Ivy Tech sued for $2 million over use of BLACK COLLEGE EXPO trademark

17 Wednesday May 2023

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

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Common Law Trademark Infringement, False Descriptions and Representations, False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Counterfeiting, Federal Trademark Infringement, Jon E. DeGuilio, Michael G. Gotsch

The National College Resources Foundation (“NCRF”) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and purported owner of the registered BLACK COLLEGE EXPO trademark.

Ivy Tech Community College (“Ivy Tech”), a two-year community college serving over 75 Indiana communities, allegedly used the phrase “Black College Expo” to describe an enrollment event held on its South Bend campus in January 2023. NCRF’s counsel sent a cease-and-desist in December 2022 and Ivy Tech promptly agreed to stop using the phrase but did not do so, apparently using it again in a January 9 Instagram post.

Apparently not satisfied with Ivy Tech’s response (notably during a holiday period when many college employees would not be working or even checking email), NCRF now brings a federal trademark lawsuit against Ivy Tech seeking $2,000,000 as well as punitive damages.

The BLACK COLLEGE EXPO registration is actually owned by a California individual named Theresa Price, apparently the founder and CEO of the National College Resources Foundation. The unsigned Complaint (see below) does not reference any license between Mrs. Price and the organization but presumably that does exist. The registration also includes a disclaimer of the descriptive term “EXPO.”

Should this lawsuit go far enough, I’d expect Ivy Tech and the other defendants to assert that they were not using “BLACK COLLEGE EXPO” as a source-identifying trademark and rather simply as a non-source-identifying descriptive term. However, it’s more likely that the community college (via instructions from its insurance provider) will back down and pay some nominal settlement amount to quickly resolve the lawsuit. The Complaint also includes as defendants two organizations connected to the Ivy Tech event, Mentoring Moments and The Strong Friend. I’m guessing both of those organizations have better ways to spend their funds than fighting a federal lawsuit.

Stay tuned for updates.

National College Resources Foundation v. The Strong Friends LLC et al.

Court Case Number: 3:23-cv-00367-JD-MGG
File Date: May 4, 2023
Plaintiff: National College Resources Foundation
Plaintiff Counsel: Justin A. Smith, Esq. of National College Resources Foundation
Defendant: The Strong Friends LLC, Mentoring Moments, LLC, Ivy Tech Community College
Cause: Federal Trademark Counterfeiting, Federal Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, False Descriptions and Representations, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Michael G. Gotsch, Sr.

Complaint:

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501(c)(3) v. 501(c)(6) Nonprofits

26 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Intellectual Property, Legislation, Nonprofit

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Tax

Many people are familiar with the “501(c)(3)” nonprofit designation. But what many don’t realize is that Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is just one of many tax law provisions granting exemption from the federal income tax to nonprofit organizations. Another common designation is the 501(c)(6) nonprofit. For each type of exemption classification, varying rules and requirements may apply. The following information will help nonprofits and donors understand the distinction between these two types of nonprofit organizations, 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6), including important tax deduction consequences.

501(c)(3)

501(c)(3) exemptions apply to entities organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (e.g. NCAA).

Donors who make charitable contributions to most types of 501(c)(3) organizations generally are afforded a charitable deduction under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Regulations specify the applicable requirements for donors to claim such deductions (e.g., receipts for donations over $250).

501(c)(6)

A 501(c)(6) is specifically reserved to business leagues. A business league is an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit. Trade associations and professional associations are business leagues. To be exempt, a business league’s activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons. 501(c)(6) organizations are exempt from most federal income taxes. However, donations to a 501(c)(6) are not tax deductible as charitable contributions, as is the case with a 501(c)(3). Donations to 501(c)(6) organizations are not required to be disclosed.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of key characteristics of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit designations:

Note: this blog post contains general advice. Please consult your own attorney or accountant with specific legal and tax issues.

Wounded Warrior Project sues Indiana Veteran over Critical Comments on Website

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Intellectual Property, Nonprofit

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Censorship, Common Law Unfair Competition, Criminal Deception, Debra McVicker Lynch, Defamation, False Advertising, Litigation Update, Richard L. Young, Tortious Interference with Business Relationships, Unjust Enrichment

Plaintiff, Wounded Warrior Project, is a Virginia-based nonprofit that claims to provide comfort items to service members injured in combat. Defendant Help Indiana Vets operates an Indiana-based website (run by a U.S. Army veteran) that is critical of Plaintiff’s operations, asserting that “Wounded Warrior Project is a Fraud.” Wounded Warrior Project responded by filing this lawsuit in an attempt to force Defendant to change the website.

Defendant seems intent on fighting the lawsuit on behalf of “all Wounded Warriors” and is soliciting donations for a legal defense fund. Veterans, bloggers, free speech and anti-censorship advocates will likely be interested in supporting Defendant in this litigation but it will be an uphill battle since Plaintiff already has a team of high-powered attorneys.

Stay tuned for updates.

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. v. Help Indiana Vets, Inc. et al

Court Case Number: 1:13-cv-01857-RLY-DML
File Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013
Plaintiff: Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Jessica M. Lindemann of Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Defendant: Help Indiana Vets, Inc., Dean M. Graham
Cause: False Advertising, Criminal Deception, Defamation, Common Law Unfair Competition, Tortious Interference with Business Relationships, Unjust Enrichment
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Richard L. Young
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch