FRANCO, FRANCO, Joseph Gavier M. Castillo-Taleon
Atty. Atty. Risel
GREAT GREAT WHITE HAR! ENTER"RIE, ENTER"RIE, INC., vs. #ANI$O M. CARA$#E, JR Nove%&er '(, ')(' G.R. No. (*''*+ Fats e/ore the Co0rt this "etition /or Revie1 on Certiorari on the #eision o/ the the Co0r Co0rtt o/ Appe Appeal als, s, 1h 1hi ih h rever reverse se2 2 an2 an2 set set asi2 asi2e e the the Inte Intelle llet t0a 0all "roperty O3ie 4I"O5, an2 2irete2 hi% to 6rant the appliation /or the %ar7 %ar7 8HA 8HAR! R! 9 $OGO $OGO88 :le2 :le2 &y resp respon on2e 2ent nt #ani #anilo lo M. Cara Caral2 l2e, e, Jr. Jr. 4Caral2e5. Caral2e :le2 &e/ore the 0rea0 o/ $e6al A3airs 4$A5, I"O a tra2e%ar7 appliation see7in6 to re6ister the %ar7 8HAR! 9 $OGO8 /or his his %an0 %an0/a /at t0r 0re2 e2 6oo2 6oo2s s 0n2e 0n2err Clas Class s ';, ';, s0h s0h as slip slippe pers rs,, shoe shoes s an2 an2 san2als. "etitioner Great White har7 Enterprises, In. 4Great White har75, a /orei6n orporation 2o%iile2 in Flori2a, <A, oppose2 the appliation lai%in6 to &e the o1ner o/ the %ar7 onsistin6 o/ a representation o/ a shar7 in olor, 7no1n as 8GREG NORMAN $OGO8 4assoiate2 1ith apparel 1orn an2 pro%ote2 &y A0stralian 6ol/er Gre6 Nor%an5. The $A #iretor ren2ere2 a #eision re=etin6 Caral2e>s appliation. The $A #iretor, ho1ever, /o0n2 no %erit in Great White har7>s lai% that its %ar7 1as /a%o0s an2 1ell-7no1n /or ins03iieny o/ evi2ene. On appeal, the I"O #iretor General a3ir%e2 the :nal re=etion o/ Caral2e>s appliation, r0lin6 that the o%petin6 %ar7s are in2ee2 on/0sin6ly si%ilar. Great White har7>s %ar7 is 0se2 in lothin6 an2 /oot1ear, a%on6 others, 1hile 1h ile Cara Caral2 l2e> e>s s %ar7 %ar7 is 0se2 0se2 on si%i si%ila larr 6oo2 6oo2s s li7e li7e shoe shoes s an2 an2 slipp slippers ers.. None Nonetthele heless ss,, 1h 1hil ile e Great reat Whit White e har7 har7 s0&% s0&%it ittte2 evi2 evi2en ene e o/ the the re6istration o/ its %ar7 in several other o0ntries, the I"O #iretor General onsi2ere2 its %ar7 as not 1ell-7no1n /or /ailin6 to %eet the other riteria lai2 2o1n 0n2er the R0les an2 Re60lations on Tra2e%ar7s, ervie Mar7s, Tra2e Na%es an2 Mar7e2 or ta%pe2 Containers. Ho1ever, on petition /or revie1, the CA reverse2 an2 set asi2e the /ore6oin6 #eision an2 2irete2 the I"O to 6rant Caral2e>s appliation /or re6istration o/ the %ar7 8HAR! 9 $OGO.8 The CA /o0n2 no on/0sin6 si%ilarity &et1een the s0&=et %ar7s not1ithstan2in6 that &oth ontaine2 the shape o/ a shar7 as their 2o%inant /eat0re. It o&serve2 that Caral2e>s %ar7 is %ore /ani/0l an2 olor/0l, an2 ontains several ele%ents 1hih are easily 2istin60isha&le /ro% that o/ the Great White har7. It /0rther opine2 that onsi2erin6 their prie 2isparity, there is no li7elihoo2 o/ on/0sion as they travel in 2i3erent hannels o/ tra2e. Iss0es
