Galina Blanca S.A v T. Choithram (SL LTD) (CIV APP 52 of 1983) [1983] SLCA 1 (14 July 1983)

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ay 7° cxveagp.52/03 “ mw COURT OF APPGAL OP STERRA LEONG \ conatts 4 HON. MR. JUSTICE

8. T. NAVO - JUSTICE OF APPEAL ~ . HON. MR. JUSTICE D.E.M.WILLIANS =- JUSTICE OF APPEAL HON, MR. JUSTICE G.GHLAGA-KING © - JUSTICE GP AFPEAL BERR GALINA BEAUCA 8.4. - appacnanes AND 17, CHOTTERAN (S.1.) 1D. — RESPONDENTS B.C.» THOMPSON 359 FOR APPELLANTS oJ. AKAD SQ FOR RESPONDS. IUCN Daa mR 14TH DAY OF JUBYTIOGS WAVO,5.A.s- The Appellants (Plaintiffs in tae Court belov), are a Company based in Barcelona, in Spain whothrough their business Associates or Ideenoees, oa Incorporated Conpeny in Siexre Teone Imown as JUHSO CUBS, nemnfacture and ts~ tritute % oubes of conoentreted Ioths, dehydrated pullin and other soup products their produote have no doubt eamed wide zeputation in the comtzy, vith theix concentrated soup Broths registered as JUMBO CUBES. ‘me resyonients, (defendants in the Court below) aze general nozchants Wao Co business in various places in Sierza Leone, more so in Pzestom, The xesponionte se81 various types of merchandise,menufactured locally ox imported from elsovber! in the world, Sone of the moxehandise they éeal in include various types of soup broths Like HAGGI CUBES, OXO CURSS, the appellants ‘JUMBO OUB'S and vhat they themselves on experiment, inported for the fizet t'ne from the sane Spain, «++! fawim as CHAIBO CUBES, ‘There is undisputed evidence that Ghanbo Cubes axe much * nilder and less spicy in taste and also a little cheaper in cost than thelz elder brothers the JUMG0 CUBES. vi Tt ie algo comon ground with the parties that all theso soup booths ars often nvfoirod to Wy oxdinasy _ buyers, eopeotally the {2iiterate ones, 22 oi ANE CUNS whieh are probably the oldest in the sorket. i i

‘fhe appellants brought thie action in the High Court for infeingonent of their trade nark which is registered in the Office of tho Regiatuer Coneral. in _ Freetown, and, for passing off of the rosyondents' CiLAHDO CUBES in thoir Shops . for the appellants JUSNO CUBES, thus allegedly causing then loss in the zeputatior ‘they have elzeady acquired ant also financial lose in their sales. Te aypollante ‘therefore clained.: "1, Damage for pasting off and infringonent of Trade Mark of the plaintiffs’ good to wits CHiNBO CURES as "JUMBO CUBES" of which the plaintifts axe the zegisterod owners of the Trade Hark. 2, An Injunction to restrain the defendants either by thenselves their servants or agents or otherwise hovsoover from selling o offering for sale oo CABO CURES Cubes of concentrated broths, dehydrated soups, bouton Cubes and other broths not of the plaintittst manufactur, * 3, Damages or at the plaintiffs! option an Account of Profits. : 4+ DeLivexy-up or Destruction upon Oath of it “CHusMBO CUBES" the sale of which the defendants would be in breach of the injunction heroin,

5. Further and other reliefs.

6. Costes!

In summary, the xespondonts odait the aa general mexehants dealing in al2 cleaves of manufzctuzed goods they soll, among other things, appellants Junio GUESS which the appellants thensclves es Aistribsters se21 to then for sale on

- evtail, ‘They however deny infeingoaont of the appellente! Toe Hark or pessing off of thelr CHAMBO CUBES for the appellants! JUMBO CUES or causing then aay ous: in weputation ox finance. Thoy deny having evox so2d shanbo cubes to siny customer who asked fox Junbo Cabos, Theyoontend thst the appellants beoustt

ed . this action solely for the purpose of stifling and destroying treevhénest trade Beets

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» competition of Cubes Srothe in the Slezre Leone asrket.

‘The action came before Thompson Devies J who neaxd it without s jay spi Gtentazed it with oosty to the respondents on the gth July, 1964. Tb te eyedust the judgent and oniem of the leamed tulsd jadge that the apjollanta now come

a to tids court on appeal + js

Let ne any stralglaway at the outeet of this juignnt tat having gone theonghs the mecowte in this case ant the evideuee of the wiinssces aul obssyvad ‘the exhibite put tn evidence, maverel tims over, for uy part, tile ia not « esse that yoonente uny difioulty ox exeates uy auloty etsoever, Ia this, Lite im elaoat elt other oases, the onus of proof is on the plaiuttsfe es the seying goes the whe asserts uct prove', Baie in trite lev, And to ms the whole case oiled down to qeation of facts wile the leamed julge, sitting without © yey wae moguizee to datomined,

Dut tet me finest atote the prinetples governing 4 eane of thin mature, Lee fafeingovont of Mrsée Vosks anf thee Sones! and "Passing 2! of goods, ‘Hose iinoiples wexe omuneicted by Tori Kingudoa in the oase LAAT GLOW GO, Ve URTCAN GRANTR CLOT OO. (1865) H.b.0, 523 at ps 556 thass

“the fundasentel rote is tact one wan has no xight ‘ to pet off his gools Sor uale sa tie goods of pivol treter and ke oenat thexefore (in the laumege + of Tonl Langdale tn tie ease of Parzy Vos ufit (1942) (Book 66) be allowed to nue name, main, Letlos ox other iniieta ty vite he nay inlues purchasers to believe that the goods wtih he is seiling are the aumafacture of ancthex person". Ton) Helubuay,L.0. tn Reddeway

7. Danthon (1995-66) 2 1 2 295, path 1% thie wey ot page 2966 "Wor nywelf I bolicve the princivte of La ray be * very platuly stated, end that ia Sart aobody hae aay right to zepreseat ais goods aw the coos of nosebody elec. How fia thc uae of particular voxin, singe, oz sichus aces ox dose mnt owe vy to tha quvpooiition whlen T have ommeiated tn ose cextin . omer once put aleia be a quihion of ericeaseessey ses!

Bp a 3S nt These cases are followed by © string of cases decided both locally sm in t » Inglish.Couste vhich wore-atted by Gounsei, : both sides, each, clatning thet they support his clients" case. | Hot me at thte etege acknowledge thet I here 4 the péivtledge‘of svoding : tn Graft the judgpont that fe just bom deliv =26 by ay loacned taother WiIiLans Js, and I only wish to add @ few w cls of my oun eee ny own style. I -ntively agree vith his ratio decdend end the ocnsiusion be Ted exnived ote Z abel. tay ‘to evoid the boredifs of mpesting hia exposition of the principles involved in complaints of this nature and hin assosameat of tu facts, T oly wis to ezmine[patefly sa T can, wast T conetler to be the watevtal. evidence ths eyyelants have led to discharge tae onus pleced on ten to prove tueir case. his eviimuce coma tion two witnesses vias Nabil Matmen Sead sdin cave evtdoupo eo P43 i tne Court delow eu one Seatu Horosa who wie Beads Sanita avidenoe fin Uniet wee thet bo wae Gonexe:. Hanger of Juno Oxbes itd. vio tam sola agente fn conection with Jusbo for tao pletotifts dn thie cousizy* ant they asmfeohaze and distribute Jumbo Onbes. On 10th angast, 198% hs hear? aSout Chanbo Cudese we vont te Ghottmen at 15 Kiawy Yost, Yavetown and bought « poasst of 100 cxdem, Ta Bis opliion the weayper on Guanbe Cubes sxe vind lex 40 those of ‘Sumbo Gubes. After doing ditterect toste SF wih prodwets in thats Yeborstoxy ‘0 ce sant te erik ih ih aon veh Righetti a Sako Gxen, Tn teste Chante waa milder than Jyuber On 146: Soptostinny 1982 be vont to Gosnd Steet where he mst a wousa selling Gumbo Gubes ext chest Gites. A Andy sated. the woman ‘aaTLing, for Juabo Cubea, She gave nz Suasbah Guibas wich tan tor xedewed 40: noongt even though te makes wee saving te ny tit Cubans “bow wexe 8 new type oF Fano Getess Tt 4p aigalticant 40 observe Liam tht en those tye oseuatous thore te m = vijwuee that either Seal or the lady at Samad Strwwt wes Cueetved. Wy the nwees . Juha ot ane a

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