t,e 'a-, t,at
t,e simi'arit% bet-een t,e t-o 'abe's, is s#c, t,at t,ere is a )ossibi'it% or 'i+e'i,oo( of t,e
)#rc,aser of t,e o'(er bran( mista+in* t,e ne-er bran( for it.E
3t (oes not (ef% common sense to assert t,at a )#rc,aser -o#'( be co*ni8ant of t,e
)ro(#ct ,e is b#%in*. 6,ere is C#ite (ifference bet-een so% sa#ce an( e(ib'e oi'. 3f one is in t,e
mar+et for t,e former, ,e is not 'i+e'% to )#rc,ase t,e 'atter <#st beca#se of t,e tra(emar+
LO6>9. =ven on t,e rare occasions t,at a mista+e (oes occ#r, it can easi'% be rectifie(.
$oreover, t,ere is no (en%in* t,at t,e )ossibi'it% of conf#sion is remote consi(erin* t,e
(ifference in t,e t%)e #se(, t,e co'orin*, t,e )etitionerAs tra(emar+ bein* in %e''o- an( re( -,i'e
t,at of t,e P,i'i))ine Refinin* 2om)an% bein* in *reen an( %e''o-, an( t,e m#c, sma''er si8e of
)etitionerAs tra(emar+. F,en re*ar( is ,a( for t,e )rinci)'e t,at t,e t-o tra(emar+s in t,eir
entiret% as t,e% a))ear in t,eir res)ective 'abe's s,o#'( be consi(ere( in re'ation to t,e *oo(s
a(vertise( before re*istration co#'( be (enie(, t,e conc'#sion is inesca)ab'e t,at res)on(ent
Director o#*,t to ,ave reac,e( a (ifferent conc'#sion. Petitioner ,as s#ccessf#''% ma(e o#t a
case for re*istration.
=sso 9tan(ar( vs 2o#rt of 1))ea's
11 92R1 33 1#*#st 31, 1982
Ponente! "#stice 6ee,an+ee
=sso 9tan(ar( v 21 Di*est
G.R. :o. L;29971
&acts!
6,e )etitioner =sso 9tan(ar( is a forei*n cor)oration (#'% 'icense( to (o b#siness in t,e
),i'i))ines. it is en*a*e( in t,e sa'e of )etro'e#m )ro(#cts -,ic, are i(entifie( b% t,e tra(emar'
A=ssoA. =sso is a s#ccessor of 9tan(ar( Gac##m Oi' 2o, it re*istere( as a b#siness name -it, t,e
/#rea# of 2ommerce in 192. >nite( 2i*arette is a (omestic cor)oration en*a*e( in t,e
man#fact#re an( sa'e of ci*arettes. it acC#ire( t,e b#siness from La Orienta' 6obacco 2or)
inc'#(in* )atent ri*,ts, once of -,ic, is t,e #se of A=ssoA on its ci*arettes.
6,e )etitioner fi'e( a tra(emar+ infrin*ement case a''e*in* t,at it acC#ire( *oo(-i'' to
s#c, an e7tent t,at t,e b#%in* )#b'ic -o#'( be (eceive( as ti t,e C#a'it% an( ori*in of t,e sai(
)ro(#cts to t,e (etriment an( (isa(vanta*e of its o-n )ro(#cts. 6,e 'o-er co#rt fo#n( >nite(
2i*arette *#i't% of infrin*ement. >)on a))ea', t,e 2o#rt of 1))ea's r#'e( t,at t,ere -as no
infrin*ment in t,is case.
3ss#e!
3s t,ere infrin*ement committe(4
He'(!
:O:=. 3nfrin*ement is (efine( b% 'a- as t,e #se -it,o#t t,e consent of t,e tra(emar+
o-ner of an% re)ro(#ction, co#nterfeit, co)% or co'orab'e imitation of an% re*istere( mar+ or
tra(ename -,ic, -o#'( 'i+e'% ca#se conf#sion or mista+e or (eceive )#rc,asers or ot,ers as to
t,e so#rce or ori*in of s#c, *oo(s.
