Persinger

Wian Enterprises, plaintiff and appellant, - operates principally in Southern California a drive-in restaurant business, the fulcrum of which seems to be a double-decked hamburger served under the name of. “Big Boy.” His advertising on the premises and in the media focuses on a fat infant, .hamburger- in hand. Defendants and appellees are. in a different business: the manufacture of outdoor barbecue equipment. After plaintiff established its use of the name of “Big Boy” and the “Home of Big Boy” defendants became the Big..Boy Manufacturing Company in Southern. California and the “Home of Big Boy Manufacturing Company.”

Plaintiff’s amended complaint pleads two claims of trade-mark infringement and one of unfair competition. The complaint exhaustively pleads with exhibits the evidence of what defendants have done, .but states short conclusions as to the effect of defendants’ acts. The district court granted defendants’ motions to dismiss.

On appeal a close question exists as to whether plaintiff has pleaded enough for any valid claim. Tentatively plaintiff’s mark does not look like what is usually denominated in this class of litigation as a “strong” one. There seems to be little…