Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Jurisdiction | Singapore |
Court | Court of Appeal (Singapore) |
Judgment Date | 29 November 2013 |
Docket Number | Civil Appeals Nos 147 and 148 of 2012 |
Date | 29 November 2013 |
[2013] SGCA 65
Court of Appeal
Sundaresh Menon CJ
,
Chao Hick Tin JA
and
VKRajah JA
Civil Appeals Nos 147 and 148 of 2012
Davinder Singh SC, Dedar Singh Gill and Gabriel Ong Sheng Li (Drew & Napier LLC) (instructed), and Prithipal Singh (Mirandah Law LLP) for the appellant in CA 147/2012 and the respondent in CA 148/2012
Tan Tee Jim SC and Wee Jiawei Darrell (Lee & Lee) (instructed), and Elaine Tan Ee Lian and Magdalene Lie (Amica Law LLC) for the respondents in CA 147/2012 and the appellants in CA 148/2012
Prof Ng-Loy Wee Loon as amicus curiae.
32 Red plc v WHG (International) Ltd [2012] RPC 19 (refd)
Advanced Perimeter Systems Ltd v Keycorp Ltd [2012] RPC 14 (refd)
Alain Bernadin et Compagnie v Pavilion Properties Ltd [1967] FSR 341 (refd)
Amway Corp v Eurway International Ltd [1974] RPC 82 (refd)
Anheuser-Busch Inc v Budejovicky Budvar NP [1984] FSR 413 (refd)
Athletes Foot Marketing Associates Inc, The v Cobra Sports Ltd [1980] RPC 343 (refd)
Berlei (UK) Ltd v Bali Brassiere Co Inc [1969] 1 WLR 1306 (refd)
Bongrain SA's Trade Mark Application (No 2134604) [2003] EWHC 531 (Ch) (refd)
BP Amoco plc v John Kelly Ltd [2002] FSR 5 (refd)
British Broadcasting Corp v Talbot Motor Co Ltd [1981] FSR 228 (refd)
British Sugar plc v James Robertson & Sons Ltd [1996] RPC 281 (refd)
Brookfield Communications, Inc v West Coast Entertainment Corp 174 F 3 d 1036 (9th Cir, 1999) (not folld)
BUD and BUDWEISER BUDBRÄU Trade Marks [2003] RPC 25 (refd)
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha v Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc [1999] RPC 117 (refd)
CDLHotels International Ltd v Pontiac Marina Pte Ltd [1998] 1 SLR (R) 975; [1998] 2 SLR 550 (refd)
Checkpoint Systems, Inc v Check Point Software Technologies, Inc 269 F 3 d 270 (3 d Cir, 2001) (refd)
CIR, The v Muller & Co's Margarine Ltd [1901] AC 217 (refd)
City Chain Stores (S) Pte Ltd v Louis Vuitton Malletier [2010] 1 SLR 382 (not folld)
Compass Publishing BV v Compass Logistics Ltd [2004] RPC 41 (refd)
Con Agra Inc v Mc Cain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 23 IPR 193 (refd)
Datacard Corp v Eagle Technologies Ltd [2011] RPC 17 (refd)
Die Berg Spechte Outdoor Reisen und Alpinschule Edi Koblmuller GmbH v Guni (Case C-278/08) [2010] ETMR 33 (refd)
Doctor's Associates Inc v Lim Eng Wah [2012] 3 SLR 193 (refd)
Dominion Rent A Car Ltd v Budget Rent A Car Systems [1987] 2 NZLR 395 (refd)
Dorr-Oliver, Inc v Fluid-Quip, Inc 94 F 3 d 376 (7th Cir, 1996) (refd)
esure Insurance Ltd v Direct Line Insurance plc [2008] RPC 6 (not folld)
esure Insurance Ltd v Direct Line Insurance plc [2009] Bus LR 438; [2008] EWCACiv 842 (refd)
Festina Lotus SA v Romanson Co Ltd [2010] 4 SLR 552 (not folld)
Grotrian, Helfferich, Schulz, Th Steinweg Nachf v Steinway & Sons 365 F Supp 707 (1973) (refd)
Gymboree Corp's Trade Mark Application (No 1577166) (1999) 22 (6) IPD 2205 (refd)
Hai Tong Co (Pte) Ltd v Ventree Singapore Pte Ltd [2013] 2 SLR 941 (refd)
Hotel Cipriani SRL v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd [2009] RPC 9 (refd)
