In-N-Out Burger, Inc. v. Sehwani, Inc

IN-N-OUT BURGER, INC., petitioner, vs.
SEHWANI, INCORPORATED,et. al. respondents.

December 24, 2008. G.R. No. 179127
FACTS: Petitioner filed before the Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) of the IPO an administrative
complaint against respondents for unfair competition and cancellation of trademark registration.
It averred in its complaint that it is the owner of the trade name IN-N-OUT and the following
trademarks: (1) "IN-N-OUT"; (2) "IN-N-OUT Burger & Arrow Design"; and (3) "IN-N-OUT
Burger Logo." It pointed out that its internationally well-known trademarks and the mark of the
respondents are all registered for the restaurant business and are clearly identical and confusingly
similar. Thus, the IPO Director General ruled that Respondents are guilty of unfair competition.
The Court of Appeals declared that Section 163 of the Intellectual Property Code
specifically confers upon the regular courts, and not the BLA-IPO, sole jurisdiction to hear and
decide cases involving provisions of the Intellectual Property Code, particularly trademarks.
ARGUMENT OF THE PETITIONER: The contested trademarks are registered with the
Trademark Office of the US and in various parts of the world, are internationally well-known,
and have become distinctive of its business and goods through its long and exclusive commercial
use.
ARGUMENTS OF THE RESPONDENTS:
1. Petitioner had never entered into any transaction involving its goods and services in the
Philippines and, therefore, could not claim that its goods and services had already been
identified in the mind of the public. In addition, the disputed mark was not well-known.
2. Respondents used the mark "IN N OUT" in good faith and were not guilty of unfair
competition, since respondent Sehwani, Incorporated did not evince any intent to ride
upon petitioner’s goodwill by copying the mark "IN-N-OUT Burger" exactly.
ISSUE: Whether the IPO Director of Legal Affairs correctly ruled that Respondents are guilty
of unfair competition.
RULING: Having ruled that the IPO Director of Legal Affairs had jurisdiction to decide the
petitioner’s administrative case against respondents and the IPO Director General had exclusive
jurisdiction over the appeal of the judgment of the IPO Director of Legal Affairs, the Court ruled
on the issue of Unfair Competition.
The essential elements of an action for unfair competition are (1) confusing similarity in
the general appearance of the goods and (2) intent to deceive the public and defraud a
competitor. The confusing similarity may or may not result from similarity in the marks, but may
result from other external factors in the packaging or presentation of the goods. The intent to
deceive and defraud may be inferred from the similarity of the appearance of the goods as
offered for sale to the public. Actual fraudulent intent need not be shown.
The IPO Director General ably explains the basis for his finding of the existence of unfair
competition in this case, viz: The evidence on record shows that the Respondents were not using
their registered trademark but that of the Petitioner. Moreover, Respondents are also using
Petitioner’s registered mark Double-Double for use on hamburger products. Using of IN-N-OUT
BURGER in businesses signages also reveals fraudulent intent to deceive purchasers.
The Office cannot give credence to Respondent’s claim of good faith and that they have
openly and continuously used the subject mark since 1982 and is in the process of expanding its
business.
Administrative proceedings are governed by the "substantial evidence rule." A finding of
guilt in an administrative case would have to be sustained for as long as it is supported by
substantial evidence that the respondent has committed acts stated in the complaint or formal
charge. As defined, substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind may
accept as adequate to support a conclusion. As recounted by the IPO Director General in his
decision, there is more than enough substantial evidence to support his finding that respondents
are guilty of unfair competition.

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In-N-Out Burger, Inc. v. Sehwani, Inc

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IN-N-OUT BURGER, INC., petitioner, vs.

SEHWANI, INCORPORATED,et. al. respondents.

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