Top Notch Construction Ltd. v. Top Notch Oil Field Services Ltd.

Top Notch Construction Ltd. v. Top Notch Oil Field Services Ltd.
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2001-06-12
Neutral citation
2001 FCT 642
File numbers
T-1192-97
Notes
Digest
Decision Content
Date: 20010612
Docket: T-1192-97
Neutral Citation: 2001 FCT 642
Ottawa, Ontario, this 12th day of June, 2001
PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JOHN A. O'KEEFE
IN THE MATTER OF AN INFRINGEMENT BY
TOP-NOTCH OILFIELD SERVICES LTD.
- and -
IN THE MATTER OF SECTION 53.2 OF THE
TRADE MARKS ACT(R.S.C. 1985, CHAPTER T-13)
BETWEEN:
TOP NOTCH CONSTRUCTION LTD.
Plaintiff
- and -
TOP-NOTCH OILFIELD SERVICES LTD.
Defendant
REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER
O'KEEFE J.
[1] This is an action against Top-Notch Oilfield Services Ltd. (the "defendant") by Top Notch Construction Ltd. (the "plaintiff"). The plaintiff, according to the statement of claim, has carried on a construction services business; namely, earth moving, commercial, residential and subdivision real estate development, irrigation systems construction, road construction and crushing and washing of rock, gravel, stone and other forms of aggregate. The defendant does pipelining, maintenance, insulation, hotshot services (basically an oil field courier service) and surface abandonments.
[2] The parties submitted the following Notice of Agreed Facts as exhibit 1 at the trial. It reads as follows:
NOTICE OF AGREED FACTS
1. This Statement of Facts is hereby agreed to on behalf of the parties hereto for the purpose of shortening and facilitating the trial of this action, but it shall not bind the parties in any other proceedings before any court other than in this action. No evidence inconsistent with the Statement of Facts may be offered at trial, but additional evidence not inconsistent with this statement may be offered subject to all the usual rules of evidence.
2. The Plaintiff, Top Notch Construction Ltd. ("Top Notch Construction") is a body corporate duly incorporated in or about 1966 pursuant to the laws of the Province of Alberta. Exhibit 1 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Registration of Top Notch Construction dated April 19, 1966. Top Notch Construction has its head office in the City of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta.
3. The Defendant, Top-Notch Oilfield Services Ltd. ("Top-Notch Oilfield Services") is a body corporate duly incorporated in or about August, 1993 pursuant to the laws of the Province of Alberta. Exhibit 2 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Incorporation of Top-Notch Oilfield Services dated August 23, 1993. Top-Notch Oilfield Services has its head office in the Town of Stettler, in the Province of Alberta.
4. Stettler is approximately 225 kilometres from the City of Calgary.
5. Top Notch Construction is the owner in Canada of a trade mark, Serial No. 696 662 (Registration TMA 410,500) for the trade mark "Top Notch Construction Ltd. Calgary". Exhibit 3 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the Certificate of Registration of the said trade mark dated April 2, 1993 (the "Trade Mark"). The said Trade Mark was validly filed and registered on the dates indicated on the Certificate. The Defendant has taken no formal steps to dispute this Trade Mark registration.
6. The incorporation dates and names of the following corporations are validly set out on the attached Certificates of Incorporation:
(a) Top Notch Limited is a body corporate duly incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Alberta. Exhibit 4 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Incorporation [sic] Top Notch Limited dated March 15, 1948.
(b) 240541 Alberta Ltd. (changed to "Top Notch Resources Ltd..") is a body corporate duly incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Alberta. Exhibit 5 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Incorporation of 240541 Alberta Ltd. dated March 19, 1980 and Exhibit 6 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Change of Name of 240541 Alberta Ltd. to Top Notch Resources Ltd. dated December 11, 1980. 240541 Alberta Ltd. was a shelf company until December, 1980 when the principals of the Plaintiff acquired it and immediately changed its name to Top Notch Resources Ltd.
(c) Top Notch Aggregate Ltd. is a body corporate duly incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Alberta. Exhibit 7 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Incorporation of Top Notch Aggregate Ltd. dated January 15, 1980.