6,e )ro(#cts of bot, )arties ?Petro'e#m an( ci*arettes@ are non;com)etin*. /#t as to -,et,er
tra(emar+ infrin*ement e7ists (e)en( on -,et,er or not t,e *oo(s are so re'ate( t,at t,e )#b'ic
ma% be or is act#a''% (eceive( an( mis'e( t,at t,e% come from t,e same ma+er. >n(er t,e
Re'ate( Goo(s 6,eor%, *oo(s are re'ate( -,en t,e% be'on* to t,e same c'ass or ,ave t,e same
(escri)tive )ro)erties or -,en t,e% ,ave same ),%sica' attrib#tes. 3n t,ese case, t,e *oo(s are
abso'#te'% (ifferent an( are so forei*n from eac, ot,er it -o#'( be #n'i+e'% for )#rc,asers to
t,in+ t,at t,e% came from t,e same so#rce. $oreover, t,e *oo(s f'o- from (ifferent c,anne's of
tra(e an( are evi(ent'% (ifferent in +in( an( nat#re.
&re(co v. Harvar( >niversit%
G.R. :o. 185917 "#ne 1, 2011
Ponente! "#stice 2ar)io
&acts!
3n 2005, &re(co $an#fact#rin* 2or)oration fi'e( a )etition for cance''ation before
t,e/#rea# of Le*a' 1ffairs of t,e P,i'i))ine 3nte''ect#a' Pro)ert% Office a*ainst t,e Presi(ent
an( &e''o-s of Harvar( 2o''e*e for t,e re*istration of its mar+ .Harvar( Geritas 9,ie'( 9%mbo'0
#n(er t,e 2'asses 1, 18, 21, 25 an( 28 of t,e :ice 3nternationa' 2'assification of Goo(s an
9ervices a''e*in* t,at its )re(ecessor;in;interest, :e- 5or+ Garments $an#fact#rin* H =7)ort
2o., 3nc., ,as been a'rea(% #sin* t,e mar+ .Harvar(0 since 1985 -,en it re*istere( t,e same
mar+ #n(er 2'ass 25 of t,e :ice 2'assification. 6,#s, Harvar( >niversit% is not a )rior #ser of
t,e mar+ in t,e P,i'i))ines an(, t,erefore, ,as no ri*,t to re*ister t,e mar+.
On t,e ot,er ,an(, Harvar( >niversit% c'aime( t,at t,e mar+ .Harvar(0 ,as been a(o)te(
b% Harvar( >niversit% in 2ambri(*e, $assac,#setts, >91 since 139.&#rt,ermore, it a''e*es
t,at t,e name an( mar+ .Harvar(0 an( .Harvar( Geritas 9,ie'( 9%mbo'0 is re*istere( in more
t,an 50 co#ntries, inc'#(in* t,e P,i'i))ines, an( ,as been #se( in commerce since 1872. 3n fact,
t,e name an( mar+ is rate( as one of t,e to) bran(s of t,e -or'(, bein* -ort, bet-een I750$
an( I1/.Decision of /L1;3PO 6,e /#rea# of Le*a' 1ffairs, 3PO r#'e( in favo#r of &re(co
or(erin* t,e cance''ation of Harvar( >niversit%Js mar+ #n(er 2'ass 25 on'% beca#se t,e ot,er
c'asses -ere not conf#sin*'% simi'ar -it, res)ect to t,e *oo(s an( services of &re(co. Decision
of ODG;3PO Harvar( >niversit% a))ea'e( before t,e Office of t,e Director Genera' of 3PO
-,erein ODG;3PO reverse( t,e (ecision of /L1;3PO. 6,e Director Genera' r#'e( t,at t,e
a))'icant m#st a'so be t,e o-ner of t,e mar+ so#*,t to be re*istere( asi(e from t,e #se of it.
6,#s, &re(co is not t,e o-ner of t,e mar+ beca#se it fai'e( to e7)'ain ,o- its )re(ecessor *ot t,e
mar+ .Harvar(0. 6,ere -as a'so no evi(ence of t,e )ermission of Harvar( >niversit% for &re(co
to #se t,e mar+. Decision of t,e 2o#rt of 1))ea's &re(co a))ea'e( t,e (ecision of t,e Director
Genera' before t,e 2o#rt of 1))ea's, -,ic, t,en affirme( t,e (ecision of ODG;3PO consi(erin*
t,e facts fo#n( b% t,e Director Genera'. 21 r#'e( t,at Harvar( >niversit% ,a( been #sin* t,e
mar+s -a% before &re(co an( t,e )etitioners fai'e( to e7)'ain its #se of t,e mar+s bearin* t,e
-or(s .Harvar(0, .>910, =stab'is,e( 1930 an( .2ambri(*e, $assac,#setts0 -it,in an ob'on*
(evice.

