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Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Category Archives: Indiana

Fort Wayne Printing Company sues FortWaynePrintShop.com for Trademark Infringement, Dilution

01 Monday Apr 2024

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

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Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal Passing Off, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Holly A. Brady, Susan L. Collins, Trademark Dilution

Fort Wayne Printing Company has performed printing and related services in Northeast Indiana since 1902. They have a pending federal trademark application for FORT WAYNE that successfully passed its 30-day publication window on March 28, 2024. One day later, Fort Wayne Printing Company filed a federal trademark lawsuit in Indiana against a company using the domain FortWaynePrintShop.com.

The defendant, Allen & Goel Marketing Company, has been using the domain name fortwayneprintshop.com to advertise printing and related services. When attempting to purchase services at the domain, it redirects to their primary website, http://www.printshopnation.com.

It’s possible that the marketing company directly targeted Fort Wayne Printing Company in purchasing the FortWaynePrintShop.com domain. However, they may have just purchased a bunch of geographically descriptive domains (i.e. “[cityname]printshop.com) and didn’t check whether any of those names corresponded to a pre-existing company. In the latter scenario, you might expect them to simply give up the domain without incurring a federal lawsuit. By not relinquishing the domain, it could be an indication that this particular geographic domain is especially profitable for them. Further, the FortWaynePrintShop.com domain was first created on 11/11/2011 and the Internet Archive first captured the website in May 2013, so the defendant might have a valid acquiescence or laches defense.

Apparently unable to resolve this situation with normal cease-and-desist communications, probably due to the 10+ years use of the domain name, the plaintiff now seeks court intervention in the Northern District of Indiana. The fact that the lawsuit was filed one day after the trademark application’s publication window closed may indicate that the defendant was never contacted, in order to not tip them off to the application status. Either way, stay tuned for updates.

Optical Tactics, LLC d/b/a Fort Wayne Printing Company v. Allen & Goel Marketing Company

Court Case Number: 1:24-cv-00134-HAB-SLC
File Date: March 29, 2024
Plaintiff: Optical Tactics, LLC d/b/a Fort Wayne Printing Company
Plaintiff Counsel:
Defendant: Allen & Goes Marketing Company
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal Passing Off, Federal Unfair Competition, Trademark Dilution, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Injunctive Relief
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Holly A. Brady
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Complaint:

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Copyright Lawsuit filed over Sullivan Tornado Damage Video

18 Monday Mar 2024

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

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Direct Copyright Infringement, John E. Martin, Philip P. Simon, Photography

The defendant in the latest Indiana copyright lawsuit is a Lafayette,Indiana-based roofing company alleged to have shared a video showing the tornado damage from the town of Sullivan, Indiana on its company Facebook page. The plaintiff is a professional videographer from Colorado.

Companies, go delete old social media posts that include any content that you don’t own or have well-documented permission to use and share. As we’re seeing, old posts can carry a legal risk, so if they are no longer providing a marketing benefit, consider deletion.

Stay tuned for updates.

Rigsby v. All Seasons Roofing

Court Case Number: 4:24-cv-00023-PPS-JEM
File Date: March 14, 2024
Plaintiff: Aaron Rigsby
Plaintiff Counsel: Craig Sanders, Esq. of Sanders Law Group
Defendant: John W. Darnell, Inc. d/b/a All Seasons Roofing
Cause: Direct Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: John E. Martin

Complaint:

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March 2024 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation Update

15 Friday Mar 2024

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

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Litigation Update

This month’s Indiana IP litigation updates are dedicated to John Brannon, a legend of the Indiana IP community, who was laid to rest today. RIP John.

Read on below for updates on all pending Indiana copyright and trademark litigation. Leave a comment about which case(s) you are following most closely.

Noble Roman’s, Inc. v. AMI Stores Management, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/6/2021) – The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on February 16, 2024.

Forest River, Inc. v. inTech Trailers, Inc. (ND, filed 8/31/2021) – A 5-day jury trial was held from February 28, 2024 to March 4, 2024. The jury issued a verdict in favor of the plaintiff on March 5, 2024, finding that there was willful infringement and that the defendant had profits of $2,000,000 from the infringement.

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Gabet et al. v. Amazon.com. Inc. et al. (ND, filed 1/20/2022) – Amazon is apparently getting fed up with this lawsuit and has gone on the offensive, seeking to recover around $16,000 in fees from opposing a prior motion, and a motion for sanctions against the plaintiff’s attorney based on a discovery dispute. A discovery conference was held on March 5, 2024, where they presumably were able to address and hopefully resolve the dispute.

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View this document on Scribd

The Evolutionary Level Above Human, Inc. v. Havel et al (ND, filed 5/18/2022) – On February 21, 2024 and February 27, 2024, the Court ruled on several pending motions. Defendant Bartel must file a written response by March 22, 2024, explaining why he should not be sanctioned to pay Plaintiff’s costs and attorneys’ fees and/or be restricted in his ability to file any further motions in this case without first seeking leave of court. Defendant Havel has been ordered to confer with the plaintiff’s counsel to resolve a discovery dispute prior to March 31, 2024.

Oakley, Inc. v. Batter’s Box Training, LLC et al (SD, filed 8/11/2022) –  No update this month. The lawsuit is still awaiting the Court’s action on the plaintiff’s Stipulation of Dismissal filed on January 18, 2024.

Honest Abe Roofing franchise, Inc. v. DCH & Associates, LLC et al. (SD, filed 9/7/2022) –  No update this month.

The Center for Gestalt Development, Inc. v. Bowman (SD (11/09/2022) – No update this month.  

1.4G Holdings, LLC v. North Central Industries, Inc. et al. (SD 1/05/2023) –  The Court has ordered the filing of dismissal documents by May 10, 2024.

Sak Group, Inc. v. Blue Hill Hospitality, Inc. (ND 4/25/2023) – No update this month.

National College Resources Foundation v. The Strong Friends LLC et al. (ND 5/4/2023) –  No update this month.

Sadowski v. Restoration 1 by J&D, LLC (SD 7/12/2023) –  The plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint on February 21, 2024. Defendant filed a notice of extension of time until March 22, 2024 to respond to the Amended Complaint.

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Nickel and Dimes Incorporated v. Noah’s Arcade LLC et al (ND 7/25/2023) – A Joint Motion for Protective Order was filed on March 13, 2024. No other updates this month.

Hoffman v. Lauth Investigations International Inc. (SD 9/18/2023) – The Court has received notice of settlement and ordered the filing of dismissal papers by April 27, 2024. The settlement conference scheduled for April 10, 2024 has been vacated.

Banjo Corporation v. Green Leaf, Inc. (SD 9/29/2023) – Donald G. Orzeske has entered an appearance on behalf of the defendant.

Perma-Green Supreme, Inc. v. Dr. Permagreen, LLC et al. (ND 10/06/2023) – The plaintiff filed a stipulation to the selection of a mediator on March 1, 2024.

Secada Medical LLC d/b/a Ventris Medical, LLC v. Nexxt Spine, LLC (SD 11/01/2023) – No update this month. Dismissal papers are due by March 24, 2024.

Radic v. AllCity Adjusting LLC et al (ND 11/03/2023) –  The defendants were served on February 15, 2024, and their answer was due on March 7, 2024, which they did not file. The plaintiff filed a Motion for Clerks Entry of Default on March 11, 2024, and a Clerks Entry of Default was issued on March 12, 2024.

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. et al. v. Luxury Mattress & Furniture, LLC (ND 11/09/2023) –  The plaintiff was required to mail its prior filed motions to the defendant’s registered agent, which they completed on March 5, 2024.

Stross v. Homestead Properties, Inc. (SD 11/09/2023) – On February 22, 2024, the plaintiff filed its responses to two Motions to Dismiss filed last month, and the defendant filed its replies on February 29, 2024. The plaintiff tendered a Case Management Plan on March 8, 2024.

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View this document on Scribd

View this document on Scribd

View this document on Scribd

Guangzhou Shima Decoration Materials Co., Ltd v. Shenzhen Ruimingxiang Technology Co., Ltd. (SD 1/08/2024) – No update this month.

Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. et al v. CNB Retailers, LLC et al. (ND 2/08/2024) – The defendants filed an Answer on March 1, 2024, which was subsequently stricken from the record on March 12, 2024 for apparent inadequacies. The Court has afforded the defendants until May 10, 2024 to secure counsel or face sanctions. Uly S. Gunn has appeared pro hac vice on behalf of the plaintiff.

