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~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Category Archives: Trademark

Mid-August 2021 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation Update

16 Monday Aug 2021

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

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Summer is winding down but several Indiana trademark and copyright lawsuits are just heating up. A few cases were dismissed since last month’s update and there are only a few documents worth highlighting this month. However, with numerous pretrial or settlement conferences scheduled in the next few weeks, there should be plenty to report in next month’s update. For now, here are the mid-August 2021 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation updates:

Noble Romans, Inc. v. Gateway Triangle Corp. et al. (SD, filed 2/5/2021) – On August 12, the parties filed their respective Statement of Claims (below) and a telephonic Settlement Conference is scheduled for August 20, 2021.

View this document on Scribd
View this document on Scribd

Watch Communications v. Jarman et al. (SD, filed 3/8/2021) – On August 10, 2021, the National Farmers Union Property & Casualty Company, an insurance, has filed a motion to intervene to determine its rights and responsibilities to the Plaintiff under a liability insurance policy.

View this document on Scribd

La Michoacana Meat Market TM Holdings, LLC v. Galan et al. (ND, filed 3/9/2021) – A Notice of Voluntary Dismissal was filed on July 29, 2021 and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on August 3, 2021.

Vroom, Inc. v. Midwest Motors LLC et al. (SD, filed 3/24/2021) – The parties have settled and have been granted until August 27, 2021 to file the appropriate dismissal papers.

Delta Faucet Company v. Iakovlev et al. (SD, filed 3/25/2021) – A Protective Order was issued on August 5, 2021 regarding the use and disclosure of discovery produced by nonparty Amazon.

ABI Attachments, Inc. v. Kiser Arena Specialists, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 4/12/2021) – On August 12, 2021, the Plaintiff filed a Motion to Stay all deadlines until the next status conference. This is likely an indication that settlement is close.

Triple LLL Truck Repair, Inc. v. Triple LLL, Inc. et al. (ND, filed 4/26/2021) – Nothing to report.

Energy Beverages LLC v. Full Throttle Automotive LLC (SD, filed 5/19/2021) – A settlement has been reached. On July 28, 2021, the Court ordered that dismissal documents be filed within 28 days.

Monster Energy Company v. R&R Medical, LLC d/b/a Bear KompleX (ND, filed 5/26/2021) – The Defendant’s response deadline has been extended to August 30, 2021.

Egglife Foods, Inc. v. Crepini, LLC (ND, filed 5/28/2021) – The Defendant’s counsel, John A. Conway, filed an appearance on August 13, 2021. Nothing else to report.

Gatewood v. Webber Chappelle (ND, filed 6/4/2021) – No update yet.

Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC v. Lynn Retails, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/4/2021) – An initial pretrial conference is set for August 18, 2021.

Noble Roman’s, Inc. v. AMI Stores Management, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/6/2021) – A settlement conference is scheduled on November 10, 2021.

Valqari LLC v. Dronedek Corporation et al. (SD, filed 6/16/2021) – An initial pretrial conference is set for September 30, 2021.

Fitzgerald et al. v. Murray et al. (SD, filed 6/18/2021) – The Defendant Beacon Books filed a Motion to Dismiss on July 26, 2021, but it was stricken by the Court because it was filed by the Defendant’s Director rather than counsel (a requirement for corporations). Beacon Books filed a document on August 11, 2021 requesting to be assigned a state attorney.

Phoenix Intangibles Holding Company et al. v. Virk Brothers, LLC et al. (ND, filed 7/9/2021) – A telephonic Rule 16 Preliminary Pretrial Conference is scheduled for September 2, 2021.

Poulsen Roser A/S v. Gardens Alive, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 7/14/2021) – An initial pretrial conference is schedule for September 9, 2021.

Haehl v. Dr. Brite, LLC (SD, filed 7/21/2021) – An Affidavit of Service was filed on July 29, 2021. No activity yet by Defendant.

AWGI, LLC et al. v. CLD Trucking Co. d/b/a Atlas Moving Systems AMS (SD, filed 7/22/2021) – An Affidavit of Service was filed on August 4, 2021. No activity yet by Defendant.

Berman v. Auralex Acoustics, Inc. (SD, filed 7/22/2021) – An Affidavit of Service was filed on July 28, 2021. No activity yet by Defendant.