(d) Top Notch Screening Ltd. is a body corporate duly incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Alberta. Exhibit 8 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is the Certificate of Incorporation of Top Notch Screening Ltd. dated February 26, 1980.
7. Both the Plaintiff and Defendant have continually used the subject names since their incorporation in providing services to their customers.
8. Exhibit 9 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a NUANS search report dated August 23, 1993 obtained by Top-Notch Oilfield Services Ltd. at the time of its incorporation.
9. Attached as Exhibits 10, 11 and 12 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits are copies of NUANS pre-search reports dated December 11, 200 and December 12, 2000.
10. Either party may at the trial of this matter enter into evidence NUANS searches, trade name searches, corporate searches and partnership searches notwithstanding it is not a certified copy of the report or search.
11. Exhibit 13 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a list produced in response to the undertaking given at discoveries to produce a list of all of Top Notch Construction's clients.
12. Exhibit 14 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a list produced in response to the undertaking given at discoveries to produce a list of clients that Top-Notch Oilfield Services has worked for and presently works for from August, 1993.
13. Exhibit 15 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of a business card for Top-Notch Oilfield Services produced in response to an undertaking given at Examination for Discovery.
14. Exhibit 16 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the Telus Yellow Pages for 1997.
15. Exhibit 17 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the Red Deer and Area Phone Book.
16. Exhibit 18 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the 1996-1997 Canadian Oilfield Service and Supply directory.
17. Exhibit 19 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the 1997-1998 Canadian Oilfield Service and Supply Directory.
18. Exhibit 20 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the 1999-2000 Canadian Oilfield Service and Supply Directory.
19. Exhibit 21 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is Top-Notch Oilfield Services Ltd.'s supplier list produced in response to a [sic] undertaking given at discoveries.
20. Exhibit 22 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a letter dated June 3, 1996 from counsel for the Plaintiff to the Defendant. The Defendant received this letter on or about June 5, 1996. After receipt of this letter counsel for the Plaintiff and counsel for the Defendant engaged in correspondence and negotiations, albeit not vigorously until June 5, 1997 when the Statement of Claim in this matter was filed.
21. Exhibit 23 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of 1998 Alberta Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association Equipment Rental Rates Guide.
22. Exhibit 24 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the 2000 Alberta Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association Equipment Rental Rates Guide.
23. Exhibit 25 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the 1997 Canadian Construction Service and Supply Directory (Alberta).
24. Exhibit 26 in the Book of Agreed Exhibits is a copy of the 1998 Canadian Construction Service and Supply Directory (Alberta).
[3] The plaintiff's trade-mark is for services and is as shown below:
The right to the exclusive use of the words "construction" and "Calgary" is disclaimed apart from the trade-mark.
[4] The services listed in the registration are:
(1) Construction services namely, earth moving, commercial, residential and
subdivision real estate development, irrigation systems construction, road construction and crushing and washing of rock, gravel, stone and other forms of aggregate.
When the plaintiff started in 1966, it had two pieces of equipment, a motor grader and a crawler tractor with a dozer. In the year 2000, the plaintiff had between 225 and 250 pieces of equipment with a market value between $35 and $40 million dollars.
[5] The defendant's company name and trade-name is depicted as follows:
[Note: Background is darker due to copying.]
[6] The defendant does pipelining, maintenance, insulation, hotshot service and surface abandonments in connection with oil fields. The president of the defendant, Mr. MacNutt, testified in some detail as to the specific services offered by his company by making reference to the services listed on the sign contained in Exhibit P-15. The president of the defendant was also questioned on cross-examination concerning the listing of well site reclamation services and the claim that the defendant was a "full service contractor". He explained that to him, the term "full service contractor" means the defendant company provides all of the services requested by a customer that it can do; the remainder of the services are done by a third party that was referred to the customer by the defendant company. He testified that "well site reclamation" was a typo and should have read "well site abandonments".
[7] Mr. MacNutt testified that his company had never been involved in the construction of an oil lease, an oil field road, in the crushing and washing of rock, gravel, stone or aggregate, or in any reclamation work (well site).
