Indiana Intellectual Property Law News

April 5, 2018

Indiana Patent Litigation: Texas Pharmaceutical Company Sues Indiana-Based Roche

Indianapolis, Indiana – Attorneys for Plaintiff, Blue Sky Networks, LLC of Plano, Texas filed suit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Defendant, Roche Diabetes Care, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana infringed its rights in United States Patent Nos. 6,484,027, (“the ‘027 Patent”), 6,865,372, (“the ‘372 Patent”), 8,265,691, (“the ‘691 Patent”), 8,346,169, (“the ‘169 Patent”), and 8,792,828 (“the ‘828 Patent”). Plaintiff is seeking judgment, damages, and attorneys’ fees.

According to the complaint, “The Asserted Patents are directed to wireless mobile devices, such as handsets, peripherals, and computing devices, that operate via wireless short-range direct communication with other wireless devices. Such devices may also be enabled for simultaneous operation on a wireless network…and wireless short-range direct communication with other wireless devices.”

April 4, 2018

Patent Office Issues 180 Patents To Indiana Citizens in March 2018

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

The U.S. Patent Office issued the following 180 patent registrations to persons and businesses in Indiana in March 2018, based on applications filed by Indiana patent attorneys:

Overhauser Law Offices, the publisher of this site, assists with US and foreign patent searches, patent applications and assists with enforcing patents via infringement litigation and licensing.

	Patent No.	Title
1	D0813898	Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface and computer icons
2	D0813804	Electrical power hub
3	D0813661	Expandable sealing mechanism
4	D0813606	Portion of a drink cup
5	9929625	Negative pressure motor sealing

April 3, 2018

161 Trademark Registrations Issued to Indiana Companies in March 2018

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Overhauser Law Offices the publisher of this site, assists with US and foreign trademark searches, trademark applications and assists with enforcing trademarks via infringement litigation and licensing.

Registration No.	Word Mark	Click To View
5434926	FINISH LINE	TSDR
5435259	THE GREAT RELATIONSHIP ACADEMY	TSDR
5433328	VIETNUMMY	TSDR
5433288	FIRE N THE HOLE	TSDR
5433197	BIO-ARCH	TSDR
5433180	FAST FOOD FOR HEALTHY PEOPLE	TSDR
5433169	CLASSYCURLIES	TSDR

March 27, 2018

Indiana Copyright Litigation: Bell Sues Atlanta-Based Real Estate Developer Over Indianapolis Photo

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – Attorney Richard Bell of McCordsville, Indiana filed suit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Defendant, ROI Property Group Management, LLC, infringed its rights in the “Indianapolis Photo” registered on August 4, 2011 with the US Copyright Office, Registration No. VA0001785115. Bell seeks injunctive relief along with statutory damages, costs and attorney fees.

Bell has filed many lawsuits on his own behalf asserting copyright infringement in Indiana federal courts. See:

Bell’s lawsuit against the Defendant stems from Defendant’s alleged use of the copyrighted photo on its commercial website. Plaintiff claims that Defendant used the picture without authorization in November 2017, and the use continued through December 2017.

According to the complaint, the Defendant did not request or receive permission or authorization to use the photo, and instead claimed it owned the copyrights of all images appearing on its website.

Plaintiff has formally alleged copyright infringement and violations of the Lanham Act.

March 26, 2018

Indiana Copyright Litigation: Bell Takes Aim at Indiana-Based Bank in Latest Lawsuit

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – Attorney Richard Bell of McCordsville, Indiana filed suit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Defendant, Merchants Bank of Indiana, infringed its rights in the “Indianapolis Photo” registered on August 4, 2011 with the US Copyright Office, Registration No. VA0001785115. Bell seeks injunctive relief along with statutory damages, costs and attorney fees.

Bell has filed many lawsuits on his own behalf asserting copyright infringement in Indiana federal courts. See:

According to the complaint, the Defendant used the copyrighted photo on its business website without authorization. Plaintiff states that in November 2017, he found the unauthorized use of the photo through a Google image search.

