TMRG Pte Ltd v Caerus Holding Pte Ltd: Trade Mark Infringement and Passing Off Dispute over 'Luke's' Restaurant Name

TMRG Pte Ltd and Luke’s Tavern Holdings Pte Ltd, the Appellants, appealed to the Appellate Division of the High Court of Singapore against the decision of the trial judge in Suit 723 of 2020, which dismissed their claims against Caerus Holding Pte Ltd and Lukes Seafood LLC, the Respondents, for trade mark infringement and passing off, and a declaration of invalidity of the respondents’ two registered trade marks. The dispute centered on the use of the name “Luke’s” for their respective dining establishments, “Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House” and “Luke’s Lobster”. The court dismissed the appeal, finding no trade mark infringement or passing off and upholding the trial judge's decision.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Appellate Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Appeal Dismissed

1.3 Case Type

Intellectual Property

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Singapore court dismisses TMRG's appeal, finding no trade mark infringement or passing off in Caerus's use of 'Luke's Lobster' alongside TMRG's 'Luke's Oyster Bar'.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
TMRG Pte LtdAppellant, PlaintiffCorporationAppeal DismissedLost
Luke’s Tavern Holdings Pte LtdAppellant, PlaintiffCorporationAppeal DismissedLost
Caerus Holding Pte LtdRespondent, DefendantCorporationAppeal DismissedWon
Lukes Seafood LLCRespondent, DefendantCorporationAppeal DismissedWon

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Belinda Ang Saw EanJudge of the Appellate DivisionNo
Woo Bih LiJudge of the Appellate DivisionNo
See Kee OonJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Lim Jun Hao AlvinWithers KhattarWong LLP
Tay Wei Wen ZacharyWithers KhattarWong LLP
Hoh Zi Quan MarcusAmica Law LLC
Pang Sze Ray MelvinAmica Law LLC
Ong Eu JinAmica Law LLC

4. Facts

  1. The appellants and respondents both operate dining establishments using the name “Luke’s”.
  2. The appellants operate “Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House”.
  3. The respondents operate “Luke’s Lobster”.
  4. The appellants claimed trade mark infringement and passing off against the respondents.
  5. The appellants sought a declaration of invalidity of the respondents’ trade marks.
  6. The appellants' registered trade mark comprises nine words: “Luke’s Oyster Bar Chop House Travis Masiero Restaurant Group”.
  7. The appellants also used an unregistered seven-word logo (omitting the words “Restaurant Group”).

5. Formal Citations

  1. TMRG Pte Ltd and another v Caerus Holding Pte Ltd and another, Civil Appeal No 80 of 2021, [2022] SGHC(A) 4

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Suit 723 of 2020 filed
Respondents applied to register their trade marks
Existing trade mark dispute in Korea as of this date
Respondents' applications published in September
Respondents' applications published in October
Trial judge's written judgment issued
Civil Appeal No 80 of 2021 filed
Hearing date
Judgment date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Trade Mark Infringement
    • Outcome: The court found no trade mark infringement.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Similarity of marks
      • Distinctiveness of mark
      • Confusion at the point of purchase
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 2 SLR 825
      • [2014] 1 SLR 911
  2. Passing Off
    • Outcome: The court found no passing off.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Goodwill
      • Misrepresentation
      • Damage
  3. Invalidity of Trade Marks
    • Outcome: The court found no basis to declare the respondents’ trade marks invalid.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Injunction
  2. Declaration of Invalidity of Trade Marks

9. Cause of Actions

  • Trade Mark Infringement
  • Passing Off

10. Practice Areas

  • Trade Mark Infringement
  • Intellectual Property Litigation

11. Industries

  • Food and Beverage
  • Restaurant

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Han’s (F & B) Pte Ltd v Gusttimo World Pte LtdHigh CourtYes[2015] 2 SLR 825SingaporeCited for the principle that comparison of marks is done mark-for-mark without consideration of any external matter.
Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and another and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2014] 1 SLR 911SingaporeCited for the principle that distinctiveness must be related back to the impression given by the mark as a whole and for the test of confusion at the point of purchase.
TMRG Pte Ltd and another v Caerus Holding Pte Ltd and anotherHigh CourtYes[2021] SGHC 163SingaporeThe trial judge's judgment which was appealed against in this case.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2005 Rev Ed)Singapore
s 28(1)(a) of the Trade Marks ActSingapore
s 28(3) of the Trade Marks ActSingapore
ss 8(2)(b) of the Trade Marks ActSingapore
s 8(7) of the Trade Marks ActSingapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Trade mark infringement
  • Passing off
  • Distinctiveness
  • Acquired distinctiveness
  • Initial interest confusion
  • Own name defence
  • Registered mark defence
  • Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House
  • Luke’s Lobster

15.2 Keywords

  • Trade mark
  • Infringement
  • Passing off
  • Luke's
  • Restaurant
  • Singapore

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Intellectual Property Law95
Trademarks95
Passing Off80
Civil Procedure30
Jurisdiction20
Contract Law10

16. Subjects

  • Intellectual Property
  • Trade Marks
  • Trade Names