New Albany, IN – Trademark lawyers for The American Automobile Association of Heathrow, Florida filed a lawsuit alleging AAA Affordable Insurance of Charlestown, Indiana, infringed Trademark Nos. 829,265, 2,158,654 and 1,101,726 for the mark AAA, as registered with the U.S. Trademark Office, and committed unfair competition and cyberpiracy.
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Chicago, IL– Intellectual property attorneys for Italian company Tecnomatic have filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois making patent ownership, trademark infringement and other claims against automotive part company Delco Remy of Pendleton, Indiana as well as Delco Remy of Mexico and other parties. The technology at issue is High Voltage Hairpin stator winding technology that is a component of electric motors for hybrid electric vehicles. Tecnomatic alleges that it shared its technology in anticipation of a possible joint venture and that Remy breached confidentiality agreements made as part of that proposal. Tecnomatic further alleges that Remy used its confidential technology to gain business and federal grants and attempted to file patent applications with the US Patent Office without crediting Tecnomatic as inventors.
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Indianapolis, IN – Copyright lawyers for Dion Designs of Quebec, Canada have filed an infringement suit against Allwin Powersports, Corporation, Inc., Arthur Liao, MHR Helmet Co., Ltd., Foshan Shunde Fengxing Helmets, Ltd., and Jiangmen Pengcheng Helmets, Ltd. Plaintiff Dion claims he is a famous designer of helmets, who signed an agreement in 2005 with the Defendants to receive $0.50 for each helmet sold using Dion’s deigns. Defendants paid Dion for some helmets, but terminated the agreement around 2010. However, Dion claims that Defendants used some of Dion’s latest designs to make several new helmets. While some of these designs have been marketed by the Defendants in Europe, Dion fears that they will be offered in the US at the Dealer Expo 2011 on February 18 – 20, 2011 in Indianapolis. Dion claims that he filed copyright applications and design patent applications on his designs, although none of those applications has resulted in a registration or issued patent.
The complaint asserts a veritable “kitchen sink” of claims, such as a Lanham Act claim based on a misrepresentation that Defendants have “authority to import and sell such products, without disclosing the absence of a valid license or agreement with the designer.” Claims are also alleged for copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, conversion, unfair competition, and for declaratory relief. Dion’s complaint is also accompanied by a Motion for Preliminary Injunction seeking to bar the “displaying or promoting” of the allegedly infringing helmets at the Dealer Expo on February 18-20, 2011, or on the Internet.
Practice Note: The Plaintiffs’ complaint appears to have several inconsistencies. The Lanham Act claim based on a “failure to disclose” is highly unusual; normally, a Lanham Act claim is predicated on an overt misrepresentation as to source. Although Dion states that the Defendants’ claim that the helmets were “designed in Europe” is false, even if this is the case, it is hard to see how the Plaintiff is harmed, especially since the complaint states that “Dion’s plans to make commercial use of those designs have been placed on hold.” The copyright infringement claim is suspect because, as discussed elsewhere on this site, the Plaintiffs did not obtain a copyright registration before filing a suit. Also, to support the trade secret misappropriation claim, the plaintiff claims that his designs “derive substantial commercial value from not being generally known.” However, even if the Plaintiffs’ designs were once “not generally known,” they certainly are now since the Plaintiff: (a) attached them to his complaint, (b) filed them with the US Copyright Office, and because (c) the designs are alleged to been sold in Europe for some time. Dion’s claim for “conversion” also appears to be preempted by the Copyright Act. Finally, it seems that Dion will have difficulty establishing the “irreparable harm” factor necessary to obtain preliminary injunctive relief, since his predominant complaint is that he has not received his $0.50 per royalty license fee.
Indianapolis, IN –
A trademark attorney for Noble Roman’s, an Indianapolis-based pizza maker, has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Brabham Oil, a South Carolina corporation. The compliant, filed by Noble Roman’s lawyer, alleges that Brabham Oil formerly operated seven Noble Roman’s franchise locations. According to the complaint, Brabham continued to use Noble Roman’s trade dress, specifically the Warmer Wrap Trade Dress, after the franchise agreements terminated. The attorney for Noble Romans claims that Brabham Oil has violated the terms of the franchise agreements. The complaint makes claims of trademark infringement, under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) and the common law as well as unfair competition, citing 15 U.S.C. § 1125, and breach of the franchise contracts. Noble Romans seeks an injunction and damages. This case has been assigned to Judge Sarah Evans Barker and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch of the Southern District of Indiana, and assigned case no. 1:11-cv-00135-SEB-DML.