July 2021 Updates

June 2021 Updates

May 2021 Updates

April 2021 Updates

Atlas Van Lines sues Atlas Moving Systems for Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition

27 Tuesday Jul 2021

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

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Tags

Common Law Unfair Competition, Federal Trademark Infringement, Matthew P. Brookman, Richard L. Young

The Plaintiffs in this trademark lawsuit, Atlas Van Lines of Evansville, Indiana, have been transporting goods under the name “Atlas” since 1948. The Atlas family of companies includes more than 430 independent Atlas agencies across the U.S. and Canada, plus authorized partners in 140 countries.

The Defendant is alleged to have offered its moving services to the public since 2015 under the fictitious business name “Atlas Moving Systems AMS,” constituting trademark infringement and unfair competition.

The Plaintiffs first sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Defendants in September 2017. A follow-up letter was sent in November 2020, over three (3) years later. There is no explanation given in the Complaint (below) for the lengthy delay by Plaintiffs in enforcing their trademark rights. However, a Motion for Preliminary Injunction has also been filed along with the Complaint so they’ve clearly determined that they can now no longer abide the Defendants’ ongoing presence in the marketplace. The supporting Memorandum (below) documents instances of actual consumer confusion.

Stay tuned for updates.

AWGI, LLC et al. v. CLD Trucking Co. d/b/a Atlas Moving Systems AMS

Case Number: 3:21-cv-00117-RLY-MPB
File Date: Thursday, July 22, 2021
Plaintiff: AWGI, LLC, Atlas Van Lines, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Mark. F. Warzecha, Esq. of Wideman Malek, PL
Defendant: CLD Trucking Co. d/b/a Atlas Moving Systems AMS
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Richard L. Young
Referred To: Matthew P. Brookman

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Memorandum in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction:

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Mid-July 2021 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation Update

16 Friday Jul 2021

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

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I hope everyone is having a great summer. The last month brought us a few interesting new trademark lawsuits in Indiana and four Answers in ongoing cases. The Courts seem to be fully back in action following a long pandemic lull. Without further ado, here are the mid-July 2021 Indiana Intellectual Property Litigation updates:

Noble Romans, Inc. v. Gateway Triangle Corp. et al. (SD, filed 2/5/2021) – The parties had a telephonic status conference with the Court on June 21 and both parties report discovery is largely complete. This case is set for an in-person settlement conference on Friday, August 20.

Heartland Consumer Products LLC v. Speedway, LLC (SD, filed 2/5/2021) – The lawsuit was dismissed on June 24, 2021 pursuant to a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal.

Watch Communications v. Jarman et al. (SD, filed 3/8/2021) – An Answer to the First Amended Complaint and Amended Counterclaim and Third-Party Complaint was filed on June 30, 2021, with additional details about the parties’ interactions.

View this document on Scribd

La Michoacana Meat Market TM Holdings, LLC v. Lopez et al. (SD, filed 3/9/2021) – The lawsuit was dismissed on June 17, 2021 pursuant to a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal.

La Michoacana Meat Market TM Holdings, LLC v. Galan et al. (ND, filed 3/9/2021) – On July 12, 2021, the Defendants filed their Answer.

View this document on Scribd

Vroom, Inc. v. Midwest Motors LLC et al. (SD, filed 3/24/2021) – The parties had a telephonic status conference with the Court on June 23, 2021. They were ordered to report on the status of settlement by July 23, 2021.

Delta Faucet Company v. Iakovlev et al. (SD, filed 3/25/2021) – No update.

ABI Attachments, Inc. v. Kiser Arena Specialists, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 4/12/2021) – An Answer was filed on June 16, 2021.

View this document on Scribd

Triple LLL Truck Repair, Inc. v. Triple LLL, Inc. et al. (ND, filed 4/26/2021) – The Defendants did not respond to the Complaint by a July 7, 2021 deadline. Nothing else to report.

Energy Beverages LLC v. Full Throttle Automotive LLC (SD, filed 5/19/2021) – The Defendant has been granted an extension until July 30, 2021 to respond to the Complaint.

Monster Energy Company v. R&R Medical, LLC d/b/a Bear KompleX (ND, filed 5/26/2021) – A Rule 16 Preliminary Pretrial Conference is currently scheduled for July 29, 2021, although a consent motion to reschedule and extend deadlines was filed on July 15, 2021.

Egglife Foods, Inc. v. Crepini, LLC (ND, filed 5/28/2021) – No update yet.

Gatewood v. Webber Chappelle (ND, filed 6/4/2021) – No update yet.

Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC v. Lynn Retails, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/4/2021) – Defense counsel (Van T. Willis) filed an Appearance on July 6, 2021 but no other updates.

