• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Category Archives: Indiana

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Indigo Vapor Enterprises v. Indigo Vapor Company

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Northern District of Indiana, Trademark

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Christopher A. Nuechterlein, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Federal Cybersquatting, Federal Trademark Dilution, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Litigation Update, Robert L. Miller

Plaintiff, based in South Bend, Indiana,  is an international seller of vaping and e-cigarette materials, including e-juice and holds two U.S. registrations (word mark and stylized) for INDIGO VAPOR. Plaintiff has been using its trademarks since September 2012.

Defendant, an Arizona company, is also selling e-cigarette and vaping products under the mark INDIGO VAPOR from the domain indigovaporcompany.com. It is not clear from the Complaint when Defendant first began using its trademark, although Defendant appears to be the junior user. Reddit communications detailed in the Complaint indicate that Defendant was aware of Plaintiff’s use of the INDIGO VAPOR trademark when selecting its business name.

Indigo Vapor Enterprises LLC v. Indigo Vapor Company LLC et al

Court Case Number: 3:15-cv-00451-RLM-CAN
File Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015
Plaintiff: Indigo Vapor Enterprises LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: John A. Drake of LaDue Curran & Kuehn LLC
Defendant: Indigo Vapor Company LLC, Robert Lee Martin, Charles Nandier
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Dilution, Federal Cybersquatting, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein

View this document on Scribd

Indiana Copyright Litigation Update – Professional Transportation Inc. v. Robert E. Warmka

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Copyright, Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Southern District of Indiana

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Copyright Infringement, Indiana Trade Secret Violation, Litigation Update, Trade, Unfair Competition, William G. Hussmann

This lawsuit, removed from Vanderburgh Superior Court to the Southern District of Indiana, involves a dispute over a “Driver’s Manual.” Defendant is alleged to have left the employ of Plaintiff and utilized portions of their proprietary driver’s manual with his new employer. Defendant removed the lawsuit to federal court.

Professional Transportation Inc. v. Robert E. Warmka

Court Case Number: 3:15-cv-00134-RLY-WGH
File Date: Monday, September 28, 2015
Plaintiff: Professional Transportation Inc.
Defendant: Robert E. Warmka
Cause: Indiana Trade Secret Violation, Unfair Competition, Copyright Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Richard L. Young
Referred To: Magistrate Judge William G. Hussmann, Jr.

Notice of Removal:

View this document on Scribd

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Pro Se Plaintiff sues The Mind Trust, Indianapolis Public Schools for Copyright Infringement (Again)

14 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Copyright, Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Northern District of Indiana

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Copyright Infringement, Jon E. DeGuilio, Litigation Update, Pro Se, Susan L. Collins

At its core, this is a copyright lawsuit involving educational “models.” However, this lawsuit is particularly interesting for several reasons. Here are a few:

  1. It’s a pro se plaintiff, hence a non-traditional intellectual property complaint. While only copyright claims seem at issue, the complaint was filed (again, by a pro se) as a 42 USC 1983 civil rights complaint.
  2. Several large, high-profile defendants. Which will take the lead? The complaint focuses on the “Bridges to Success Education School Model” and the “Phalen Leadership Academies Education School Model.”
  3. The copyright application (included in the complaint) was apparently also a pro se copyright application.
  4. Plaintiff has requested a Cease and Desist Order preventing several schools systems from using specific educational “Models” until the lawsuit is resolved.
  5. This is the first “intellectual property” lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Indiana since June 19. Welcome back!

For now, I’ll leave it to the Defendants’ lawyers to parse all the facts and allegations in the Complaint. Stay tuned for updates.

Angela E. Brooks-Ngwenya v. The Mind Trust et al

Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-00255-JD-SLC
File Date: Friday, September 11, 2015
Plaintiff: Angela E. Brooks-Ngwenya
Plaintiff Counsel: Angela E. Brooks-Ngwenya – Pro Se
Defendant: The Mind Trust, United Way of Central Indiana, Central Indiana Education Alliance, Phalen Leadership Academies, Indianapolis Public Schools
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Susan L. Collins

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Prior Court of Appeals Decision:

View this document on Scribd

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Baby Trend v. Phil and Teds Most Excellent Buggy Company

31 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Southern District of Indiana, Trademark

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition and False Designation of Origin, Litigation Update

Plaintiff Baby Trend has used the registered NAVIGATOR trademark in connection with strollers and related products for over fifteen years.

Defendant, a New Zealand limited company, is alleged to be selling a stroller under an identical trademark (see Complaint below for photographs). Plaintiff’s cease-and-desist communications to Defendant beginning in June 2015 have proven unsuccessful, hence this lawsuit.

Baby Trend Inc. v. Phil and Teds Most Excellent Buggy Company Ltd.

Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-01353-TWP-TAB
File Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Plaintiff: Baby Trend Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: R. Trevor Carter, Brad R. Maurer of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Defendant: Phil and Teds Most Excellent Buggy Company Ltd.
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition and False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Trademark Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker

View this document on Scribd

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – 7E Spa Licensing Group v. 7EFS of Wheatridge & 7EFS of Highlands Ranch

16 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by John Taggart in Indiana, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Southern District of Indiana, Trademark

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Breach of Equipment Lease, Breach of Fiduciary Duties, Breach of Licensing Agreement, Breach of Operating Agreement, Indiana Crime Victims' Act, Richard L. Young, Tanya Walton Pratt, Tim A. Baker, Tortious Interference, Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition

Here are two related cases (same Plaintiff) where licensing arrangements went bad:

7E Spa Licensing Group LLC et al v. Susan Dier et al

Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-01111-RLY-TAB
File Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Plaintiff: 7E Spa Licensing Group LLC, 7E Holdings 1 LLC, 7E LLC
Defendant: Susan Dier, 7EFS of Wheatridge LLC, Spectrum Medspa
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, Indiana Crime Victims Act, Breach of Licensing Agreement, Breach of Operating Agreement, Breach of Equipment Lease, Tortious Interference, Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Richard L. Young
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker

View this document on Scribd

7E Spa Licensing Group LLC et al v. 7EFS of Highlands Ranch LLC et al

Court Case Number: 1:15-cv-01109-TWP-TAB
File Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Plaintiff: 7E Spa Licensing Group LLC, 7E Holdings 1 LLC, 7E LLC
Defendant: 7EFS of Highlands Ranch LLC, Spectrum Medspa, Gordon Smith, Jane Smith
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, Indiana Crime Victims Act, Breach of Licensing Agreement, Breach of Operating Agreement, Breach of Equipment Lease, Tortious Interference, Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker

View this document on Scribd
← Older posts
Newer posts →

Categories

  • Advertising Law (1)
  • Artists (23)
  • Authors (20)
  • Bloggers (37)
  • Branding (29)
  • Business Law (9)
  • Copyright (327)
  • Dear KLF Legal (4)
  • Defamation (5)
  • Entertainment Law (14)
  • Estate Law (2)
  • Family Law (2)
  • Fashion (5)
  • Federal Initiatives (33)
  • Indiana (603)
  • Indianapolis (51)
  • Intellectual Property (662)
  • Just for Fun (25)
  • KLF Legal (19)
  • Legislation (34)
  • Litigation (595)
  • Musicians (13)
  • Nonprofit (6)
  • Northern District of Indiana (215)
  • Patent (44)
  • Privacy (15)
  • Right of Publicity (8)
  • Social Media (56)
  • Southern District of Indiana (369)
  • Stories from the Week that Was (42)
  • Supreme Court (13)
  • Tech Developments (119)
  • Trade Dress (26)
  • Trade Secret (15)
  • Trademark (363)
  • What I'm Reading (8)

Bloggers Copyright Federal Initiatives Indiana Indianapolis Intellectual Property Legislation Litigation Northern District of Indiana Patent Social Media Southern District of Indiana Stories from the Week that Was Tech Developments Trademark

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Indiana Intellectual Property Blog
    • Join 81 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Indiana Intellectual Property Blog
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar