Oxford Pendaflex Canada Ltd. v. Korr Marketing Ltd. et al., (1982) 41 N.R. 553 (SCC)

• Judge: Laskin, C.J.C., Ritchie, Dickson, Estey and McIntyre, JJ.
• Court: Supreme Court (Canada)
• Case Date: April 05, 1982
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (1982), 41 N.R. 553 (SCC);41 NR 553;134 DLR (3d) 271;64 CPR (2d) 1;20 CCLT 113;1982 CanLII 45 (SCC);[1982] 1 SCR 494

Oxford Pendaflex v. Korr Marketing (1982), 41 N.R. 553 (SCC)

MLB headnote and full text

Oxford Pendaflex Canada Limited v. Korr Marketing Limited et al.

Indexed As: Oxford Pendaflex Canada Ltd. v. Korr Marketing Ltd. et al.

Supreme Court of Canada

Laskin, C.J.C., Ritchie, Dickson, Estey and McIntyre, JJ.

April 5, 1982

Summary:

The plaintiff manufacturer and seller of a desk tray brought an action against the defendants in the tort of passing-off after the defendants manufactured and marketed a tray almost identical in appearance to the plaintiff's successful design. The Ontario High Court, affirmed by the Ontario Court of Appeal, dismissed the action on the ground that the plaintiff failed to establish a secondary meaning or secondary reputation of its product, a fundamental prerequisite to action for passing-off. The plaintiff appealed.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal.

Torts - Topic 5141

Interference with economic relations - Unfair competition - Passing-off - General - The Supreme Court of Canada discussed and defined the nature of an action for passing-off and the burden of proof on the plaintiff - See paragraphs 10 to 17.

Cases Noticed:

Vapour Canada Ltd. et al. v. MacDonald et al., [1977] 2 S.C.R. 134; 7 N.R. 477, refd to. [para. 13].

Roche Products Limited and Another v. Berk Pharmaceuticals Limited, [1973] R.P.C. 473, appld. [para. 14].

J.B. Williams Company v. H. Bronnley & Co. Ltd. (1909), 26 R.P.C. 765, appld. [para. 15].

Parke, Davis & Company v. Empire Laboratories Limited, [1964] S.C.R. 351, refd to. [para. 15].

Birmingham Vinegar Brewery Co. Ltd., The v. Powell, [1897] A.C. 710, appld. [para. 16].

William Edge & Sons Limited v. William Niccolls & Sons Limited, [1911] A.C. 693, appld. [para. 16].

John Haig & Company Limited v. Forth Blending Company Limited and W.R. Paterson Limited (1953), 70 R.P.C. 259, consd. [para. 16].

Eldon Industries Inc. et al. v. Reliable Toy Co. Ltd. et al., [1966] 1 O.R. 409, consd. [para. 18].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Fleming, The Law of Torts (4th Ed.), p. 626 [para. 13].

Fleming, The Law of Torts (5th Ed.), p. 702 [para. 13].

Fox, The Canadian Law of Trade Marks and Unfair Competition (3rd Ed.), p. 552 [para. 16].

Counsel:

J.L. McDougall, Q.C., and I.V.B. Nordheimer, for the appellant;

W.A.D. Millar, for the respondents.

This case was heard on May 6, 1981, at Ottawa, Ontario, before LASKIN, C.J.C., RITCHIE, DICKSON, ESTEY and McINTYRE, JJ., of the Supreme Court of Canada.

On April 5, 1982, ESTEY, J., delivered the following judgment for the Supreme Court of Canada: