McGraw-Hill Book Co. v. Random House, Inc.

Plaintiffs in this action move for an order pendente lite enjoining the defendants from publishing, selling, distributing and advertising a book entitled “John F. Kennedy and PT-109 ’ ’. Plaintiffs contend that the use of that title constitutes unfair competition with them in their sale and distribution of a book entitled “ PT 109 John F. Kennedy in World War II”. “ PT ” means “patrol torpedo” and the combination “ PT 109 ” is the identifying name of a particular patrol torpedo boat that was used during the war.

Both books deal with substantially the same subject matter — the heroic exploits…