Plaintiff claims that the Defendant recklessly claimed ownership of the photo by claiming copyrights to all photos appearing on its website.

Plaintiff has formally alleged copyright infringement and violations of the Lanham Act.

March 21, 2018

Italian-Based Luxury Eyewear Manufacturer Files Suit Against Indiana Businesses Alleging Infringement of Rayban Trademark

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – Attorneys for Plaintiff, Luxottica Group S.p.A of Mason, Ohio and Oakley, Inc., of Foothill Ranch, California filed suit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Defendants, Avni Petroleum, Inc. d/b/a Delaware BP of Osgood, Indiana, Pari, Inc. d/b/a Batesville Food Mart of Batesville, Indiana, Rani Petroleum, Inc. d/b/a Batesville Shell, and Sai Petroleum Inc. d/b/a New Point Food Mart of New Point, Indiana infringed its rights in United States Trademark Registration Nos. 650,499, 1,093,658, 1,726,955, 1,080,886, 1,490,305, 2,718,485, 1,320,460, and 3,522,603 all with the Owner of Luxottica Group S.p.A. Oakley, Inc., is the owner of Trademark Registration Nos. 1,521,599, 1,984,501, 1,990,262, 3,331,124, and 3,365,728. Plaintiff is seeking injunctive relief, judgment including statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.

Luxottica is an Italian-based corporation that manufacturers and sells luxury eyewear under the “Ray-Ban” trademark. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica that also produces high-end eyewear under the “Oakley” name.

March 19, 2018

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Dismissal of Claims against Subaru of America

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Marilyn D. Mintz of Northern California, had filed a Trademark infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California alleging that Subaru of America, Inc., a New Jersey Corporation with place of Business in the State of New Jersey, infringed a phrase and design trademarked by Plaintiff.

Defendant Subaru, which has a large manufacturing presence in Lafayette, Indiana, ran an ad campaign with the slogan “Share the Love.” Plaintiff alleged that this infringed her trademarked phrase, “A World of Love, for You and Those You Love.” In the ad campaign, Plaintiff also used a graphic design showing a hand with a heart on it. Plaintiff alleged that this infringed a similar design she trademarked.

March 12, 2018

Southern District of Indiana Grants Defendant’s Motion for Judgment Against Richard Bell

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Richard N. Bell of McCordsville, Indiana, had filed a Copyright infringement lawsuit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Jay L. Hess, an individual, of Bloomington, Indiana, infringed the “Indianapolis Photo” taken by Plaintiff.

Bell has become well-known for constantly filing copyright infringement claims regarding a photo of the Indianapolis skyline that he took in 2000. See the following:

March 7, 2018

Patent Office Issues 180 Patents To Indiana Citizens in February 2018

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Overhauser Law Offices, the publisher of this site, assists with US and foreign patent searches, patent applications and assists with enforcing patents via infringement litigation and licensing.

The U.S. Patent Office issued the following 180 patent registrations to persons and businesses in Indiana in February 2018, based on applications filed by Indiana patent attorneys:

	Patent No.	Title
1	PP028990	Grandiflora rose plant named `WEKmeroro`
2	D0811625	Trim module
3	D0811624	Trim module
4	D0811556	Faucet spout
5	D0811555	Faucet

March 6, 2018

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Grants Defendant, Nike, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Jacobus Rentmeester of Westhampton Beach, New York, had filed a Copyright infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, District of Oregon alleging that Nike, Inc., an Oregon Corporation with place of Business in Beaverton, Oregon infringed a photograph taken by Plaintiff.

The photograph at issue in this case was the iconic photo of Michael Jordan upon which the “Air Jordan” brand logo is based. In the photo, taken by Nike shortly after Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, Jordan is seen mid-air, reaching towards a basketball hoop with the ball in his left hand and his legs spread. In the background of the photo is the silhouette of the Chicago skyline, with the dusk sky above it. The photo formed the basis for the famous Jordan Brand logo, which is a white silhouette of Jordan’s shape in the photo against a black background.