[8] Mr. MacNutt also testified that his company owns two 200LC trackhoes (excavators), one 310 John Deere rubber-tired backhoe, one boom cat (for lowering pipe when doing pipelining), an air compressor, four half ton trucks, ten one ton trucks and various small tools.
[9] The evidence of Mr. MacNutt established that the defendant performed some type of work for the Town of Stettler but the nature of the work was not identified.
[10] The plaintiff's president, Alex Lockton, testified that generally his company worked from Red Deer south, in southern Alberta. His company had worked further north in Alberta, but not recently.
[11] The defendant provides oil field services in the Stettler and Rock Mountain House areas and has provided services in the Hanna and Drumheller areas.
[12] The plaintiff claimed the following relief in its statement of claim:
25. An interlocutory and permanent injunction restraining the defendant from:
(i) infringing the exclusive rights of the plaintiff;
(ii) using or displaying the trade-mark of the plaintiff or any other marks likely to be confusing with the plaintiff's trade-mark;
(iii) doing any act likely to have the effect of depreciating the plaintiff's goodwill and its reputation in its trade-mark;
26. An Order for the delivery up or destruction of all offending material whatsoever in the defendant's possession or by its officers, directors, employees, agents, franchisees, licensees and all those over whom they exercise control and all other persons who have notice of this action;
27. Judgment for damages sustained by the plaintiff or an accounting of the profits of the defendant as a result of its unlawful conduct which, upon inquiry, the plaintiff may elect;
28. An Order revoking the registration of any use of the plaintiff's trade-mark as a trade name of the defendant pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta);
29. Punitive damages;
30. Interest pursuant to the provisions of the Judgment Interest Act, S.A. 1984, c. J-0.5 or, alternatively, interest at such rate as this Honourable Court deems fit;
31. The plaintiff's costs of an incidental to this action on a solicitor/client basis.
Issue
[13] Is the plaintiff entitled to the relief requested?
Relevant Statutory Provisions
[14] The relevant sections of the Trade-marks Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. T-13 (the "Act") read as follows:
2."confusing", when applied as an adjective to a trade-mark or trade-name, means a trade-mark or trade-name the use of which would cause confusion in the manner and circumstances described in section 6;
"distinctive", in relation to a trade-mark, means a trade-mark that actually distinguishes the wares or services in association with which it is used by its owner from the wares or services of others or is adapted so to distinguish them;
2. « créant de la confusion » Relativement à une marque de commerce ou un nom commercial, s'entend au sens de l'article 6.
« distinctive » Relativement à une marque de commerce, celle qui distingue véritablement les marchandises ou services en liaison avec lesquels elle est employée par son propriétaire, des marchandises ou services d'autres propriétaires, ou qui est adaptée à les distinguer ainsi.
"trade-mark" means
(a) a mark that is used by a person for the purpose of distinguishing or so as to distinguish wares or services manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by him from those manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by others,
(b) a certification mark,
(c) a distinguishing guise, or
(d) a proposed trade-mark;
"trade-name" means the name under which any business is carried on, whether or not it is the name of a corporation, a partnership or an individual;
« marque de commerce » Selon le cas_:
a) marque employée par une personne pour distinguer, ou de façon à distinguer, les marchandises fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées ou les services loués ou exécutés, par elle, des marchandises fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées ou des services loués ou exécutés, par d'autres;
b) marque de certification;
c) signe distinctif;
d) marque de commerce projetée.
« Nom commercial » Nom sous lequel une entreprise est exercée, qu'il s'agisse ou non d'une personne morale, d'une société de personnes ou d'un particulier.
6. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a trade-mark or trade-name is confusing with another trade-mark or trade-name if the use of the first mentioned trade-mark or trade-name would cause confusion with the last mentioned trade-mark or trade-name in the manner and circumstances described in this section.
(2) The use of a trade-mark causes confusion with another trade-mark if the use of both trade-marks in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services associated with those trade-marks are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
(3) The use of a trade-mark causes confusion with a trade-name if the use of both the trade-mark and trade-name in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services associated with the trade-mark and those associated with the business carried on under the trade-name are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
(4) The use of a trade-name causes confusion with a trade-mark if the use of both the trade-name and trade-mark in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services associated with the business carried on under the trade-name and those associated with the trade-mark are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
(5) In determining whether trade-marks or trade-names are confusing, the court or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall have regard to all the surrounding circumstances including
(a) the inherent distinctiveness of the trade-marks or trade-names and the extent to which they have become known;
(b) the length of time the trade-marks or trade-names have been in use;
(c) the nature of the wares, services or business;
(d) the nature of the trade; and
(e) the degree of resemblance between the trade-marks or trade-names in appearance or sound or in the ideas suggested by them.
6. (1) Pour l'application de la présente loi, une marque de commerce ou un nom commercial crée de la confusion avec une autre marque de commerce ou un autre nom commercial si l'emploi de la marque de commerce ou du nom commercial en premier lieu mentionnés cause de la confusion avec la marque de commerce ou le nom commercial en dernier lieu mentionnés, de la manière et dans les circonstances décrites au présent article.
(2) L'emploi d'une marque de commerce crée de la confusion avec une autre marque de commerce lorsque l'emploi des deux marques de commerce dans la même région serait susceptible de faire conclure que les marchandises liées à ces marques de commerce sont fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées, ou que les services liés à ces marques sont loués ou exécutés, par la même personne, que ces marchandises ou ces services soient ou non de la même catégorie générale.
(3) L'emploi d'une marque de commerce crée de la confusion avec un nom commercial, lorsque l'emploi des deux dans la même région serait susceptible de faire conclure que les marchandises liées à cette marque et les marchandises liées à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom sont fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées, ou que les services liés à cette marque et les services liés à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom sont loués ou exécutés, par la même personne, que ces marchandises ou services soient ou non de la même catégorie générale.
(4) L'emploi d'un nom commercial crée de la confusion avec une marque de commerce, lorsque l'emploi des deux dans la même région serait susceptible de faire conclure que les marchandises liées à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom et les marchandises liées à cette marque sont fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées, ou que les services liés à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom et les services liés à cette marque sont loués ou exécutés, par la même personne, que ces marchandises ou services soient ou non de la même catégorie générale.
(5) En décidant si des marques de commerce ou des noms commerciaux créent de la confusion, le tribunal ou le registraire, selon le cas, tient compte de toutes les circonstances de l'espèce, y compris_:
a) le caractère distinctif inhérent des marques de commerce ou noms commerciaux, et la mesure dans laquelle ils sont devenus connus;
b) la période pendant laquelle les marques de commerce ou noms commerciaux ont été en usage;
c) le genre de marchandises, services ou entreprises;
d) la nature du commerce;
e) le degré de ressemblance entre les marques de commerce ou les noms commerciaux dans la présentation ou le son, ou dans les idées qu'ils suggèrent.
7. No person shall
(a) make a false or misleading statement tending to discredit the business, wares or services of a competitor;
(b) direct public attention to his wares, services or business in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause confusion in Canada, at the time he commenced so to direct attention to them, between his wares, services or business and the wares, services or business of another;
(c) pass off other wares or services as and for those ordered or requested;
(d) make use, in association with wares or services, of any description that is false in a material respect and likely to mislead the public as to
(i) the character, quality, quantity or composition,
(ii) the geographical origin, or
(iii) the mode of the manufacture, production or performance
of the wares or services; or
(e) do any other act or adopt any other business practice contrary to honest industrial or commercial usage in Canada.
7. Nul ne peut_:
a) faire une déclaration fausse ou trompeuse tendant à discréditer l'entreprise, les marchandises ou les services d'un concurrent;
b) appeler l'attention du public sur ses marchandises, ses services ou son entreprise de manière à causer ou à vraisemblablement causer de la confusion au Canada, lorsqu'il a commencé à y appeler ainsi l'attention, entre ses marchandises, ses services ou son entreprise et ceux d'un autre;
c) faire passer d'autres marchandises ou services pour ceux qui sont commandés ou demandés;
d) utiliser, en liaison avec des marchandises ou services, une désignation qui est fausse sous un rapport essentiel et de nature à tromper le public en ce qui regarde_:
(i) soit leurs caractéristiques, leur qualité, quantité ou composition,
(ii) soit leur origine géographique,
(iii) soit leur mode de fabrication, de production ou d'exécution;
e) faire un autre acte ou adopter une autre méthode d'affaires contraire aux honnêtes usages industriels ou commerciaux ayant cours au Canada.
