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Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Category Archives: Trademark

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Horn v. Wilson

10 Tuesday Nov 2015

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

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Christopher A. Nuechterlein, False Description, Joseph S. Van Bokkelen, Litigation Update, Trademark Counterfeiting, Trademark Dilution, Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition

Plaintiff, the Shipshewana Spice Company, has sold quality spices under the trademark “HAPPY SALT” since 1994. Defendant allegedly operates a website selling knockoff spices.

The product comparison image from the Complaint (full text below) seems like a slam dunk for the Plaintiff. Similar product name, company name (Shipshewana Spice Company vs. Shipshewana Best Spice Company…that’s just mean), packaging, etc. It’s pretty bad.

Screen Shot 2015-11-10 at 9.10.14 AM

One important question is how has Plaintiff let this go on since January 2013? The public health and safety considerations alone of having counterfeit spices on the market would seem to beg for injunctive relief. Waiting too long to take action on a trademark claim can invite concurrent use arguments or, worse, a laches defense.

Stay tuned for updates.

Kevin Horn v. Bob Wilson

Court Case Number: 3:15-cv-00524-JVB-CAN
File Date: Friday, November 6, 2015
Plaintiff: Kevin Horn
Plaintiff Counsel: Michael D. Marston, Garrick T. Lankford of Botkin & Hall LLP
Defendant: Bob Wilson
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Trademark Counterfeiting, False Description, Trademark Dilution, Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Hartfield Company v. Jeffrey Hartfield

08 Thursday Oct 2015

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

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Common Law Unfair Competition and Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition and False Designation of Origin, Litigation Update, Sarah Evans Barker, William G. Hussmann

After 35 years of working for the company bearing his father’s name, son sought to go out on his own. With 35 years of experience in one industry, he of course decided to start a similar company. But could he start a company also bearing his own (and his father’s) last name? Not if the new owner of daddy’s company has anything to say about it.

Trademark and surnames are often problematic. Here’s some basic info to consider as you analyze the Complaint:

Screen Shot 2015-10-07 at 9.39.13 AM

Think HARTFIELD?

Hartfield Company Inc. et al v. Jeffrey Hartfield et al

Court Case Number: 4:15-cv-00143-SEB-WGH
File Date: Monday, October 5, 2015
Plaintiff: Hartfield Company Inc., National Financial Partners Corp.
Plaintiff Counsel: Kendall Millard of Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Defendant: Jeffrey Hatfield, Hartfield Solutions LLC
Cause: Federal Unfair Competition and False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition and Trademark Infringement
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Sarah Evans Barker
Referred To: Magistrate Judge William G. Hussmann, Jr.

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

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

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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 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

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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

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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
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