Baskin-Robbins Franchising LLC et al v. Blu Moo Ice Cream Inc. et al. (SD 2/14/2024) – Matthew J. Kramer has appeared pro hac vice on behalf of the plaintiff. The defendants were served on March 13, 2024.

Sadowski v. Circle City Broadcasting I, LLC d/b/a WISH-TV (SD 2/21/2024) – The defendant was served on March 1, 2024.

Valcrum, LLC v. Dexter Axle Company, LLC (SD 3/1/2024) – Angela Kelver Hall and Jason M. Rauch have appeared on behalf of the defendant.

February 2024 Updates – January 2024 Updates

December 2023 Updates – December 2022 Updates –  December 2021 Updates

Trade Dress Lawsuit filed in Indiana over Trailer Axle Hubcaps

04 Monday Mar 2024

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

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Breach of Contract, Common Law Trade Dress Infringement, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Damon R. Leichty, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal Trade Dress Infringement, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Michael G. Gotsch, Unjust Enrichment

An Elkhart, Indiana-based hubcap manufacturer has been sued for trademark and trade dress infringement. The plaintiff, Valcrum of Cypress, Texas, manufactures hubcaps for medium-duty (8,000-16,000 pounds) trailer axles. Valcrum’s axles use a distinctive design consisting of a “signature red hex bezel having a hexagonal outer perimeter and an inner diameter.”

The defendant, Dexter Axle Company, has an extensive business history with Valcrum. The ultimate result of the breakdown of their business relationship, as detailed in the Complaint below, was Dexter producing its own line of axle hubcaps, which allegedly violate the plaintiff’s trademark and trade dress rights. The Complaint also alleges numerous violations of a nondisclosure agreement executed by the parties in 2020.

Stay tuned for updates.

Valcrum, LLC v. Dexter Axle Company, LLC

Court Case Number: 3:24-cv-00190-DRL-MGG
File Date: March 1, 2024
Plaintiff: Valcrum, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Andrew J. Chabot of Botkin & Hall, LLP
Defendant: Dexter Axle Company, LLC
Cause: Breach of Contract, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Trade Dress Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Federal False Designation of Origin, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Trade Dress Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Damon R. Leichty
Referred To: Michael G. Gotsch, Sr.

Complaint:

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WISH-TV sued over New York Garbage Truck Photograph

23 Friday Feb 2024

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

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Copyright Infringement, Photography, Removal or Alteration of Copyright Management Information

Photographers getting paid what they’re owed by news organizations has always been an issue. Just ask Peter Parker.

WISH-TV, an Indianapolis-based local television station, is accused of copying a photograph of a New York garbage truck and reposting it to WISH-TV’s website/social media. The original photograph had been included in a NY Post article via a paid license. In addition to editing the photograph to overlay pictures of three sanitation workers, WISH-TV also cropped out the photographer’s attribution (see Complaint below).

Unable to negotiate a license fee, the photographer is now suing WISH-TV for copyright infringement and removal of the attribution.

If you want a photograph of a random New York garbage truck, either: a) take the photo yourself, b) pay someone to take the photo for you, c) pay someone who has already taken such a photo to use their photo, or d) use AI to create the photo because who will really know, it’s just a random garbage truck. Do not: e) find a photo on Google Images, crop out the photographer’s logo, and post it on your website.

The “news reporting” fair use defense likely won’t work for WISH-TV, because WISH-TV’s article was not reporting about this specific garbage truck but rather just took a random garbage truck photograph and used it in a story about sanitation worker overtime hours. If WISH-TV had been reporting about this particular garbage truck, or even the photographer, they might be able to claim a fair use defense, although they would still need to explain why the photographer’s attribution was cropped.

Stay tuned for updates.

Sadowski v. Circle City Broadcasting I, LLC d/b/a WISH-TV

Court Case Number: 1:24-cv-00324-JRS-TAB
File Date: February 21, 2024
Plaintiff: Christopher Sadowski
Plaintiff Counsel: Michael A. Swift of Maginot, Moore & Beck LLP
Defendant: Circle City Broadcasting I, LLC d/b/a WISH-TV
Cause: Copyright Infringement, Removal or Alteration of Copyright Management Information
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: James R. Sweeney II
Referred To: Tim A. Baker

Complaint:

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