19. Subject to sections 21, 32 and 67, the registration of a trade-mark in respect of any wares or services, unless shown to be invalid, gives to the owner of the trade-mark the exclusive right to the use throughout Canada of the trade-mark in respect of those wares or services.
19. Sous réserve des articles 21, 32 et 67, l'enregistrement d'une marque de commerce à l'égard de marchandises ou services, sauf si son invalidité est démontrée, donne au propriétaire le droit exclusif à l'emploi de celle-ci, dans tout le Canada, en ce qui concerne ces marchandises ou services.
20. (1) The right of the owner of a registered trade-mark to its exclusive use shall be deemed to be infringed by a person not entitled to its use under this Act who sells, distributes or advertises wares or services in association with a confusing trade-mark or trade-name, but no registration of a trade-mark prevents a person from making
(a) any bona fide use of his personal name as a trade-name, or
(b) any bona fide use, other than as a trade-mark,
(i) of the geographical name of his place of business, or
(ii) of any accurate description of the character or quality of his wares or services,
in such a manner as is not likely to have the effect of depreciating the value of the goodwill attaching to the trade-mark.
20. (1) Le droit du propriétaire d'une marque de commerce déposée à l'emploi exclusif de cette dernière est réputé être violé par une personne non admise à l'employer selon la présente loi et qui vend, distribue ou annonce des marchandises ou services en liaison avec une marque de commerce ou un nom commercial créant de la confusion. Toutefois, aucun enregistrement d'une marque de commerce ne peut empêcher une personne_:
a) d'utiliser de bonne foi son nom personnel comme nom commercial;
b) d'employer de bonne foi, autrement qu'à titre de marque de commerce_:
(i) soit le nom géographique de son siège d'affaires,
(ii) soit toute description exacte du genre ou de la qualité de ses marchandises ou services,
d'une manière non susceptible d'entraîner la diminution de la valeur de l'achalandage attaché à la marque de commerce.
22. (1) No person shall use a trade-mark registered by another person in a manner that is likely to have the effect of depreciating the value of the goodwill attaching thereto.
(2) In any action in respect of a use of a trade-mark contrary to subsection (1), the court may decline to order the recovery of damages or profits and may permit the defendant to continue to sell wares marked with the trade-mark that were in his possession or under his control at the time notice was given to him that the owner of the registered trade-mark complained of the use of the trade-mark.
22. (1) Nul ne peut employer une marque de commerce déposée par une autre personne d'une manière susceptible d'entraîner la diminution de la valeur de l'achalandage attaché à cette marque de commerce.
(2) Dans toute action concernant un emploi contraire au paragraphe (1), le tribunal peut refuser d'ordonner le recouvrement de dommages-intérêts ou de profits, et permettre au défendeur de continuer à vendre toutes marchandises revêtues de cette marque de commerce qui étaient en sa possession ou sous son contrôle lorsque avis lui a été donné que le propriétaire de la marque de commerce déposée se plaignait de cet emploi.
Analysis and Decision
[15] There has been no challenge by the defendant as to the validity of the plaintiff's mark. Consequently, because the mark is registered, it will be presumed valid.
[16] I now must determine, as regards to section 20 of the Act, whether the defendant's use of its trade name (Top-Notch Oilfield Services Ltd.) is confusing within the meaning of section 6 of the Act. For ease of reference, I will repeat the provisions of section 6 of the Act:
6. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a trade-mark or trade-name is confusing with another trade-mark or trade-name if the use of the first mentioned trade-mark or trade-name would cause confusion with the last mentioned trade-mark or trade-name in the manner and circumstances described in this section.
(2) The use of a trade-mark causes confusion with another trade-mark if the use of both trade-marks in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services associated with those trade-marks are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
(3) The use of a trade-mark causes confusion with a trade-name if the use of both the trade-mark and trade-name in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services associated with the trade-mark and those associated with the business carried on under the trade-name are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
(4) The use of a trade-name causes confusion with a trade-mark if the use of both the trade-name and trade-mark in the same area would be likely to lead to the inference that the wares or services associated with the business carried on under the trade-name and those associated with the trade-mark are manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by the same person, whether or not the wares or services are of the same general class.
(5) In determining whether trade-marks or trade-names are confusing, the court or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall have regard to all the surrounding circumstances including
(a) the inherent distinctiveness of the trade-marks or trade-names and the extent to which they have become known;
(b) the length of time the trade-marks or trade-names have been in use;
(c) the nature of the wares, services or business;
(d) the nature of the trade; and
(e) the degree of resemblance between the trade-marks or trade-names in appearance or sound or in the ideas suggested by them.
6. (1) Pour l'application de la présente loi, une marque de commerce ou un nom commercial crée de la confusion avec une autre marque de commerce ou un autre nom commercial si l'emploi de la marque de commerce ou du nom commercial en premier lieu mentionnés cause de la confusion avec la marque de commerce ou le nom commercial en dernier lieu mentionnés, de la manière et dans les circonstances décrites au présent article.
(2) L'emploi d'une marque de commerce crée de la confusion avec une autre marque de commerce lorsque l'emploi des deux marques de commerce dans la même région serait susceptible de faire conclure que les marchandises liées à ces marques de commerce sont fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées, ou que les services liés à ces marques sont loués ou exécutés, par la même personne, que ces marchandises ou ces services soient ou non de la même catégorie générale.
(3) L'emploi d'une marque de commerce crée de la confusion avec un nom commercial, lorsque l'emploi des deux dans la même région serait susceptible de faire conclure que les marchandises liées à cette marque et les marchandises liées à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom sont fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées, ou que les services liés à cette marque et les services liés à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom sont loués ou exécutés, par la même personne, que ces marchandises ou services soient ou non de la même catégorie générale.
(4) L'emploi d'un nom commercial crée de la confusion avec une marque de commerce, lorsque l'emploi des deux dans la même région serait susceptible de faire conclure que les marchandises liées à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom et les marchandises liées à cette marque sont fabriquées, vendues, données à bail ou louées, ou que les services liés à l'entreprise poursuivie sous ce nom et les services liés à cette marque sont loués ou exécutés, par la même personne, que ces marchandises ou services soient ou non de la même catégorie générale.
(5) En décidant si des marques de commerce ou des noms commerciaux créent de la confusion, le tribunal ou le registraire, selon le cas, tient compte de toutes les circonstances de l'espèce, y compris_:
a) le caractère distinctif inhérent des marques de commerce ou noms commerciaux, et la mesure dans laquelle ils sont devenus connus;
b) la période pendant laquelle les marques de commerce ou noms commerciaux ont été en usage;
c) le genre de marchandises, services ou entreprises;
d) la nature du commerce;
e) le degré de ressemblance entre les marques de commerce ou les noms commerciaux dans la présentation ou le son, ou dans les idées qu'ils suggèrent.
[17] The test used to determine whether a trade-mark is confusing was set out by the Federal Court of Appeal in Miss Universe Inc. v. Bohna (1994), 58 C.P.R. (3d) 381 (F.C.A.) at page 387:
To decide whether the use of a trade mark or of a trade name causes confusion with another trade mark or another trade name, the court must ask itself whether, as a matter of first impression on the minds of an ordinary person having a vague recollection of that other mark or name, the use of both marks or names in the same area in the same manner is likely to lead to the inference that the services associated with those marks or names are performed by the same person, whether or not the services are of the same general class. (See s. 6(2), (3) and (4) of the Act; Rowntree Co. v. Paulin Chambers Co., [1968] S.C.R. 134; Oshawa Holdings Ltd. v. Fjord Pacific Marine Industries Ltd. (1981), 55 C.P.R. (2d) 39, 36 N.R. 71 (F.C.A.); Mr. Submarine Ltd. v. Amandista Investments Ltd. (1987), 19 C.P.R. (3d) at pp. 9-10, [1988] 3 F.C. 91, 16 C.I.P.R. 282 (C.A.), Thurlow C.J. and Canadian Schenley Distilleries Ltd. v. Canada's Manitoba Distillery Ltd. (1975), 25 C.P.R. 1 at p. 12 (F.C.T.D.), Cattanach J.).
