New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 56:4-1 (2026)

Appropriation of name, brand, trade-mark, reputation or goodwill of maker by dealer in product of maker

✓ current as of May 2026
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No merchant, firm or corporation shall appropriate for his or their own use a name, brand, trade-mark, reputation or goodwill of any maker in whose product such merchant, firm or corporation deals.

Amended by L.1975, c. 107, s. 2.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 116 cases (45 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Eli Lilly & Co. v. Roussel Corp., 23 F. Supp. 2d 460 (D.N.J. 1998).
Eli Lilly & Co. v. Roussel Corp., 23 F. Supp. 2d 460 (D.N.J. 1998). · cites it 16× “§ 1125 (a), the New Jersey Unfair Competition Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 56:4-1 ; common law unfair competition; and unjust enrichment against all the defendants.”
Video Pipeline, Inc. v. Buena Vista Home Ent., Inc., 210 F. Supp. 2d 552 (D.N.J. 2002). · cites it 7× “Defendant’s State Law Unfair Competition Claim Video Pipeline claims that BVHE fails to state a claim for state law unfair competition because “claims under N.J.S.A. 56:4-1 are equivalent to those under the federal Lanham Act pertaining to false designation of origin.”
Ciba-Geigy Corp. v. Bolar Pharm. Co., Inc., 747 F.2d 844 (3d Cir. 1985). · cites it 6× “1125 (a) (1982), and under New Jersey's unfair competition law, N.J.S.A. 56:4-1 (1964 and Supp. 1984). CIBA asserted two violations of Sec.”
Duffy v. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 123 F. Supp. 2d 802 (D.N.J. 2000). · cites it 10× “N.J.S.A. § 56:4-1 states: "No merchant, firm or corporation shall appropriate for his or their own use a name, brand, trade-mark, reputation or goodwill of any maker in whose product such merchant, firm or corporation deals.”
Jews for Jesus v. Brodsky, 993 F. Supp. 282 (D.N.J. 1998). · cites it 7× “Infringement Section 56:4-1 of the New Jersey Statutes (“Section 56:4-1”) provides: - No merchant, firm or corporation shall appropriate for his [, her] or their own use a name, brand, trade-mark, reputation or goodwill of any maker in whose product such merchant, firm or…”
Duffy v. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 97 F. Supp. 2d 592 (D.N.J. 2000). · cites it 11× “N.J.S.A. § 56:4-1 states: “No merchant, firm or corporation shall appropriate for his or their own use a name, brand, trade-mark, reputation or goodwill of any maker in whose product such merchant, firm or corporation deals.”
FM 103.1, Inc. v. Universal Broad. of New York, Inc., 929 F. Supp. 187 (D.N.J. 1996). · cites it 8× “§ 1125 (a), N.J.S.A. 56:4-1 and state common law. A complaint (the “Complaint”) was filed on 15 April 1996.”
E.A. Sween Co. v. Deli Express of Tenafly, LLC., 19 F. Supp. 3d 560 (D.N.J. 2014). · cites it 3× “20; and Unfair Competition under New Jersey, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 56:4-1, 56:4-2, and the common law.”
Smart Vent, Inc. v. USA Floodair Vents, Ltd., 193 F. Supp. 3d 395 (D.N.J. 2016). · cites it 6× “§ 1125 (a)(1)(B), the New Jersey unfair competition statute, N.J.S.A. §§ 56:4-1, 4-2, and state common law.”
Bracco Diagnostics, Inc. v. Amersham Health, Inc., 627 F. Supp. 2d 384 (D.N.J. 2009). · cites it 3× “Procedural History On December 16, 2003, Braceo filed a four count Complaint in the District of New Jersey against GEH alleging: (1) dissemination of false and misleading advertisements in violation of Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act; and (2) N.J.S.A. 56:4-1, et seq.; (3)…”
M. Eagles Tool Warehouse, Inc. v. Fisher Tooling Co., 205 F. Supp. 2d 306 (D.N.J. 2002). · cites it 8× “2d 460, 495 (“N.J. Stat. Ann. § 56:4-1 is the statutory equivalent of § 43(a) of the Lanham Act and the two can be treated alike for analytical purposes.”
800-JR Cigar, Inc. v. GoTo. Com, Inc., 437 F. Supp. 2d 273 (D.N.J. 2006). · cites it 3× “20), and VIII (New Jersey statutory unfair competition, N.J.S.A. 56:4-1 et seq.) against Defendant GoTo.”
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