Steele v. Bulova Watch Co., Inc.
344 U.S. 280 · Decided December 22, 1952 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Steele v. Bulova Watch Co., Inc. was decided on December 22, 1952 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Tom C. Clark wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Trademarks” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 344 U.S. 280 · 73 S. Ct. 252 · 97 L. Ed. 2d 319 · 1952 U.S. LEXIS 2663
- Docket number
- 38
- Decided
- December 22, 1952
- Argued
- November 10, 1952
- Court era
- Vinson Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–2
- Majority opinion
- Tom C. Clark
- Opinion assigned by
- Fred M. Vinson
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Trademarks
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 15 U.S.C. § 1051
- Type of law
- Infrequently litigated statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Stanley F. Reed | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Felix Frankfurter | Majority | |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Dissent | |
| Justice Robert H. Jackson | Majority | |
| Justice Harold H. Burton | Majority | |
| Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson | Majority | |
| Justice Tom C. Clark | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sherman Minton | Majority |
Did not participate: Hugo L. Black.
Full case caption
Steele et al. v. Bulova Watch Co., Inc.
SCDB identifiers: case 1952-030, docket 1952-030-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Trademarks”
- Champion Spark Plug Co. v. Sanders
- Inwood Laboratories, Inc. v. Ives Laboratories, Inc.
- Park 'n Fly, Inc. v. Dollar Park and Fly, Inc.
- K Mart Corporation v. Cartier, Inc.
- K Mart Corp. v. Cartier, Inc.
- Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc.
Cases on the same legal provision: 15 U.S.C. § 1051
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Sanford v. Kepner
- Lloyd A. Fry Roofing Co. v. Wood
- F. W. Woolworth Co. v. Contemporary Arts, Inc.
- American Trucking Associations, Inc. v. United States
- Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. O'Rourke
- De La Rama Steamship Co., Inc. v. United States
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error