Hotel Cipriani SRL v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd [2010] Bus LR 1465 (refd)
JC Penney Co Inc v Punjabi Nick [1979] FSR 26 (refd)
Julius Sämaan Ltd v Tetrosyl Ltd [2006] FSR 42 (refd)
Jumbo Seafood Pte Ltd v Hong Kong Jumbo Seafood Restaurant Pte Ltd [1997] 3 SLR (R) 878; [1998] 1 SLR 860 (refd)
Lloyd Schuhfabrik Meyer & Co GmbH v Klijsen Handel BV (Case C-342/97) [1999] 2 CMLR 1343 (refd)
Love & Co Pte Ltd v The Carat Club Pte Ltd [2009] 1 SLR (R) 561; [2009] 1 SLR 561 (refd)
Matratzen Concord GmbH v OHIM (Case T-6/01) [2002] ECR II-4335 (folld)
Matratzen Concord GmbH v OHIM (C-3/03 P) (folld)
Mc Donald's Corp v Future Enterprises Pte Ltd [2005] 1 SLR (R) 177; [2005] 1 SLR 177 (refd)
Media Corp News Pte Ltd v Astro All Asia Networks plc [2009] 4 SLR (R) 496; [2009] 4 SLR 496 (refd)
Mobil Petroleum Co, Inc v Hyundai Mobis [2010] 1 SLR 512 (refd)
Mystery Drinks GmbH v OHIM (T 99/01) [2004] ETMR (18) 217 (refd)
Novelty Pte Ltd v Amanresorts Ltd [2009] 3 SLR (R) 216; [2009] 3 SLR 216 (refd)
O 2 Holdings Ltd v Hutchison 3 G Ltd [2006] EWHC 534 (Ch) (refd)
O 2 Holdings Ltd v Hutchison 3 G UK Ltd (Case C-533/06) [2009] Bus LR 339; [2008] ECR I-4231 (folld)
Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd v Och Capital LLP [2011] Bus LR 632; [2010] EWHC 2599 (Ch) (folld)
Omega Engineering Inc v Omega SA [2013] FSR 25 (refd)
OPEN COUNTRY Trade Mark [2000] RPC 477 (refd)
Orkin Exterminating Co Inc v Pestco Co of Canada Ltd et al 50 OR (2 d) 726 (refd)
Ozone Community Corp v Advance Magazine Publishers Inc [2010] 2 SLR 459 (refd)
Pete Waterman Ltd v CBS United Kingdom Ltd [1993] EMLR 27 (refd)
Phillips-Van Heusen Corp v OHIM [2004] ETMR 60 (refd)
Pianotist Co Ltd for the Registration of a Trade Mark, Re an Application by the (1906) 23 RPC 774 (refd)
Polo/Lauren Co, LP, The v Shop In Department Store Pte Ltd [2005] 4 SLR (R) 816; [2005] 4 SLR 816 (refd)
Polo/Lauren Co, LP, The v Shop In Department Store Pte Ltd [2006] 2 SLR (R) 690; [2006] 2 SLR 690 (refd)
Portakabin Ltd v Primakabin BV (Case C-558/08) [2010] ETMR 52 (refd)
Red Bull GmbH v Sun Mark Ltd [2012] EWHC 1929 (Ch) (refd)
Reed Executive plc v Reed Business Information Ltd [2003] RPC 12 (refd)
Richemont International SA v Goldlion Enterprise (Singapore) Pte Ltd [2006] 1 SLR (R) 401; [2006] 1 SLR 401 (refd)
Rolex Internet Auction [2005] ETMR 25 (refd)
Sabel BV v Puma AG, Rudolf Dassler Sport [1998] RPC 199 (refd)
Sarika Connoisseur Café Pte Ltd v Ferrero Sp A [2013] 1 SLR 531 (refd)
Saville Perfumery Ltd v June Perfect Ltd (1941) 58 RPC 147 (refd)
Sheraton Corp of America v Sheraton Motels Ltd [1964] RPC 202 (refd)
Smith Hayden & Co Ltd, Re an Application by (1945) 63 RPC 97 (refd)
Specsavers International Healthcare Ltd v Asda Stores Ltd [2012] FSR 19 (refd)
Specsavers International Healthcare Ltd v Asda Stores Ltd (Case C-252/12) (refd)
Star Industrial Co Ltd v Yap Kwee Kor [1974-1976] SLR (R) 581; [1975-1977] SLR 20 (refd)
Starbucks (HK) Ltd v British Sky Broadcasting Group plc [2012] EWHC 3074 (Ch) (refd)
Tan Gek Neo Jessie v Minister for Finance [1991] 2 MLJ 301 (refd)
Tan-Ichi Co Ltd v Jancar Ltd [1990] FSR 151 (refd)
Turner v General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd [1929] 42 CLR 352 (refd)