Whet Whethe herr the the resp respon on2e 2ent nt?s ?s %ar7 %ar7 s0&= s0&=e ett o/ the the appl appli iat atio ion n &ein &ein6 6 oppo oppose se2 2 &y the the peti petiti tion oner er is not not on/ on/0s 0sin in6l 6ly y si%i si%ila larr to peti petiti tion oner er?s ?s re6istere2 %ar7. Hel2 A tra2e%ar7 2evie is s0septi&le to re6istration i/ it is ra/te2 /ani/0lly /ani/0lly or ar&itrarily ar&itrarily an2 is apa&le apa&le o/ i2enti/yin6 i2enti/yin6 an2 2istin60ishi 2istin60ishin6 n6 the 6oo2s o/ one %an0/at0rer or seller /ro% those o/ another. Apart /ro% its o%%e o%%er ria iall 0til 0tilit ity y, the &enh enh% %ar7 ar7 o/ tra2e ra2e%a %ar7 r7 re6i re6ist stra ra& &ilit ility y is 2istintiveness. Th0s, a 6eneri :60re, as that o/ a shar7 in this ase, i/ e%pl e%ploy oye2 e2 an2 an2 2esi 2esi6n 6ne2 e2 in a 2ist 2istin int tiv ive e %ann %anner er,, an an &e a re6is re6istr tra& a&le le tra2e%ar7 2evie, s0&=et to the provisions o/ the I" Co2e. Corolla Corollaril rily y, etio etion n ('@.(42 ('@.(4255 o/ the I" Co2e Co2e provi2 provi2es es that that a %ar7 %ar7 annot &e re6istere2 i/ it is i2ential 1ith a re6istere2 %ar7 &elon6in6 to a 2i3erent proprietor 1ith an earlier :lin6 or priority 2ate, 1ith respet to the sa%e or losely relate2 6oo2s or servies, or has a near rese%&lane to s0h %ar7 as to li7ely 2eeive or a0se on/0sion. In 2eter%inin6 si%ilarity an2 li7elihoo2 o/ on/0sion, ase la1 has 2eve 2evelo lope pe2 2 the the #o%i #o%ina nan ny y Test an2 an2 the the Holi Holisti sti or Total otalit ity y Test. est. The The #o%inany Test /o0ses on the si%ilarity o/ the 2o%inant /eat0res o/ the o%petin6 tra2e%ar7s that %i6ht a0se on/0sion, %ista7e, an2 2eeption in the %in2 o/ the or2inary p0rhaser, an2 6ives %ore onsi2eration to the a0ral an2 vis0al i%pressions reate2 &y the %ar7s on the &0yers o/ 6oo2s, 6ivin6 little 1ei6ht to /ators li7e pries, 0ality, sales o0tlets, an2 %ar7et se6%ents. In ontrast, the Holisti or Totality Test onsi2ers the entirety o/ the %ar7s as applie2 to the pro20ts, inl02in6 the la&els an2 pa7a6in6, an2 an2 /o0 /o0se ses s not not only only on the the pre2 pre2o% o%in inan antt 1o 1or2 r2s s &0t &0t also also on the the othe otherr /eat0res appearin6 on &oth la&els to 2eter%ine 1hether one is on/0sin6ly si%ilar to the other as to %islea2 the or2inary p0rhaser. The 8or2inary p0rhaser8 re/ers to one 8a0sto%e2 to &0y, an2 there/ore to so%e eBtent /a%iliar 1ith, the 6oo2s in 0estion.8 Irrespe Irrespeti tive ve o/ &oth &oth tests, tests, the Co0rt Co0rt :n2s :n2s no on/0s on/0sin6 in6 si%ilar si%ilarity ity &et1een the s0&=et %ar7s. While &oth %ar7s 0se the shape o/ a shar7, the Co0rt note2 2istint vis0al an2 a0ral 2i3erenes &et1een the%. In Great Whit White e har har7> 7>s s 8GRE 8GREG G NORM NORMAN AN $OGO $OGO,8 ,8 ther there e is an o0tl o0tlin ine e o/ a shar shar7 7 /or%e2 1ith the 0se o/ 6reen, yello1, yello1, &l0e an2 re2 linesstro7es, lines stro7es, to 1it As %ay &e 6leane2 /ro% the /ore6oin6, the vis0al 2issi%ilarities &et1 &et1ee een n the the t1 t1o o 4'5 4'5 %ar7 %ar7s s are are evi2 evi2en entt an2 an2 si6n si6ni: i:a ant nt,, ne6at ne6atin in6 6 the the possi&ility o/ on/0sion in the %in2s o/ the or2inary p0rhaser, espeially onsi2erin6 the 2istint a0ral 2i3erene &et1een the %ar7s. Finally, there &ein6 &ein6 no on/0s on/0sin6 in6 si%ila si%ilarit rity y &et1een &et1een the s0&=e s0&=ett %ar7s, %ar7s, the %atter %atter o/
1hether Great White har7?s %ar7 has 6aine2 reo6nition an2 a0ire2 &eo%es 0nneessary. WHEREFORE, the Co0rt resolves to #END the instant petition an2 AFFIRM the assaile2 #eision o/ the Co0rt o/ Appeals 4CA5 /or /ail0re to sho1 that the CA o%%itte2 reversi&le error in settin6 asi2e the #eision o/ the I"O #iretor General an2 allo1in6 the re6istration o/ the %ar7 8HAR! 9 $OGO8 &y respon2ent #anilo M. Caral2e, Jr. O OR#ERE#. OR#ERE#.
Case Analysis /or GREAT WHITE HAR! ENTER"RIE, INC., vs. #ANI$O M. CARA$#E, JR In the sai2 ase the 0pre%e Co0rt %aintaine2 the pree2ents 1ith re6ar2 the on/0sin6 si%ilarity o/ tra2e%ar7s. The petitioner :le2 a ase in a6ainst the respon2ent /or the alle6e2 vis0al si%ilarities 1ith re6ar2 their o%petin6 tra2e%ar7s. A 0rsory eBa%ination o/ the sai2 tra2e%ar7s 1o0l2 reveal the sa%e. Ho1ever the 0pre%e Co0rt ha2 2ei2e2 other1ise, r0lin6 that there are vis0al 2issi%ilarities that annot &e i6nore2. The 2eision o/ the Co0rt an &e analye2 in t1o points 2istintiveness an2 the appliation o/ the Holisti Holis ti an2 #o%inany Tests. Tests. On the the %att %atter er o/ the the :rst :rst poin point, t, the the 0pr 0pre% e%e e Co0r Co0rtt a3ir% a3ir%e2 e2 the the priniple that 6eneri :60res an &e a re6istra&le tra2e%ar7 2evie, s0&=et to the provisions o/ the la1. In this ase, no 2eviation 1as %a2e /ro% the 1ell-esta&lishe2 pree2ents in ase la1 an2 stat0te. On the %atter o/ the seon2 point, the 0pre%e Co0rt 0se2 the 1ellesta&lishe2, esta&lishe2, Holisti an2 #o%inany Tests. Tests. The Co0rt 0se2 the t1o tests in 2ei 2eisiv sivel ely y 2ete 2eter% r%in inin in6 6 the the iss0 iss0e e o/ on/ on/0s 0sin6 in6ly ly si%il si%ilar arit ity y &et1 &et1ee een n the the
o%petin6 tra2e%ar7s. What this sho1s is the ontin0e2 a2herene to the settl settle2 e2 =0ri =0risp spr0 r02en 2enti tial al stan stan2a 2ar2 r2s s a2op a2opte te2 2 &y the the Co0r Co0rtt in 6a06 6a06in in6 6 the the si%ilarity o/ t1o or %ore o%petin6 tra2e%ar7s.
FRANCO, FRANCO, Joseph Gavier M. Castillo-Taleon
Atty. Atty. Risel
HIR$ED F. TORRE, vs. IME$#A "ERE an2 RO#RIGO "ERE, Nove%&er ', ')(' G.R. No. (*' Nove%&er ', ')(' G.R. No. (''; Fats e/ore the Co0rt are "etitions /or Revie1 on Certiorari. The petition assails assails the #eision #eision o/ the Co0rt o/ Appeals 4CA5 1hih n0lli:e2 the Or2ers o/ the Re6ional Trial Co0rt 4RTC5 1hih ha2 2enie2 the Motion to #is%iss an2 an2or or With2 ith2ra ra1 1 In/o In/or% r%at atio ion n :le2 :le2 a6ain 6ainst st resp respon on2 2ents ents /or 0n/ 0n/air air o%petition 0n2er 4Intellet0al "roperty Co2e o/ the "hilippines5.
Respon2ents I%el2a an2 Ro2ri6o are spo0ses 1ho o1n RG" Foot1ear Man0/a Man0/at0 t0rin rin6 6 4RG"5, 4RG"5, 1hih 1hih s0ppli s0pplies es la2ies> la2ies> shoes shoes to hoe hoe Mart Mart 4M5. 4M5. asay>s Closet Co. 4CC5, 1as en6a6e2 in the s0pply, tra2in6, retailin6 o/ 6ar%ents s0h as 0n2er1ear, 0n2er1ear, hil2ren>s 1ear, 1ear, 1o%en>s an2 %en>s 1ear, 1ear, an2 other ini2ental ativities relate2 thereto. For its pro20ts, CC 0se2 the tra2 tra2e% e%ar ar7 7 8Nat 8Nat0r 0ral als s 1i 1ith th #esi6 #esi6n,8 n,8 1h 1hi ih h it :le2 :le2 1i 1ith th the the Inte Intell llet et0a 0all "roperty O3ie on '+ A060st ')); an2 re6istere2 on ' Fe&r0ary ')). These pro20ts pro20ts 1ere pri%arily s0pplie2 s0pplie2 to M, 1hih assi6ne2 to the% the ven2or o2e 8(*);)(8 /or p0rposes o/ i2enti:ation. Respon2ent I%el2a too7 over 0nshine>s responsi&ilities in the partnership. Respon2ent I%el2a then in/or%e2 petitioner o/ the /or%er>s 2eision to 2isso 2issolv lve e the the part partne ners rship hip.. #esp #espit ite e the the o&=e o&=eti tion ons s o/ peti petiti tion oner er to the the 2issol0tion o/ CC, vario0s a%o0nts 1ere pai2 to her &y respon2ents /ro% Jan0ary to April ')) representin6 her share in the partnership assets. Mean1hile, on ' Marh ')), petitioner esta&lishe2 Teares Enterprise, a sole sole prop proprie rieto torsh rship ip en6a en6a6e 6e2 2 in s0ppl s0pplyi yin6 n6 an2 an2 tra2 tra2in6 in6 o/ lot lothi hin6 n6 an2 an2 ae aess ssori ories es eBe eBept pt /oot /oot1e 1ear ar.. Also Also in Mar Marh h ')), ')), she she 2is 2isov overe ere2 2 that that 0n2er1ear pro20ts &earin6 the &ran2 8Nat0rals8 1ere &ein6 sol2 in M 1ith 1i th ven2 ven2or or o2e o2e 8() 8()(* (*;. ;.88 This This o2e o2e 1as 1as re6i re6ist ster ere2 e2 to RG" RG", a /at /at on:r%e2 &y test &0ys on20te2 &y her la1yers on (@ an2 (+ May ')). On ; J0ne J0ne ')) ')),, a sear searh h 1arr 1arran antt /or /or 0n/a 0n/air ir o%p o%pet etit itio ion n 0n2e 0n2err etion ( in relation to etion () o/ R.A. '*@ 1as iss0e2 &y the RTC o/ Manila, ranh '+, a6ainst respon2ents at their a22ress. Ho1ever, it 1as 0ashe she2 &y the sa% sa%e o0rt on ') Oto&er ')) 0pon %otion o/ respon2ents. On * J0ne ')), petitioner :le2 a ri%inal o%plaint /or 0n/air o%petition o%petition a6ainst respon2ents respon2ents an2 0nshine &e/ore the City "rose0tion "rose0tion O3ie. Assistant City "rose0tor I%el2a ". ". a0lo6 /o0n2 pro&a&le a0se to in2it respon2ents /or 0n/air o%petition. The in2it%ent 1as rae2 to RTC Ma7ati City, ranh (+*. On '@ Oto&er ')), it iss0e2 an Or2er :n2in :n2in6 6 pro& pro&a& a&le le a0s a0se e /or /or the the iss0a iss0an ne e o/ a 1arr 1arran antt o/ arre arrest st a6ai a6ains nstt respon2ents. Respon2ents :le2 a petition /or revie1 o/ the prose0tor>s resol0tion &e/ore the #epart%ent o/ J0stie 4#OJ5, 1hih on (@ #ee%&er ')) iss0e2 its o1n Resol0 Resol0tio tion n reversi reversin6 n6 the :n2in6 :n2in6 o/ eBiste eBistene ne o/ pro&a& pro&a&le le a0se a0se a6ai a6ains nstt the% the%.. The The #OJ #OJ 2eni 2enie2 e2 the the %oti %otion on /or /or reo reonsi nsi2e 2era rati tion on :le2 :le2 &y peti petiti tion oner er on ' Mar Marh h ')). ')). Hene Hene,, she :le2 :le2 a peti petiti tion on /or /or ert ertio iora rari ri &e/ore the CA, 1here it 1as 2o7ete2 as CA-G.R. " No. *(. In her petition, she 0estione2 the #OJ Resol0tion, &0t later 1ith2re1 the sa%e on #ee%&er ')) /or an 0n7no1n reason. Follo1in6 the 2iretive o/ the #OJ, the prose0tor :le2 &e/ore the RTC o/ Ma7at a7atii City ity, ran ranh h (+*, (+*, a Moti Motion on to #is% #is%is iss s an2 an2or or With2 ith2ra ra1 1 In/or%ation on @ April ')). The trial o0rt 2enie2 the %otion in an Or2er
2ate2 (' Fe&r0ary Fe&r0ary ')). Respon2ents %ove2 /or /or reonsi2eration, &0t their %otion 1as 2enie2 &y the RTC. RTC. A66rieve2, they :le2 a "etition /or Certiorari 41it 41ith h "ray "rayer er /or /or the the Iss0 Iss0an ane e o/ a Te%po e%pora rary ry Rest Restra rain inin in6 6 Or2e Or2err an2 an2 therea therea/te /terr a "reli% "reli%ina inary ry In=0nt In=0ntion ion55 &e/ore &e/ore the CA. In the :rst assaile2 assaile2 #eision o/ the CA 2ate2 (( Marh '))*, the CA 6rante2 the petition. The CA s0staine2 the position o/ respon2ents that the :n2in6 o/ pro&a&le a0se /or the :lin6 o/ an in/or%ation is an eBe0tive /0ntion lo26e2 1ith the prose0tor. "etiti etition oner er %ove %ove2 2 /or /or reo reonsi nsi2e 2era rati tion on o/ the the CA #ei #eisi sion, on, &0t &0t the the %otion 1as 2enie2. he then &ro06ht the %atter &e/ore this Co0rt via a "etition /or Revie1 on Certiorari :le2 0n2er R0le +; o/ the R0les o/ Co0rt. Witho0t 6ivin6 20e o0rse to the petition, the Co0rt re0ire2 respon2ents to o%%ent thereon.
