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Trade Marks and the Illiterate: A Critique of the Judicial Attitude

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Extract

“To the trained eye of a civilised community there is undoubtedly a considerable difference in the two designs set side by side and the one would hardly be likely to be mistaken for the other, but while broad principles laid down in English cases should be applied, the trade marks laws in this country should be administered with regard to local conditions…with a view to protecting not only a vast illiterate population little acquainted with pictorial representations but also the pioneers of trade who have earned a reputation among these illiterate folk by the quality of goods associated with some recognised mark such as a particular bird, animal, tree or other object…”2

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1974

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References

2 Per Webber, J., Maclver & Co. Ltd. v. C.F.A.O. (1917) 3 N.L.R. 18, at p.

3 1901, unreported.

4 1909, unreported.

5 In re A. Houtman & Co., 1912; Trade and customs laws, 1934 ed., 448.

page 181 note 1 1912, unreported.

page 181 note 2 (1917) 3 N.L.R. 18.

page 181 note 3 See, for example, John Walkden & Co. Ltd. v. Oshodi & Radcliffe Ltd. (1923) 4 N.L.R. 105; G. B. Ollivant & Co. Ltd. v. John Christian & Co. (1925) 6 N.L.R. 102; Re Trade Marks Ordinance (1928) 8 N.L.R. 48; The United Kingdom Tobacco Co. Ltd. v. Carreras Ltd. (1931) 16 N.L.R. 1; John Sinclair v. British American Tobacco Co. (1932) 11 N.L.R. 45; Henkes Distillery v. Netherlands Distilleries (1933) 11 N.L.R. 76; The Raleigh Cycle Company Ltd. v. Rufai Balogun Akintola & Co. unreported, M/34/63 decided 22nd April, 1965.

page 181 note 4 L.R., 14 Ch.D. 8.

page 182 note 1 (1896) 13 R.P.G. 681.

page 182 note 2 Unreported, S.G./459/1966; decided 1st November, 1968.