G.R. No. 185917 - Fredco Manufacturing Corp. vs. President and Fellows of Harvard College

Case Summary (G.R. No. 185917)

Antecedent Facts

Fredco filed a Petition for Cancellation with the IPO Bureau of Legal Affairs on 10 August 2005 (Inter Partes Case No. 14-2005-00094) seeking cancellation of Harvard’s Philippine Registration No. 56561 (the “Harvard Veritas Shield Symbol”) insofar as it covered Class 25 goods. Fredco’s claim rested on alleged prior Philippine use and registration by its predecessor New York Garments for “Harvard” clothing beginning in 1982 and registration matured in 1988. Harvard University asserted worldwide ownership and extensive prior use and registration of the “Harvard” name and its shield mark, including registrations in many jurisdictions and use in commerce dating to the 19th century (with Class 25 use in the U.S. since 1953). Harvard denied licensing or authorizing Fredco/New York Garments to use its name or marks in the Philippines.

Administrative proceedings at the IPO (Bureau and Director General)

The Bureau of Legal Affairs (Director Estrellita Beltran‑Abelardo) rendered a 22 December 2006 decision canceling Harvard’s Registration No. 56561 only with respect to Class 25 goods, finding Fredco/New York Garments’ rights in Class 25 predated Harvard’s Philippine registration. Harvard appealed to the Office of the Director General of the IPO. On 21 April 2008 the Director General reversed the Bureau decision, ruling that ownership (not merely local use) is determinative when registration is based on home registration, and that Harvard had superior rights and had substantiated appropriation and prior use of its name and emblem. The Director General found Fredco had not explained origins of its alleged use and had no authorization from Harvard.

Proceedings in the Court of Appeals

Fredco sought judicial review in the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals affirmed the Director General’s decision, finding Harvard had appropriated and used “Harvard” and the shield symbol for Class 25 long before Fredco/New York Garments; the CA also emphasized Fredco’s failure to explain the use of identifying indicia that tied its goods to Harvard (e.g., “USA,” “Cambridge, Massachusetts,” “Established 1936”). The CA applied equitable principles (citing Shangri‑La/Developers Group) to bar relief to a party who sought to profit by imitation. The Court of Appeals denied Fredco’s motion for reconsideration on 8 January 2009.

Issue before the Supreme Court

Whether the Court of Appeals committed reversible error in affirming the Director General’s reversal of the Bureau of Legal Affairs’ cancellation of Harvard’s Philippine trademark registration for Class 25.

Supreme Court holding (disposition)

The petition for review was denied; the Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals’ decision and resolution. The Court ruled that Harvard’s marks are well‑known internationally and in the Philippines and that Fredco’s contentions failed for several legal and factual reasons.

Factual findings adopted by the Court

The Supreme Court accepted these uncontested or established facts from the record: the “Harvard” mark is identical to Fredco’s mark; Harvard’s corporate origins and long historical use of the “Harvard” name (since the 17th century) and extensive use in commerce (including Class 25 use in the U.S. since 1953); Harvard has registrations in at least 50 countries; New York Garments’ Philippine use dates only from 1982; New York Garments’ registration was later cancelled (30 July 1998) for failure to file the required affidavit; Fredco had no explanation for the adoption of Harvard identifiers on its logo.

Legal reasoning — territoriality, home registration, and statutory cures

The Court addressed the interplay of the territoriality principle and exceptions for foreign home registration. Under Section 2 of R.A. No. 166, local use in the Philippines is ordinarily required for registration. However, Section 37 of R.A. No. 166 (home registration provision) permits registration based on a foreign (Paris Convention) registration without prove of prior Philippine use. Further, Section 239.2 of R.A. No. 8293 deems marks registered under R.A. No. 166 to have been granted under R.A. No. 8293 and thereby removes the defect of absence of prior Philippine use for such marks. The Court therefore accepted that Harvard’s home‑registration foundation and the statutory scheme cured any alleged absence of prior Philippine use.

Legal reasoning — false suggestion and Section 4(a) of R.A. No. 166

The Court independently found that Fredco’s registration and use of “Harvard” together with indicia such as “Cambridge, Massachusetts,” “Established 1936,” and “USA” falsely suggested a connection with Harvard University. Section 4(a) of R.A. No. 166 bars registration of marks that “may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs,” etc. The Court concluded Fredco had no affiliation with Harvard and offered no adequate explanation for these representations; its later claim that the indicia were used to evoke a “lifestyle” only confirmed an intent to appropriate Harvard’s goodwill. Registration obtained in violation of Section 4 constitutes a ground for cancellation under Section 17(c) of R.A. No. 166.