s Motion /or Reonsi2eration. "etitioner :le2 a "etition /or Certiorari &e/ore the CA on the 6ro0n2 that the trial =026e o%%itte2 6rave a&0se o/ 2isretion a%o0ntin6 to la7 or eBess o/ =0ris2ition 1hen he 0ashe2 the In/or%ation a6ainst respon2ents &ase2 on a CA #eision that 1as not yet :nal an2 eBe0tory, &ein6 the s0&=et o/ a petition still pen2 pen2in in6 6 &e/o &e/ore re this this Co0r Co0rt. t. On '* ept epte% e%&e &err ')((, ')((, the the CA iss0e iss0e2 2 the the seon seon2 2 assai assaile le2 2 #ei #eisio sion n in CA-G CA-G.R .R.. " No. No. (((*) (((*)@ @ a3ir a3ir%i %in6 n6 the the RTC Or2ers 2ate2 '* J0ly '))* an2 (* Oto&er '))*. Optin6 not to :le a %otion /or reonsi reonsi2er 2erati ation, on, petiti petitione onerr a6ain a6ain o%es o%es &e/ore &e/ore 0s on a "etitio etition n /or Revie1 on Certiorari 0estionin6 the #eision in CA. Iss0e Whether there eBists pro&a&le a0se to in2it respon2ents /or 0n/air o%petition 4violation o/ etion ( in relation to etion ()5 0n2er R.A. '*@. Hel2
We no1 no1 r0le r0le on the the iss0e iss0e o/ pro& pro&a& a&le le a0s a0se. e. "ro& "ro&a& a&le le a0s a0se, e, /or /or p0rposes p0rposes o/ :lin6 a ri%inal ri%inal in/or%ation, in/or%ation, is 2esri&e2 2esri&e2 as 8s0h /ats as are s03i s03ii ien entt to en6e en6en2 n2er er a 1ell 1ell-/ -/o0 o0n2 n2e2 e2 &eli &elie/ e/ that that a ri% ri%e e has has &een &een o%%itte2 an2 the respon2ent is pro&a&ly 60ilty thereo/, an2 sho0l2 &e hel2 /or trial.8 trial.8 Th0s, the 2eter%inat 2eter%ination ion o/ the eBistene eBistene o/ pro&a&le a0se a0se neessitates the prior 2eter%ination o/ 1hether a ri%e or an o3ense 1as o%%itte2 in the :rst plae. Here, 1e :n2 that there 1as no pro&a&le a0se to in2it in2it respon respon2en 2ents, ts, &ea0s &ea0se e the ri%e ri%e o/ 0n/air 0n/air o%pet o%petiti ition on 1as not o%%itte2. In positin6 that respon2ents 1ere 60ilty o/ 0n/air o%petition, petitioner %a7es a lot o/ the /at that they 0se2 the ven2or o2e o/ RG" in %ar7etin6 the 8Nat0rals8 pro20ts. he ar60es that they passe2 o3 the 8Nat0rals8 pro20ts, 1hih they %ar7ete2 0n2er RG", as those o/ CCK th0s, they alle6e2ly pre=02ie2 the ri6hts o/ CC as o1ner o/ the tra2e%ar7. he also lai%s that she has the personality to prose0te respon2ents /or 0n/air o%petition on &ehal/ o/ CC. When J026e s M>s pay% pay%en ents ts /or /or the the 8Nat 8Nat0ra 0rals ls88 pro2 pro20 0ts ts 1o 1o0l 0l2 2 6o to respon2ents, 1ho 1ere the at0al s0ppliers. F0rther%ore, even i/ 1e 1ere to ass0%e that the iss0e o/ protetion o/ intellet0al property is para%o0nt in this ase, the ri%inal o%plaint /or 0n/air o%petition a6ainst respon2ents annot prosper, /or the ele%ents o/ the ri%e 1ere not present. We have en0niate2 in CC"I v. v. Go%e that the 7ey ele%ents o/ 0n/air o%petition are 82eeption, passin6 o3 an2 /ra02 0pon the p0&li.8 No 2eeption an &e i%a6ine2 to have &een /oiste2 on the p0&li thro06h 2i3erent ven2or o2es, 1hih are 0se2 &y M only /or the i2enti:ation o/ s0ppliers> pro20ts. WHEREFORE WHEREFORE,, the #eisions o/ the CA :n2in6 :n2in6 la7 o/ pro&a&le a0se /or respon2ents> alle6e2 violation o/ etion ( in relation to etion () o/ Rep0 Rep0&l &li i At At No. No. '*@ '*@ 40n/ 40n/ai airr o%p o%pet etit itio ion5 n5,, are are AF AFFI FIRM RME# E#.. The The In/or%ation a6ainst respon2ents /or 0n/air o%petition is #IMIE#. O OR#ERE#.
Case Analysis /or HIR$ED F. TORRE, vs. IME$#A "ERE an2 RO#RIGO "ERE In this ase the pro&a&le a0se /or the ri%inal aspet o/ the ri%e o/