Tag Archives: Andrew P. Rodovich

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Century 21 Real Estate v. Destiny Real Estate Properties

06 Wednesday Jul 2011

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

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Century 21 Real Estate LLC v. Destiny Real Estate Properties LLC et al

Century 21 Real Estate has filed a complaint against Destiny Real Estate Properties, formerly doing business as Century 21 Destiny Real Estate, and owner Daniel Sutton.

The two companies entered a franchise agreement in 1999.  The agreement was renewed in 2007 and was set to extend through 2017.  In March, 2011, a franchise agreement between the two companies was terminated due to a failure by Destiny to pay royalties.  Despite this termination, Destiny is alleged to have, against prior franchise agreements, “continued to flagrantly use the CENTURY 21® Marks to induce the public to use real estate services provided by their real estate brokerage office under the guise of a continuing association with Century 21…”

As of this post, the Destiny Real Estate website is still using the Century 21 logo and still displays the company’s former name, Century 21 Destiny Real Estate.

Court Case Number: 4:11-cv-00038-JD -APR
File Date: Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Plaintiff: Century 21 Real Estate LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Ryan T. Brown of Gordon & Rees LLP
Defendant: Destiny Real Estate Properties LLC, Daniel Sutton
Cause: Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin/False Advertising, Trademark Dilution, Common Law Unfair Competition, Breach of Contract: Franchise Agreement, Breach of Contract – Personal Guaranty, Audit Demand/Accounting, Unjust Enrichment
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Trustees of Purdue University v. Reinke Sports Group LLC et al

19 Wednesday Jan 2011

Posted by in Intellectual Property

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The Trustees of Purdue University v. Reinke Sports Group LLC et al

Purdue University, a world-renowned institution of higher learning, is located in West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. In late 2009, the Defendants announced their intention to hold a foot racing event called “Home of Purdue Half Marathon” in the Lafayette-West-Lafayette area. Purdue’s attorneys sent the standard cease-and-desist letters objecting to the use of the University’s trademarks. Nevertheless, Defendant continued to advertise the event as being connected to and affiliated with the University.  The event was run on Oct. 24, 2010 without permission from Purdue University.

This case was removed from Tippecanoe Circuit Court.

Court Case Number: 4:11-cv-00005-PPS -APR
File Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011
Plaintiff: Trustees of Purdue University
Plaintiff Counsel: William P. Kealey of Stuart & Branigin LLP
Defendant: Reinke Sports Group LLC, Dean Reinke, Allsportcentral.com Inc.
Defendant Counsel: Matthew S Tarkington and Peter S French of Lewis & Kappes PC
Cause: Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, Trademark Infringement, Common Law Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Dilution, Cyberpiracy under the Lanham Act, Unfair Competition by Passing Off
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Chief Judge Philip P. Simon
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich

Indiana Copyright Litigation Update – BMI v. Shenanigans

01 Wednesday Dec 2010

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

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Broadcast Music Inc et al v. Shenanigans Inc et al

Defendant played 10 songs in his Anderson “Couples Only” establishment, Shenanigans, without a license from BMI, one of three main performance royalty organizations (along w/ ASCAP and SESAC). BMI claims to be caused “great” and “incalculable” damage. Actually, it’s probably about $0.25/song in the jukebox, but we know what they’re saying. While BMI seems like a cranky giant, it’s actually doing this on behalf of all of the artists it represents. Otherwise, nobody collects money and artists have to bring these lawsuits themselves.

Here are the songs allegedly infringed (listen to FULL PLAYLIST):

  1. Gimme Three Steps – Lynryd Skynyrd
  2. Hard to Handle – Black Crowes
  3. Inside Out – Eve 6
  4. Old Time Rock and Roll – Bob Seger
  5. Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh
  6. Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
  7. Cumbersome – Seven Mary Three
  8. I Love This Bar – Toby Keith
  9. Linus and Lucy – Vince Guaraldi
  10. Bleed it Out – Linkin Park

Leave a comment or send an email if you’d like a full copy of the Complaint.

Court Case Number: 2:10-cv-00458-TLS -APR
File Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Plaintiff: Broadcast Music Inc
Songs of Universal Inc
EMI Virgin Songs Inc
Rondor Music International Inc
Less Than Zero Music
Southfield Road Music
Fake and Jaded Music
Muscle Shoals Sound Publishing Co
PeerMusic III Ltd
Barn-Storm Music Inc
Belkin Music
EMI Blackwood Music Inc
Seven Mary Three Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Big Yellow Dog LLC
Tokeco Tunes
Lee Mendelson Film Productions Inc
Universal Music-Z Tunes LLC
Chesterchaz Publishing
Rob Bourdon Music
Nondisclosure Agreement Music
Big Bad Mr Hahn Music
Kenji Kobayashi Music
Plaintiff Counsel: Christopher S. Riley of Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Defendant: Shenanigans Inc, Matthew Kelly
Cause: Copyright Infringement
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Trans-United Inc. v. Trans-United Inc.

27 Friday Aug 2010

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

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Trans-United Inc. v. Trans-United Inc et al

A nice straightforward trademark case. Plaintiff has provided trucking and shipping services under the TRANS-UNITED mark since 1964. Defendant allegedly began using an identical mark for similar services in 2008. Attempts to settle were unsuccessful and thus here’s the lawsuit.

Leave a comment for a copy of the full complaint.

Court Case Number: 2:10-cv-00327-JD -APR
File Date: Monday, August 16, 2010
Plaintiff: Trans-United Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Jeremy J. Butler of Burke Costanze & Cuppy LLP
Thomas P. Riley of McCracken & Frank LLP
Jon A. Schmaltz of Burke Costanze & Cuppy LLP
Defendant: Trans-United Inc
Igor Redkin
Vladimir Masnev
Oleg Merkulov
Russell McNevin
John Doe 1
John Doe 2
John Doe 3
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Violation of the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Judge Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Magistrate Judge Andrew P. Rodovich