Lassonde (A.) Inc. v. Registraire des marques de commerce, (2000) 180 F.T.R. 177 (TD)

• Judge: Blais, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: January 13, 2000
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (2000), 180 F.T.R. 177 (TD)

Lassonde Inc. v. Reg. of TM (2000), 180 F.T.R. 177 (TD)

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Temp. Cite: [2000] F.T.R. TBEd. FE.175

A. Lassonde Inc. (appelant) v. Le Registraire des marques de commerce (intimé)

(T-1037-99)

Indexed As: Lassonde (A.) Inc. v. Registraire des marques de commerce

Federal Court of Canada

Trial Division

Blais, J.

January 25, 2000.

Summary:

An applicant applied to register the trade­mark "Bananorange" on the basis of use in Canada since June 13, 1998, in association with the general category of wares including fruit juices and non-alcoholic fruit drinks. The Registrar of Trademarks denied regis­tration on the basis that "Bananorange" was descriptive of the character or quality of the wares or services in association with which it was used (Trade-Marks Act, s. 12(1)(b)). The applicant appealed.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Divi­sion, dismissed the appeal.

Trademarks, Names and Designs - Topic 261

Trademarks - What trademarks registrable - Prohibition - Marks which are descrip­tive of the product - An applicant applied to register the trademark "Bananorange" on the basis of use in Canada since June 13, 1998, in association with the general cat­egory of wares including fruit juices and non-alcoholic fruit drinks - The Registrar of Trademarks denied registration on the basis that "Bananorange" was descriptive of the character or quality of the wares or services in association with which it was used (Trade-Marks Act, s. 12(1)(b)) - The Registrar held that "Bananorange" was the phonetic equivalent of "banana" "orange" and the fact that it was written differently did not make it less descriptive - The Registrar denied a disclaimer under s. 35 respecting the use of the words "banana" and "orange" where "bananorange" in its entirety was not registrable - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, affirmed the decision.

Cases Noticed:

Thorold Concrete Products Ltd. v. Regis­trar of Trademarks (1961), 37 C.P.R. 166 (Ex. Ct.), refd to. [para. 5, footnote 2].

Kirstein (E.) Sons & Co. v. Cohen Brothers Ltd. (1907), 39 S.C.R. 286, refd to. [para. 5, footnote 3].

Pizza Pizza Ltd. v. Registrar of Trade­marks (1982), 67 C.P.R.(2d) 202 (F.C.T.D.), dist. [para. 12, footnote 5].

Benson & Hedges (Canada) Ltd. v. St-Regis Tobacco Corp., [1969] S.C.R. 192, refd to. [para. 26, footnote 6].

IVG Rubber Canada Ltd. v. Goodall Rub­ber Co., [1981] 1 F.C. 143 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 27, footnote 7].

Imperial Tobacco Ltd. v. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (1992), 58 F.T.R. 106 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 28, footnote 8].

Café Suprême F et P Ltée v. Registrar of Trademarks (1984), 4 C.P.R.(3d) 529 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 31, footnote 10].

Wool Bureau of Canada Ltd. v. Registrar of Trademarks (1978), 40 C.P.R.(2d) 25 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 32, footnote 11].

GWG Ltd. v. Registrar of Trademarks (1981), 55 C.P.R.(2d) 1 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 33, footnote 12].

Molson Companies Ltd. v. Carling O'Keefe Breweries of Canada Ltd., [1982] 1 F.C. 275 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 34, footnote 13].

Grace (W.R.) & Co. v. Union Carbide Corp. (1987), 78 N.R. 124 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 38, footnote 14].

Statutes Noticed:

Trade­-Marks Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. T-10, sect. 12(1)(b) [para. 29]; sect. 35 [para. 41].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Canada, Trade-Marks Examination Man­ual, part IV.9.4 [para. 42].

Petit Robert, Le [para. 35].

Counsel:

Bruno Barrette, for the appellant;

Johanne Boudreau, for the respondent.

Solicitors of Record:

Brouillette Charpentier Fortin, Montreal, Quebec, for the appellant;

Department of Justice, for the respondent.

Blais, J., of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, heard this appeal at Montreal, Quebec, on January 13, 2000, and delivered the following reasons for order on January 25, 2000.