Legal reasoning — Paris Convention protection for well‑known marks and trade names

The Court relied on Articles 6 bis and 8 of the Paris Convention as incorporated in Philippine law (Section 37 R.A. No. 166) and on administrative directives implementing Article 6 bis to hold that internationally well‑known marks and trade names are entitled to protection i

Case Syllabus (G.R. No. 185917)

Antecedent Facts

On 10 August 2005, Fredco Manufacturing Corporation (Fredco), a Philippine corporation, filed a Petition for Cancellation of Registration No. 56561 before the Bureau of Legal Affairs of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), docketed as Inter Partes Case No. 14-2005-00094, seeking cancellation of a registration issued to President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard University).
Fredco alleged Registration No. 56561 was issued to Harvard University on 25 November 1993 for the mark "Harvard Veritas Shield Symbol" covering decals, tote bags, serving trays, sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats and flying discs under Classes 16, 18, 21, 25 and 28.
Fredco alleged the mark "Harvard" for t-shirts, polo shirts, sandos, briefs, jackets and slacks was first used in the Philippines on 2 January 1982 by New York Garments Manufacturing & Export Co., Inc. (New York Garments), Fredco’s predecessor-in-interest.
On 24 January 1985 New York Garments filed for trademark registration of the mark "Harvard" for goods under Class 25; the application matured into a Certificate of Registration issued on 12 December 1988, with the registration later assigned to Romeo Chuateco.
Fredco alleged it was organized and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 9 November 1995 and thereafter handled manufacture, promotion and marketing of "Harvard" clothing articles.
Fredco alleged New York Garments' registration was cancelled on 30 July 1998 for failure to file an affidavit of use/non-use on the fifth anniversary, but asserted the right to the mark remained with its predecessor and now with Fredco.

Respondent’s Assertions and Evidence

Harvard University alleged ownership of the name and mark "Harvard" in numerous countries worldwide, including an enumerated list of jurisdictions (including but not limited to Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China P.R., France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Philippines, United States of America, and the European Community), with the list extending to at least 50 named countries.
Harvard asserted the name and mark "Harvard" was adopted in 1639 as the name of Harvard College, has been used in commerce as early as 1872, and that Harvard University is over 350 years old and internationally highly regarded.
Harvard asserted its name and mark have been extensively promoted, used and advertised in foreign countries, including the Philippines, and valued between US $750,000,000 and US $1,000,000,000.
Harvard discovered, via its international trademark watch program in March 2002, Fredco’s website harvard-usa.com and alleged that the site advertised "Harvard Jeans USA" without authorization; Harvard filed an administrative complaint against Fredco on 20 April 2004 for trademark infringement and/or unfair competition with damages.
Harvard produced Philippine trademark registrations it asserted as valid and existing, including:
- Trademark Registration No. 56561 (issued 25 November 1993) for "Harvard Veritas Shield Design" for goods and services in Classes 16, 18, 21, 25 and 28;
- Trademark Registration No. 57526 (issued 24 March 1994) for "Harvard Veritas Shield Symbol" for services in Class 41;
- Trademark Registration No. 56539 (issued 25 November 1998) for "Harvard" for services in Class 41;
- Trademark Registration No. 66677 (issued 8 December 1998) for "Harvard Graphics" for goods in Class 9.
Harvard filed affidavits of use for the "Harvard Veritas Shield Symbol" with the IPO and, on 7 May 2003, filed Trademark Application No. 4-2003-04090 for "Harvard Medical International & Shield Design" for services in Classes 41 and 44.
Harvard established the Harvard Trademark Licensing Program in 1989 through the Office for Technology and Trademark Licensing to manage worldwide licensing; Harvard stated it never authorized or licensed anyone to use its name and mark in connection with goods or services in the Philippines.

Administrative Proceedings and Initial IPO Ruling

In a Decision dated 22 December 2006, Director Estrellita Beltran-Abelardo of the Bureau of Legal Affairs, IPO granted Fredco’s Petition for Cancellation insofar as to cancel Trademark Registration No. 56561 for "HARVARD VERITAS 'SHIELD' SYMBOL" only with respect to goods falling under Class 25, while preserving the registration for goods under Classes 16, 18, 21 and 28.
The Bureau of Legal Affairs ordered forwarding the filewrapper of Registration No. 56561 and a copy of its Decision to the Bureau of Trademarks for appropriate action.

Appeal to the Office of the Director General, IPO

Harvard appealed to the Office of the Director General of the IPO.
In a Decision dated 21 April 2008, Director General Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. reversed the Bureau of Legal Affairs’ decision, ruling that registration rights are based on ownership and that an applicant who is not the owner has no right to register the mark.
The Director General noted the mark in Registration No. 56561 included both the word "Harvard" and the logo/emblem/symbol of Harvard University and found Fredco failed to explain how New York Garments came up with the mark "Harvard" or to present evidence of any license or authorization from Harvard University.
The dispositive portion of the Director General’s Decision reversed and set aside the appealed decision and remanded records for appropriate action.

Court of Appeals Decision and Reconsideration

Fredco filed a petition for review with the Court of Appeals (CA) challenging the Director General’s Decision.
In its assailed Decision dated 24 October 2008, the Court of Appeals affirmed the Office of the Director General’s decision, adopting its findings and ruling that Harvard had appropriated and used the marks "Harvard" and "Harvard Veritas Shield Symbol" in Class 25 well ahead of Fredco and its predecessor.
The Court of Appeals found no adequate explanation in th