CADBURY LTD V EFFEM FOODS LTD CA CA274/05

CADBURY LTD V EFFEM FOODS LTD CA CA274/05

The word PURPLE is directly referential to the colour and therefore directly references the character or quality of at least some goods within the specification; it is not inherently adapted to distinguish those goods from others in the relevant market; exclusions based on the characteristic 'coloured purple' are...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
openlaw-4aadca38_791b_452c_97f3_1f6ff9498666.pdf
Parties
Appellant: Cadbury Limited; Respondent: Effem Foods Limited
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
New Zealand
Judgment Date
20 July 2007
Procedural Posture
Trade Mark Registration Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Distinctiveness, Descriptiveness, Trade Mark Registration, Specification Exclusions
Intellectual Property Trade Marks Law Civil Litigation Distinctiveness Descriptiveness Trade Mark Registration Specification Exclusions

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Parties

Cadbury Limited

Appellant

Effem Foods Limited

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Trade Mark Registration Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the word PURPLE has a direct reference to the character or quality of the goods
  2. 2 Whether there is a separate requirement of distinctiveness beyond s14(1)(d)
  3. 3 Whether PURPLE is inherently adapted to distinguish the applicant's goods

Ratio Decidendi

The word PURPLE is directly referential to the colour and therefore directly references the character or quality of at least some goods within the specification; it is not inherently adapted to distinguish those goods from others in the relevant market; exclusions based on the characteristic 'coloured purple' are too vague to cure this; accordingly registration is not permitted and the appeal is dismissed.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Costs of $6,000 plus usual disbursements awarded to the respondent
  • Certification for second counsel