Valentino Globe BV v Pacific Rim Industries Inc [2010] 2 SLR 1203 (not folld)
Vedial SA v OHIM - France Distribution (HUBERT) (Case T-110/01) [2002] ECR II-5275 (refd)
Vedial SA v OHIM - France Distribution (HUBERT) (Case C-106/03 P) [2004] ECR I-9573 (refd)
Wagamama Ltd v City Centre Restaurants plc [1995] FSR 713 (refd)
WH Allen & Co v Brown Watson Ltd [1965] RPC 191 (refd)
Whirlpool Corp v Kenwood Ltd [2008] EWHC 1930 (Ch) (refd)
Windmere Corp v Charlescraft Corp Ltd (1988) 23 CPR (3 d) 60 (refd)
Windsurfing Chiemsee Produktions- und Vertriebs GmbH v Boots- und Segelzubehör Walter Huber [2000] Ch 523; [1999] ETMR 585 (refd)
You View TV Ltd v Total Ltd [2012] EWHC 3158 (Ch) (refd)
Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed) ss 8 (2) (b) , 8 (4) (b) (i) , 8 (7) (a) (consd) ;ss 2, 7 (4) (b) , 7 (6) , 8, 8 (4) (b) , 8 (4) (b) (ii) , 26, 27, 27 (2) , 28 (3)
European First Council Directive 89/104 of 21 December 1988 Arts 4 (1) , 5 (1)
European Union Trade Marks Directive (Council Regulation 207/2009) Art 9 (1) (b)
Trade Marks Act 1938 (c 22) (UK) s 11
Trade Marks Act 1994 (c 26) (UK) ss 5 (2) , 10 (2) , 10 (3)
Trade Marks And Trade Names—Registration criteria—Conflicts with earlier marks—Applicant seeking registration of trade mark in respect of hotel services—Whether there were grounds for opposition under s 8 (2) (b) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed) — Section 8 (2) (b) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed)
Trade Marks And Trade Names—Registration criteria—Conflicts with earlier marks—Applicant seeking registration of trade mark in respect of hotel services—Whether there were grounds for opposition under s 8 (4) (b) (i) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed) —Section 8 (4) (b) (i) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed)
Trade Marks And Trade Names—Registration criteria—Conflicts with earlier marks—Applicant seeking registration of trade mark in respect of hotel services—Whether there were grounds for opposition under s 8 (7) (a) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed) — Section 8 (7) (a) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed)
Tort—Passing off—Goodwill—Foreign business seeking to establish goodwill in Singapore—Whether pre-trading activity sufficient to establish goodwill—Section 8 (7) (a) Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed)
Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd (‘Staywell’) applied to register a series of two marks (‘the Applicant Mark’) in Singapore under Classes 35 and 43, which related to advertising and marketing services, and hotel and food and beverage services respectively. Sheraton International, Inc and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (collectively, ‘the Opponents’), which owned the Singapore-registered word mark ST. REGIS (‘the Opponent Mark’) in respect of hotel and food and beverage services, opposed the registration before the Principal Assistant Registrar (‘PAR’) of the Registry of Trade Marks. The Opponents relied on, inter alia, ss 8 (2) (b), 8 (4) (b) (i) and 8 (7) (a) of the Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed) (‘the Act’). The PAR allowed the opposition under ss 8 (2) (b) and 8 (4) (b) (i) of the Act and rejected the opposition under s 8 (7) (a) of the Act. Staywell appealed against the PAR's decision in respect of ss 8 (2) (b) and 8 (4) (b) (i) of the Act, while the Opponents appealed against the rejection of the opposition under s 8 (7) (a) of the Act. The High Court judge (‘the Judge’) allowed Staywell's appeal in relation to ss 8 (2) (b) and 8 (4) (b) (i) of the Act, finding that although the parties' marks were similar and...