Practice Tip: When a franchise agreement terminates, typically the franchisee must promptly cease using and return all signs and other equipment containing trademarks. Failure to do so may result in a lawsuit for breach of contract as well as trademark infringement. Noble Roman’s has been particularly aggressive in enforcing franchise agreements. Since 2007 it has filed the following suits in the Southern District of Indiana:
Fort Wayne, IN -Trademark lawyers for Osmundson Mfg. Co. of Perry, IA have filed a trademark infringement suit against CFC Distributors, Inc., of Wabash County, IN for infringement of the mark TURBO, which has been registered by the US Trademark Office. The plaintiff claims that the defendant is selling similar products and is using the trademark in connection with the sale of its products. This case has been assigned to Judge Rudy Lozano and Magistrate Judge Roger Cosbey of the Northern District of Indiana, and assigned case no. 1:10-cv-00021-RL-RBC.
Because Overhauser Law Offices, the publisher of this blog represents a party in this case, a commentary about this case is not provided.
Lafayette, IN – Trademark lawyers for Coach, Inc. of New York, NY, and Coach Services, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL filed a trademark infringement suit alleging Diggz Clothing, LLC and Lori Harth of Lafayette, IN infringed various Coach trademark registrations which are registered with the US Trademark Office. Coach had sued Diggz in March 2010, then settled the suit for $6,500, and an agreement to stop selling “Accused Products.” However, the latest suit alleges that Diggz breached the settlement agreement, and re-asserts a variety of trademark, copyright, trade dress and unfair competition related claims.
Coach files many infringement suits, and a list of their earlier suits in Indiana in 2010 is at the end of this posting.
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Indianapolis, Indiana – Trademark infringement litigation attorneys for Travellers’ Joy, Inc. of Wilmingon, Delaware has filed an infringement suit against Haycco, LLC of California in the Southern District of Indiana.
The complaint alleges infringement of US registration nos. 3,560,502 and 3,718,357, which are for stylized logos of the word TRAVELLER’S JOY for gift registration services. The plaintiff operates the website www.travelersjoy.com and defendant runs http://joyhoneymoon.com. The complaint also alleges trademark dilution and unfair competition.
New Albany, Indiana – By counsel, CNH America, LLC of Racine, WI, has filed a trademark infringement suit against Davis Equipment Sales & Service, Inc. of Salem, IN, alleging infringement and dilution of the NEW HOLLAND mark and logo, which have been registered by the U.S. Trademark Office, and unfair competition.
The plaintiff manufactures agricultural products and related equipment, while the defendant served as an authorized dealer of those products. The complaint alleges that the defendant, following termination of the dealer agreement, has not complied with its obligation to remove all signs and advertising displays bearing the asserted trademarks, thereby infringing the Lanham Act and Indiana state unfair competition and dilution laws.
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Fort Wayne, Indiana – Patent lawyers for Romary Associates, Inc. of Fort Wayne, IN, filed a lawsuit alleging that Kibbi LLC d/b/a Renegade Custom Coaches and Trailers, McKibbin Enterprises, Inc., and Kibbi Incorporated, all of Bristol, IN, have infringed Patent No. 7,475,809, MOBILE BANKING VEHICLE, as issued by the U.S. Patent Office. Additional counts allege federal unfair competition, breach of contract, tortious interference with a business relationship, and misappropriation of trade secrets under state law.
Factually, the complaint alleges that, subsequent to the execution of a non-disclosure agreement, Romary disclosed its “mobile banking concepts and designs,” including a prototype, to the defendants. Afterwards, the defendants are said to have commenced selling their own mobile banking units, with the sales going to intended or potential Romary customers.
Indianapolis, Indiana – Intellectual property counsel for Top Ten Imports, LLC of Indianapolis, IN, filed a trademark and copyright infringement suit against BMX Imports, L.P. of Farmers Branch, TX. Specifically, the plaintiff Top Ten alleges that the defendant has infringed Top Ten’s space heater trade dress as well as Trademark Reg. No. 3,654,284 for the mark IHEATER, registered with the U.S. Trademark Officein connection with electric space heaters, and copyrighted works protected under Application No. 1-501133071 and Application No. 1-501353066, both of which have been registered by the U.S. Copyright Officeand are directed to ornamental heater design.
Indiana Intellectual Property Law News