3ss#e!
FK: 21 erre( in affirmin* t,e (ecision of ODG;3PO
He'(!
6,e Petition ,as no merit. 1't,o#*, R.1. 1 9ection 2 states t,at before a mar+ can be
re*istere(, it m#st ,ave been act#a''% #se( in commerce for not 'ess t,an t-o mont,s in t,e
P,i'i))ines )rior to fi'in* an a))'ication for its re*istration, a tra(emar+ re*istere( in a forei*n
co#ntr% -,ic, is a member of t,e Paris 2onvention is a''o-e( to re*ister -it,o#t t,e
reC#irement of #se in t,e commerce in t,e P,i'i))ines. >n(er 9ection 37 of R.1. 1,
re*istration base( on ,ome certificate is a''o-e( an( (oes not reC#ire t,e #se of t,e mar+ in t,e
P,i'i))ines. &#rt,ermore, R.1. 8293 9ection 239.2 )rovi(es t,at mar+s -,ic, ,ave been
re*istere( #n(er R.1. 1 s,a'' remain in force b#t s,a'' be s#b<ect to t,e )rovisions of R.1.
8293, -,ic, (oes not reC#ire t,e )rior #se of t,e mar+ in t,e P,i'i))ines. F,% t,e )etition m#st
fai'4
1. 6,e inc'#sion of t,e ori*in .2ambri(*e, $assac,#setts0 in &re(coJs mar+ connotes t,at
&re(co is associate( -it, Harvar( >niversit%, -,ic, is rea''% not tr#e. 6,e re*istration of
&re(coJs mar+ s,o#'( ,ave been re<ecte(.
2. 6,e P,i'i))ines is a si*nator% of t,e Paris 2onvention, -,ic, )rovi(es for t,e )rotection
a*ainst vio'ation of inte''ect#a' )ro)ert% ri*,ts to a'' t,e member co#ntries re*ar('ess of -,et,er
t,e tra(emar+s is re*istere( or not in a )artic#'ar co#ntr%.1980, L#is Gi''af#erte iss#e( a memo to
t,e Director of Patents or(erin* t,e 'atter to re<ect a'' )en(in* a))'ications of mar+s -,ic,
invo'ves a -e'';+no-n bran( aro#n( t,e -or'( b% a))'icants ot,er t,an t,e o-ner of t,e
mar+.1983, Roberto On*)in affirme( t,e memo of Gi''af#erte b% comman(in* t,e Director of
Patents to im)'ement meas#res -,ic, -i'' com)'% -it, t,e )rovisions of t,e Paris 2onvention.
He )rovi(e( criteria t,at s,o#'( be consi(ere( to an% mar+s t,at are -e'';+no-n in t,e
P,i'i))ines or mar+s t,at be'on* to )ersons s#b<ect to t,e )rotection of t,e 2onvention.
2#rrent'%, -e'';+no-n mar+s are )rotecte( #n(er 9ection 123.1?e@ of R.1. 8293. 1((itiona''%,
R#'e 102 of t,e R#'es an( Re*#'ations on 6ra(emar+s, 9ervice $ar+s, 6ra(e :ames an( $ar+e(
or 9tam)e( 2ontainers )rovi(es for t,e criteria in (eterminin* a -e'';+no-n mar+. 6,e #se of
t,e mar+ in commerce is not an%more reC#ire( beca#se it is eno#*, t,at .an% combination0 of
t,e criteria be met in or(er for a mar+ to be -e'';+no-n. 6,e ODG;3PO trace( t,e ori*in of t,e
mar+ .Harvar(0. 3t r#'e( t,at Harvar( >niversit% ,a( been #sin* t,e mar+ cent#ries before
&re(co a't,o#*, t,e 'atter ma% ,ave #se( t,e mar+ first in t,e P,i'i))ines before t,e former.
Li+e-ise, 21 r#'e( t,at t,e name an( mar+ .Harvar(0 an( .Harvar( Geritas 9,ie'( 9%mbo'0
-ere first #se( in t,e >nite( 9tates since 1953 #n(er 2'ass 25.
&ina''%, t,e 9#)reme 2o#rt (ec'are( t,e mar+ .Harvar(0 to be -e'' L+no-n internationa''%,
inc'#(in* t,e P,i'i))ines.