Caitlin V. Neal, a prominent sexologist and sexual health coach, has filed a lawsuit against an e-commerce merchant based in China for using her likeness without consent to promote its products. Neal, who has built a significant online presence across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, alleges that the defendant used her image in online ads for adult wellness products she does not endorse. Neal’s legal complaint centers on false endorsement under the Lanham Act and misappropriation of her right of publicity under Indiana law.Pic-3

What makes this case particularly unusual is that the defendant’s identity is currently unknown. The complaint notes that “The name of the Point-of-Sale Site and other information that may be used to identify Defendant is being filed under seal. Plaintiff seeks leave to do so because Plaintiff intends to move for a temporary restraining order, through which the Court would impose a temporary asset freeze with respect to Defendant’s money transfer platform(s). In the absence of a temporary asset freeze, Plaintiff believes that Defendant would obtain advance notice of this suit and would transfer assets abroad, thereby frustrating this Court’s future rulings. Plaintiff also intends to seek expedited discovery, through which Plaintiff would receive additional information from third-party online marketplace platform(s) to further help identify Defendant.”

This suit reflects the challenges of pursuing legal action against anonymous or foreign entities in the digital age. Neal’s legal team is taking precautions to prevent the defendant from hiding assets abroad before a judgment can be made. Through the temporary restraining order and expedited discovery, they hope to uncover the defendant’s identity and ensure that any ruling in the case can be enforced.

Pic-2-300x242Novartis is a Swiss pharmaceutical company known for developing innovative medicines and therapies, particularly in the radiopharmaceutical market. The company is taking steps to strengthen its position by filing lawsuits against competitors over alleged patent violations concerning its top cancer therapies, Pluvicto and Lutathera. These actions began in 2024 and involve Eli Lilly, its subsidiary, Point Biopharma, Lantheus, and Curium Pharma.

In June 2024, Novartis and the Purdue Research Foundation filed a lawsuit in Indiana, claiming that Lilly’s PNT2002 infringes on their U.S. Patent No. 10,624,970.  Because PNT2002 describes similar conjugates and methods to treat the same kind of cancer (prostate) that Pluvicto is designed to treat, Novartis alleges direct competition with their product.

Lilly and the other defendants have requested the Court dismiss the lawsuit, arguing it is not in direct competition, as PNT2002 is not yet ready for the market and may not even receive regulatory approval by June 2025.

The U.S. Trademark Office issued the following  244 trademark registrations to persons and businesses in Indiana in October 2024 based on applications filed by Indiana trademark attorneys:

Registration    Number                        Wordmark
7518951 SOUTHERN INDIANA
7519940 ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY JETS
7519942 ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY 2008
7532204 INDIANA FARMERS’ DAIRY BAR SINCE 1941
7534427 ENVIRON
7525981 PILLARS OF TRANSFORMATION

Continue reading

Pic-1Plaintiff William Miller filed suit against Empire News, LLC (Defendant) for the unauthorized use of a copyrighted photograph depicting migrants being displaced from the Watson Hotel. The lawsuit asserts violations of the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. §101 et seq.) and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. §1202(b)).

The Plaintiff asserts exclusive rights to the photograph in question, which he reports was first published on January 30, 2023, and later registered by the U.S. Copyright Office on April 1, 2023. Miller claims that the Defendant displayed this image on its website on January 30, 2023, without the proper permission or licensing, thereby violating copyright law.

Empire, LLC, is alleged to have profited from the unauthorized display, thus undermining the Plaintiff’s market for the photograph. The Plaintiff claims that the Defendant failed to implement adequate policies to verify copyright ownership, which indicates negligence in ensuring compliance with copyright law.

On October 11, 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana announced an important development for Fort Wayne’s legal community: Andrew L. Teel has been chosen as the new United States Magistrate Judge. He will take over from the Honorable Susan L. Collins, who will retire in July 2025 after a remarkable career spanning thirty-seven years.

Teel, who earned his degrees from Indiana University Bloomington and the College of William & Mary Law School, brings a wealth of experience to this role. His career includes significantAndrewLTeel positions in both private practice and public service, notably serving as a law clerk for Judge Holly A. Brady since 2019. His background in federal litigation positions him well to handle the challenges of a magistrate judge.

In addition to his professional achievements, Teel has shown a strong commitment to the local community. He has actively participated in the Allen County and Indiana State Bar Associations, recently serving as President of the Allen County Bar Association. Teel is also involved with the Community Advisory Board for the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center.

The U.S. Patent Office issued the following 211 patents to persons and businesses in Indiana in September 2024:

PATENT NUMBER                                                    PATENT TITLE
US 12098575 B2 Transverse concealed latch system
US 12096989 B2 Plan implementation
US 12096745 B2 Animal crate with swing or drop door assembly
US 12097128 B2 System and method for preparing a patient’s femur in an orthopaedic joint replacement procedure
US 12098537 B2 Modular clearspan building, and modular building sections and construction methods therefor

Continue reading

Plaintiff Forest River, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Defendant Sharpline Converting, Inc. over claims of willful trademark infringement. Forest River, a leading manufacturer in the recreational vehicle (RV) industry, argues that Sharpline’s partnership with inTech Trailers, Inc., a direct competitor, has significantly harmed its brand identity and reputation.

Founded in 1996, Forest River is well-known for producing high-quality RVs, including travel trailers and cargo trailers. In a Previous Lawsuit, the company was awarded $5.56 million in damages after a federal court found that inTech Trailers had willfully infringed on Forest River’s trademarks—specifically the DELLA TERRA mark and the unique Forest River Mountain logo. The situation is compounded by the fact that both companies target the same customer base and utilize similar dealership networks, making it easier for consumers to become confused.

PicSharpline operates a manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Indiana, where it provides design and branding services to inTech. Forest River contends that Sharpline willfully and knowingly contributed to inTech’s infringing activities while designing, creating, and manufacturing the “Terra” and new mountain design graphics for inTech’s infringing Terra Travel trailers. Forest River further claims that the relationship between Sharpline and inTech has led to market confusion, undermining the significant investment Forest River has made in marketing its products.

The U.S. Trademark Office issued the following  202 trademark registrations to persons and businesses in Indiana in September 2024 based on applications filed by Indiana trademark attorneys:

Registration    Number        Wordmark
7494237 MUNSTERFEST
7512388 APA JETS
7502813 KAIBAN
7504091 AAAI RECORDS
7509510 AAAI RECORDS

Continue reading

On September 19, 2024, Judge Damon R. Leichty in the United States District Court of Northern Indiana granted Forest River, Inc. enhanced damages after a September 2023 jury found that inTech Trailers, Inc. infringed on its mountain design trademarks for recreational vehicles.

In 2021, Forest River, Inc., a major RV manufacturer, sued inTech for violating two of its trademarks- DELLA TERRA and the mountain design logo. In September 2023, a jury unanimously ruled in favor of Forest River, awarding $2 million and determining that willful infringement had occurred.DellaTerraTrailor

Forest River requested enhanced damages because InTech’s infringement was willful.  The Court began its decision by quoting a famous case in which a trademark registration for THIRST-AID was found to be infringed by the slogan “Gatorade is thirst aid”:

The U.S. Patent Office issued the following 199 patents to persons and businesses in Indiana in August 2024:

US 12070711 B2 Air filter arrangement; assembly; and, methods
US 12070231 B2 Customized patient surgical plan
US 12070975 B2 Under bed hitch mounting system
US 12070251 B2 Systems and methods for spinal rod insertion and reduction
US 12073341 B2 Proactive spatiotemporal resource allocation and predictive visual analytics system

Continue reading

Contact Information