Universal Trailer Cargo Group (“UTC”) manufactures and sells race car trailers using the trademarks EDGE PRO and EDGE CLASSIC. They own a registration for THE EDGE in connection with “towage storage trailers.”
Since 2010, Heartland Recreational Vehicles (“Heartland”) has sold recreational vehicles, namely, fifth wheel toy haulers using the trademark EDGE. (Here’s a video for those who aren’t familiar with toy haulers.)
Heartland has filed a federal application for EDGE in connection with “recreational vehicles, namely fifth wheels; recreational vehicles, namely toy haulers; recreational vehicles, namely travel trailers.”
UTC subsequently opposed Heartland’s trademark application and threatened trademark litigation against Heartland.
In order to litigate on their home turf and increase the chance of finding a judge who understands the difference between a car trailer and a recreational vehicle, Heartland filed this lawsuit in the Northern District of Indiana (which includes Elkhart, the RV Capital of the World) seeking a declaratory judgment of non-infringement of UTC’s trademarks. Stay tuned for updates.
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC v. Universal Trailer Cargo Group, Inc.
Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00255-TLS-CAN
File Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2016
Plaintiff: Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Ryan M. Fountain
Defendant: Universal Trailer Cargo Group, Inc.
Cause: Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein
Complaint:
Indiana Intellectual Property Blog 