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Starbucks (HK) Ltd and another v British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc and Others
...more recently, the Court of Appeal considered the issue in an impressively wide-ranging judgment in Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc [2013] SGCA 65, [2014] 1 SLR 911. After briefly considering most of the authorities to which I have referred (inc......
-
Lek Gwee Noi v Humming Flowers & Gifts Pte Ltd
...Pte Ltd v Lui Andrew Stewart [2012] 4 SLR 308, CA (folld) Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc [2014] 1 SLR 911 (refd) Stenhouse Australia Ltd v Phillips [1974] AC 391 (refd) Stratech Systems Ltd v Nyam Chiu Shin [2005] 2 SLR (R) 579; [2005] 2 SLR 57......
-
Singsung Pte Ltd LG 26 Electronics Pte Ltd (trading as L S Electrical Trading)
...instance, why we held in Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and another and another appeal [2014] 1 SLR 911 (“Staywell”) that goodwill in the law of passing off can be generated by pre-trading activity which is designed to generate an attractive fo......
-
Allergan, Inc. and another Ferlandz Nutra Pte Ltd
...Pte Ltd v LG 26 Electronics Pte Ltd [2016] 4 SLR 86 (refd) Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc [2014] 1 SLR 911 (folld) Tong Guan Food Products Pte Ltd v Hoe Huat Hng Foodstuff Pte Ltd [1991] 1 SLR(R) 903; [1991] SLR 133 (folld) Vodafone Group plc v......
-
Intellectual Property Law
...Systems Pte Ltd [2021] SGHC 272 at [57], referring to Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc [2014] 1 SLR 911 at [85]–[86]. 74 FUJIFILM Business Innovation Asia Pacific Pte Ltd v PTC Business Systems Pte Ltd [2021] SGHC 272 at [69], referring to Samson......
-
Case Note
...Pte Ltd v Jet Maintenance Pte Ltd [1998] 3 SLR(R) 713; Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc[2014] 1 SLR 911. 15Starbucks (HK) Ltd v British Sky Broadcasting Group plc[2015] WLR 2628; [2015] UKSC 31 at [47]. 16AG Spalding & Bros v AW Gamage Ltd(1915) 3......
-
Intellectual Property Law
...Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Ltd [2017] 2 SLR 308 at [20]–[22]. 78 Ceramiche Caesar SpA v Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Ltd [2017] 2 SLR 308 at [23]. 79 [2014] 1 SLR 911 at [15]. 80 Ceramiche Caesar SpA v Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Ltd [2017] 2 SLR 308 at [32]–[55]. 81 Ceramiche Caesar SpA v Caesarstone Sdot-Yam ......
-
STAYING WELL OUT OF CONFUSION
...Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc [2014] 1 SLR 911 The registration of a trade mark gives the proprietor exclusive rights to use the trade mark in relation to all goods and services for which the trade mark is registered. In Staywell Hospitality Group Pty ......