Tag Archives: Dilution

Mar 23 2013

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Royal Purple v. Liqui Moly GmbH

Here’s an interesting case involving a color trademark. Plaintiff Royal Purple, based in Indianapolis, owns several trademark registrations for the color purple  in connection with high-performance lubricants. The Defendant, German-based Liqui Moly, is accused of selling lubricants with containers/packaging that is purple.

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Royal Purple LLC v. Liqui Moly GmbH

Court Case Number: 1:13-cv-00492-SEB-DML
File Date: Friday, March 22, 2013
Plaintiff: Royal Purple LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Deborah Pollack-Milgate, Olivia M. Fleming of Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Defendant: Liqui Moly GmbH
Cause: Trademark Infringement; Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin; Dilution; Common Law Trademark Infringement; Common Law Unfair Competition; Unjust Enrichment
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch

Sep 7 2012

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – 1st Source Bank v. Firstsource Solutions Limited

1st Source Bank v. Firstsource Solutions Limited et al

Court Case Number: 3:12-cv-00480-PPS-CAN
File Date: Thursday, September 06, 2012
Plaintiff: 1st Source Bank
Plaintiff Counsel: Patrick David Murphy of Boveri Murphy Rice LLP
Defendant: Firstsource Solutions Limited, Firstsource Solutions USA Inc, Firstsource Advantage LLC, Firstsource Financial Solutions Inc
Cause: Service Mark Infringement, Unfair Competition, Dilution, Cancellation of Registrations
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Chief Judge Philip P Simon
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Christopher A Nuechterlein

Feb 22 2011

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – ChaCha Search v. HTC America

ChaCha Search, Inc. v. HTC America, Inc. et al

ChaCha is a Delaware corporation based in Carmel, Indiana. It provides a mobile-based search engine that utilizes the assistance of human guides to provide relevant search results. The CHACHA trademark was registered in 2007 for “Search engine services, namely, providing search engines for obtaining data on a global computer network; Search engine services, namely, providing specific information as requested by customers via the Internet in the nature of customized searching, in Class 42.”

Defendant HTC seeks to introduce a new smartphone called the “HTC ChaCha,” prompting Plaintiff to institute this action.

What do you think? Do you read the services listed in ChaCha’s registration above to include “smartphones”? Is ChaCha overreaching here? Would ChaCha’s money have been better spent on additional trademark registrations if they wanted to also protect ChaCha for “mobile phones,” which are in Class 9?

Court Case Number: 1:11-cv-00262-WTL-MJD
File Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Plaintiff: ChaCha Search, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Bradley M. Stohry and Michael A. Wukmer of Ice Miller, LLP
Defendant: HTC America, Inc.
HTC Corporation
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, Dilution, Common Law Unfair Competition, Request for Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relieve
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge William T. Lawrence
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore

Jan 19 2011

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Trustees of Purdue University v. Reinke Sports Group LLC et al

The Trustees of Purdue University v. Reinke Sports Group LLC et al

Purdue University, a world-renowned institution of higher learning, is located in West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. In late 2009, the Defendants announced their intention to hold a foot racing event called “Home of Purdue Half Marathon” in the Lafayette-West-Lafayette area. Purdue’s attorneys sent the standard cease-and-desist letters objecting to the use of the University’s trademarks. Nevertheless, Defendant continued to advertise the event as being connected to and affiliated with the University.  The event was run on Oct. 24, 2010 without permission from Purdue University.

This case was removed from Tippecanoe Circuit Court.

Court Case Number: 4:11-cv-00005-PPS -APR
File Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011
Plaintiff: Trustees of Purdue University
Plaintiff Counsel: William P. Kealey of Stuart & Branigin LLP
Defendant: Reinke Sports Group LLC, Dean Reinke, Allsportcentral.com Inc.
Defendant Counsel: Matthew S Tarkington and Peter S French of Lewis & Kappes PC
Cause: Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, Trademark Infringement, Common Law Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Dilution, Cyberpiracy under the Lanham Act, Unfair Competition by Passing Off
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Chief Judge Philip P. Simon
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich

Dec 12 2010

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Traveler’s Joy v. Haycco

Traveler’s Joy Inc. v. Haycco, LLC

Straightforward trademark dispute with a hint of intentional imitation. Plaintiff has used the TRAVELER’S JOY trademark in connection with gift registry services since 2005. Defendant operates a honeymoon registry service at joyhoneymoon.com.  The Complaint doesn’t specify how long Defendant has been using the JOYHONEYMOON mark but the copyright notice on their website is 2009.