Noble Roman’s, Inc. v. AMI Stores Management, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 6/6/2021) – An Answer was filed on July 9, 2021. An initial pretrial conference is set for August 3, 2021.

View this document on Scribd

Valqari LLC v. Dronedek Corporation et al. (SD, filed 6/16/2021) – No update yet.

Fitzgerald et al. v. Murray et al. (SD, filed 6/18/2021) – No update yet.

Phoenix Intangibles Holding Company et al. v. Virk Brothers, LLC et al. (ND, filed 7/9/2021) – No update yet.

Poulsen Roser A/S v. Gardens Alive, Inc. et al. (SD, filed 7/14/2021) – No update yet.

June 2021 Updates

May 2021 Updates

April 2021 Updates

Poulsen files Trademark Lawsuit in Indiana over Counterfeit “Ingrid Bergman” Roses

15 Thursday Jul 2021

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

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Tags

Common Law Unfair Competition, Conversion, Debra McVicker Lynch, Federal False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Counterfeiting, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competion, Sarah Evans Barker, Theft

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet –William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet

Poulsen Roser is a family-owned Danish company world-famous for its breeding of distinctive rose varieties, for which it obtains patent and trademark protection. A lawsuit has been filed in the Southern District of Indiana involving their INGRID BERGMAN rose, a “unique currant red hybrid tea rose variety.” Poulsen owns a U.S. trademark registration for INGRID BERGMAN in connection with “live roses.”

The Defendants operate one of the U.S.’s largest wholesale rose growers, distributing flowers to garden centers, nurseries, and mail order outlets.

This lawsuit arises because the Defendants are allegedly producing, advertising, selling, and distributing unauthorized roses using the Poulsen’s INGRID BERGMAN mark. Further bibliographical information on the Defendants’ website about their “counterfeit” roses (see screenshot) might suggest to consumers that they are in fact authentic Poulsen roses.

Surely this situation can’t be as cut and dried as the Complaint (below) would imply. A large wholesale grower like the Defendants would certainly understand the implications of selling unauthorized rose varieties and know they couldn’t escape detection. We’ll have to stay tuned for their Answer and another possible side of the story.

Poulsen Roser A/S vs. Gardens Alive, Inc. et al.

Case Number: 4:21-cv-00113-SEB-DML
File Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Plaintiff: Poulsen Roser A/S
Plaintiff Counsel: Louis T. Perry of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Defendant: Gardens Alive, Inc., Early Morning LLC d/b/a Weeks Roses
Cause: Federal Trademark Counterfeiting, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competion, Federal False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition, Conversion, Theft
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: Debra McVicker Lynch

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

GETGO vs GET 2 GO for Convenience Stores…Are You Confused?

15 Thursday Jul 2021

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

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Tags

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

Giant Eagle is the owner of GETGO® convenience stores, with 269 locations, including four (4) stores in Fort Wayne, Indiana that were opened in 2018. Giant Eagle owns several U.S. trademark registrations for GETGO, claiming a date of first use of March 2003 for “Convenience store services, including fuel.”

The Defendants are the owners of three (3) retail convenience stores named GET 2 GO in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Defendants own two U.S. trademark registrations for the GET 2 GO trademark, claiming a date of first use of June 2011. The Plaintiff has contemporaneously filed a Petition for Cancellation (see below) against the Defendants’ registrations.

The Plaintiffs sent communications to Defendants via counsel in February 2020 and April 2021. Per the Complaint (below), “Defendants, through counsel, indicated that they were 􏰇􏰑􏰌􏰙􏰞􏰐􏰔”simply not interested” in a business resolution or in discontinuing the use of the Infringing Marks.”

The Complaint doesn’t mention any instances of actual confusion.

Given the decade-long use of their own trademarks, coexisting peacefully with apparently no instances of consumer confusion, I’m not surprised that the Defendants have opted to stand their ground and not change their name. I’ll be interested to see the affirmative defenses and possibly counterclaims in the Defendants’ Answer. Stay tuned for updates on both the lawsuit and the cancellation proceeding.

Phoenix Intangibles Holding Company et al vs. Virk Brothers, LLC et al

Case Number: 1:21-cv-00263-HAB-SLC
File Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Plaintiff: Phoenix Intangibles Holding Company, Giant Eagle, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Anthony M. Eleftheri of Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLC
Defendant: Virk Brothers, LLC, Charanjit Singh
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Trademark Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Holly A. Brady
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Petition for Cancellation:

View this document on Scribd
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