Polaroid v. Polarad Electronics
Polaroid Corp. v. Polarad Electronics Corp. · 1961 · 2d Cir.
What happened
The decision set out the multi-factor test still used in the Second Circuit to assess likelihood of confusion, including similarity of the marks, proximity of the goods, and evidence of actual confusion.
The money
No reliable public figure. This dispute matters for the rule it settled rather than for a damages number, and many trademark matters resolve on confidential terms.
What it means for your business
Similarity of the names is only one factor among many. How close the goods are, how strong the senior mark is, and whether buyers exercise care all matter — which is why a name can be safe in one class and hopeless in another.