In determining whether there is a likelihood of confusion, the court shall have regard to all the surrounding circumstances, including those described in s. 6(5) above.
[18] Additionally, in United Artists Corp. v. Pink Panther Beauty Corp. (1998), 80 C.P.R. (3d) 247 (F.C.A.) Linden J. A. stated at pages 258 to 259:
A trade-mark is a mark used by a person to distinguish his or her wares or services from those of others. The mark, therefore, cannot be considered in isolation, but only in connection with those wares or services. This is evident from the wording of subsection 6(2). The question posed by that subsection does not concern the confusion of marks, but the confusion of goods or services from one source as being from another source. It is for this reason that marks which rely on geographic origins or generally descriptive words (e.g. the fictional marks Pacific Coffee or Premium Soda) are not afforded a wide ambit of protection. Even though proposed marks might be similar to them, the public is not likely to assume that two products that describe themselves as being "Pacific" or "Premium" necessarily originate from the same source. Because confusion is not likely, protection is not necessary.
This concentration on the source of the wares or services must inform any consideration of section 6 of the Act. Six factors are enumerated: five specific and one general one. I shall briefly discuss each one of them in turn. The five specific considerations that must be considered indicate that the Court must balance the right of the trade-mark owner to the exclusive use of his or her mark, with the right of others in the marketplace to compete freely.
[19] The first factor to be considered is:
The inherent distinctiveness of the trade-marks or trade names and the extent to which they have become known.
The plaintiff's trade-mark is "TOP NOTCH Construction Ltd. Calgary" which is encircled by the crawler track of a bulldozer. The right to the exclusive use of the words "Construction" and "Calgary" is disclaimed apart from the trade-mark. The defendant's trade name is "TOP-NOTCH Oilfield Services Ltd.". In my opinion, neither the trade-mark nor the trade name are inherently distinctive. The words "Top Notch" and "Top-Notch" are descriptive words. The word top-notch is generally taken to mean "first rate" (see Oxford Canadian Dictionary 1998 page 1531). The word top-notch is used to describe many things. The jurisprudence of this Court has held that where a mark is only descriptive of the services, less protection will be afforded to the mark.
[20] Even though a mark is not inherently distinctive, it may acquire distinctiveness through continued use in the market place. The plaintiff has advertised extensively over the years and thus, its mark has been made known to the public. The defendant did a small amount of advertising using its trade name. In order to establish acquired distinctiveness, it must be shown that the mark has become known to consumers as originating from one particular source (United Artists Corp. v. Pink Panther Beauty Corp., supra at page 259). I am not persuaded by the evidence that either the plaintiff's trade-mark or the defendant's trade name has gained an acquired distinctiveness. Although the plaintiff's business as a contractor can be considered a success story, this does not, given the circumstances of this case, establish that its trade-mark has acquired distinctiveness.
[21] The length of time the trade-marks or trade names have been in use.
In this case, the plaintiff's trade-mark has been in use since 1966. The defendant has used its trade name since 1993. I find that this factor favours the plaintiff. The plaintiff's trade-mark has been in use for a longer time than the defendant's trade name.
[22] The nature of the wares, services or business.
In this case, the services provided by the plaintiff are earth moving, commercial, residential and subdivision real estate development, irrigation systems construction, road construction and crushing and washing of rock, gravel, stone and other forms of aggregate. As well, the evidence of Alex Lockton was that his company did oil site reclamation, road building for oil well sites and it worked joint ventures on some pipeline work. The plaintiff also does plant sites, that is, levelling and preparing sites for new plants and getting the site ready for a new plant. The plaintiff delivers heavy equipment to plant sites as well. The plaintiff is not presently doing pipeline work. Five percent of the plaintiffs work is in the oil field industry.