TRAVELER’S JOY v. JOY HONEYMOON…confusingly similar?

Court Case Number: 1:10-cv-01574-TWP-TAB
File Date: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Plaintiff: Traveler’s Joy Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Robert L. Barlow, III of Bahret & Associates
Defendant: Haycco, LLC
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Federal Dilution of Famous Mark
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker

Nov 23 2010

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – CNH America v. Davis Equipment Sales & Service

CNH America, LLC v. Davis Equipment Sales & Service, Inc.

Plaintiff CNH has sold agricultural products under the NEW HOLLAND marks since 1957. Defendant was previously an authorized reseller, but continues to use Plaintiff’s marks after termination of the license arrangement. Further evidence that it makes sense to spend some extra time up front drafting a concise trademark license rather than resort to litigation on the back end.

Court Case Number: 4:10-cv-00141-RLY-WGH
File Date: Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Plaintiff: CNH America, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Catherine A. Nestrick of Bamberger Foreman Oswald & Hahn
Defendant: Davis Equipment Sales & Service, Inc.
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, Dilution
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Richard L. Young
Referred To: Magistrate Judge William G. Hussmann, Jr.

Jul 1 2010

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Allison Transmission v. Harlan Global Manufacturing

The complaint alleges that Harlan Global is putting old Allison transmissions into new tractors and selling the tractors around the world as having new components.  Harlan’s advertisements allegedly do not inform the purchasing public that the tractors manufactured and sold by Harlan include previously used components obtained from a source other than the original manufacturer (Allison) or an authorized remanufacturer. Allison has received complaints from consumers.

Allison Transmission, Inc. v. Harlan Global Manufacturing LLC

Court Case Number: 1:10-cv-00789-SEB-TAB
File Date: Monday, June 21, 2010
Plaintiff: Allison Transmission, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Mary J. Frisby of Barnes & Thornburg
Defendant: Harlan Global Manufacturing LLC
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement Under The Lanham Act, False Designation of Origin/False Advertising Under the Lanham Act, Counterfeiting Under the Lanham Act, Dilution, Unfair Competition Under Indiana Common Law, Common Law Trademark Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker

Jun 30 2010

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – North American Van Lines files 3 suits in Northern District of Indiana

North American Van Lines (“NAVL”) apparently has a few trademark licensees who haven’t been making their license payments and yet refuse to stop using NAVL’s marks. 3 lawsuits have been filed recently in the Northern District by NAVL to enforce their rights (and collect some cash). For a copy of either complaint, please leave a comment.

North American Van Lines Inc. v. Firebird Moving & Storage Inc.

Court Case Number: 1:10-cv-00199-JVB-RBC
File Date: Monday, June 21, 2010
Plaintiff: North American Van Lines Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: David K. Hawk, Michael D. Hawk of Hawk Haynie Kammeyer & Chickedantz LLP
Defendant: Firebird Moving & Storage Inc.
Cause: Breach of Contract, Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin and Unfair Competition, Trademark Dilution, Unfair Competition
Court: Indiana Northern District Court
Judge: Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey

North American Van Lines Inc. v. Wayne Moving & Storage Co Inc

Court Case Number: 1:10-cv-00200-JD-RBC
File Date: Friday, June 18, 2010
Plaintiff: North American Van Lines Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: David K. Hawk, Michael D. Hawk of Hawk Haynie Kammeyer & Chickedantz LLP
Defendant: Wayne Moving & Storage Co Inc.
Cause: Breach of Contract, Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin and Unfair Competition, Trademark Dilution, Unfair Competition
Court: Indiana Northern District Court
Judge: Judge Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey

North American Van Lines Inc. v. C&D Moving & Storage Co.

Court Case Number: 1:10-cv-00198-TLS-RBC
File Date: Friday, June 18, 2010
Plaintiff: North American Van Lines Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: David K. Hawk, Michael D. Hawk of Hawk Haynie Kammeyer & Chickedantz LLP
Defendant: C & D Moving & Storage Co.
Cause: Breach of Contract, Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin and Unfair Competition, Trademark Dilution, Unfair Competition
Court: Indiana Northern District Court
Judge: Judge Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey