Burns v. William J. Burns International Detective Agency, Inc.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Bill in equity, filed in the Supreme Judicial Court on April 18, 1915, alleging that from the year 1909 to the date of filing the bill the plaintiff had continuously used the names "Burns Agency,” “Burns Detective Agency,” and "Burns Detective Bureau,” and that on January 27, 1911, he registered with the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth the name of “Burns Detective Bu-1 reau,” and praying that the defendant be restrained from using any of those names.
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Bill in equity, filed in the Supreme Judicial Court on April 18, 1915, alleging that from the year 1909 to the date of filing the bill the plaintiff had continuously used the names "Burns Agency,” “Burns Detective Agency,” and "Burns Detective Bureau,” and that on January 27, 1911, he registered with the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth the name of “Burns Detective Bu-1 reau,” and praying that the defendant be restrained from using any of those names. The defendant filed a demurrer and an answer. The demurrer was heard by Braley, J., and was overruled, and the suit was referred to a…
1Opinion of the CourtCarroll, J.
This is a suit in equity to restrain the defendant from using the name Burns Detective Bureau, Burns Detective Agency or Burns Agency. The master found that the plaintiff, in November, 1909, was licensed as a private detective by the city of Cambridge where he lived, and in that year opened an office in Boston, which he still maintains. He did business principally in New England. On January 27, 1911, he filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth a form of advertisement, “Burns Detective Bureau,” and a certificate of record was issued. From that time until the present he used the name “Burns…
2Cases cited11 opinions
- Howe Scale Co. v. Wyckoff, Seamans & BenedictSupreme Court of the United States · 1905
- L. E. Waterman Co. v. Modern Pen Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1914
- Russia Cement Co. v. LePageMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1888
- Gilman v. HunnewellMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1877
- Kaufman v. KaufmanMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1916
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3Cited by15 opinions
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- Cain's Lobster House, Inc. v. CainMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1942
- Libby v. LibbyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1922
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