[23] The defendant provides the following services:
Crew trucks - This is maintenance of anything from the well head to the gas processing or the oil processing.
Picker trucks - This is the same as crew trucks except these trucks have a smaller picker or lifter on them to lift objects.
Pumpjack inspection and maintenance - This involves building pads that the pumpjacks sit on, setting up, calibrating and performing maintenance on the pumpjacks.
Approved pipeline procedures - When the defendant builds a pipeline, it has a pipeline procedure that is registered with the government. As well, any piping built by the defendant is registered with the Alberta Boilers Safety Association.
Journeymen insulators - This person insulates any piping that is above the ground and exposed to the cold.
Insulation supplies - This involves the selling of insulation supplies.
Backhoe service - The defendant has one backhoe that performs backhoe services when it is not working on underground service tanks for Gulf.
Surface abandonment - When the oil well ceases to operate, the defendant removes all of the surface equipment that is at the well head, buildings and anything on the surface. The defendant also removes the underground service tanks from the site.
Hotshot services - This is the delivery of parts to the oil field industry, a form of oil field courier service.
Generally speaking, an assessment of the services provided by the plaintiff and defendant appear to be different. The defendant does not build roads or do reclamation work, although some backhoe work is done with his one backhoe when it is not being used in the oil field industry. Furthermore, although the plaintiff has done some pipeline work in a joint venture, the evidence did not establish how this work was done. For example, was this work done under the name of the plaintiff or the joint venture?
[24] Nature of trade.
This factor relates to the nature of the trade where the services circulate. There is a greater risk of confusion even though the services are dissimilar if the services are provided from the same types of facility. If the services are of the same general category and are sold from the same type of facility, then confusion would be more likely. On the other hand, if the services are not of the same nature and they are distributed from different types of facilities, then there is less likelihood that one mark will be mistaken for the other mark. The nature of the trade is a factor which contains many different considerations. In Joseph E. Seagram & Sons Ltd. v. Seagram Real Estate Ltd. (1990), 33 C.P.R. (3d) 454 (F.C.T.D.) at page 468, MacKay J. stated that the nature of the trade included "the customs and usages of the trade and the character of the markets where the marks are intended to serve their purposes". In the present case, both parties provide services. The great majority of the plaintiff's services are in the road building, irrigation, ditch building and subdivision work. Its service work with respect to the oil fields deals primarily with site reclamation, site preparation and building roads to oil well sites. With respect to road construction, the plaintiff is requested to bid on projects. The plaintiff is sought out because of its reputation for excellent work. Put in simple terms, the plaintiff is primarily in the earth moving trade. Even the farming of the reclamation sites involves moving or farming earth. The defendant on the other hand, offers services to the oil field industry generally in the areas of pipelining, maintenance, insulation, hotshot services and surface abandonments. The defendant does not build roads to well sites, does not do site reclamation and does not construct highways. Its business deals with maintenance services to the oil field industry. Therefore, I find that the nature of the trade of the plaintiff and defendant are different with the exception of a small amount of overlap in the areas of backhoe work and joint venture pipeline work. As stated above, the evidence did not establish how the pipeline work in the joint venture was done.
[25] The degree of resemblance between the trade-marks or trade names in appearance or sound or in the ideas suggested by them.
Under this factor, when the marks are similar, I must assess the likely impression made by the marks on the public. The marks should be assessed in their entirety but it is still acceptable "to focus on a particular feature of the mark that may have a determinative influence on the public's perception of it" (United Artists Corp. v. Pink Panther Beauty Corp., supra at page 259). The plaintiff's trade-mark consists of the words "TOP NOTCH Construction Ltd. Calgary" with the right to the exclusive use of the words "construction" and "Calgary" disclaimed apart from the trade-mark. The word mark is encircled by a crawler dozer's track. The defendant's trade name is "TOP-NOTCH Oilfield Services Ltd." I find that the ideas suggested by the two marks are different. The plaintiff's mark with the crawle