Legal Opinion
Sicilia Di R. Biebow & Co. v. Ronald C. Cox and Sales U.S.A., Inc.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Decided May 18, 1984No. 82-1443PublishedCited by 96 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:
In this trade dress infringement ease, we must determine the extent to which section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) (1982), 1 incorporates the common law doctrine of functionality. See Inwood Laboratories v. Ives Laboratories, 456 U.S. 844, 857 n. 20, 102 S.Ct. 2182, 2190 n. 20, 72 L.Ed.2d 606 (1982). Stated simply, “functionality” privileges the copying of designs or features that are functional. The doctrine acts to separate those configurations that may be protected as property rights or trademarks and those designs that the law will not permit any…
2Cases cited40 opinions
- Inwood Laboratories, Inc. v. Ives Laboratories, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1982
- Amstar Corporation v. Domino's Pizza, Inc. And Atlanta Pizza, Inc., Pizza Enterprises, Inc. And Pizza Services, Inc., Hanna Creative Enterprises, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1980
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Inc. v. Pussycat Cinema, Ltd. And Michael ZaffaranoCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1979
- John H. Harland Company, Cross-Appellant v. Clarke Checks, Inc., Cross-AppelleeCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · 1983
- Boston Professional Hockey Association, Inc. v. Dallas Cap & Emblem Mfg., Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1975
35 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by96 opinions
- Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1992
- Clicks Billiards Inc., a Texas Corporation v. Sixshooters Inc., an Arizona Corporation Ronald R. Forbes, a Married Man Jane Doe Forbes, WifeCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 2001
- Ambrit, Inc. v. Kraft, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · 1986
- Taco Cabana International, Inc. v. Two Pesos, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1991
- Allied Marketing Group, Inc., D/B/A Sweepstakes Clearinghouse v. Cdl Marketing, Inc., Carl D. Landon and S & H Marketing Group, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1989
91 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.