Tag Archives: Certification Mark

Narconon Rehab Centers sued by Certification Board for Trademark Infringement and Civil Conspiracy

28 Monday Mar 2016

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

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Plaintiff, the National Association of Forensic Counselors, is a Certification Board providing nationally accredited certifications for professionals working with criminal offenders in the fields of criminal justice, corrections, addictions and mental health.

Defendants (a long list, including numerous Narconon rehab centers and the Church of Scientology, is listed in the Complaint below) are alleged to have falsely claimed certification by Plaintiff. The Complaint includes a “Civil Conspiracy” claim, alleging that there was a common plan by all Defendants to intentionally falsely claim the certifications.

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National Association of Forensic Counselors, Inc. et al v. Narconon International et al

Court Case Number: 1:16-cv-00101-JD-SLC
File Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016
Plaintiff: National Association of Forensic Counselors, Inc., American Academy of Certified Forensic Counselors Inc. d/b/a American College of Certified Forensic Counselors
Plaintiff Counsel: Jessica Wegg of Saeed & Little, LLP
Defendant: Narconon International et al (see Complaint for full list of Defendants)
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Civil Conspiracy
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Jon E. DeGuilio
Referred To: Susan L. Collins

Complaint:

Hoverboard Maker Swagway Sued by UL for Trademark Counterfeiting

19 Friday Feb 2016

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

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If you live anywhere near an electrical outlet (meaning all of you except those few remaining readers of the Indiana IP Zine), you’ve likely seen the Plaintiff’s trademark.

Plaintiff’s UL Certification Marks appear on “billions of household, consumer, commercial, and industrial products including refrigeration equipment, lighting products, cable, wiring, building materials, life safety vests, electric signs, batteries and power packs for computers and consumer electronics, traffic signals, sprinklers, and cash registers.”

The “UL” mark certifies that the product has been tested, inspected and satisfies applicable safety standards. Turn over whatever electrical device is closest and the “UL” probably is on there somewhere. (If not, back away slowly…) 

Defendant makes and sells the explosively popular Swagway hoverboard. Despite having never been tested nor inspected by UL, the Swagway product “allegedly used a mark that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the UL Certification Marks to falsely suggest that their Swagway hoverboard products have been tested, inspected, and certified by Plaintiff.”

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Further claims by Defendant’s CEO that the product was UL-certified along with significant safety concerns about the product, detailed in the Complaint below, led to this lawsuit.

UL LLC v. Swagway, LLC et al

Court Case Number: 3:16-cv-00075-RLM-CAN
File Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Plaintiff: UL LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Thomas F. Waggoner of Straub, Seamen & Allen, P.C.
Defendant: Swagway, LLC, Jianqing “Johnny” Zhu
Cause: Federal Trademark Counterfeiting, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, False Advertising, Violation of the Illinois Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Referred To: Christopher A. Nuechterlein

Complaint: