Tag Archives: False Designation of Origin

Indiana power sport vehicle company sues Canadian competitor over infringing parts

17 Tuesday Apr 2018

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

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The Plaintiff in this lawsuit, ASW, LLC, is a Columbia City, Indiana-based company that designs and sells power sport vehicles and related parts. ASW owns the registered trademarks AMERICAN SPORTWORKS and LANDMASTER.

The Defendant, a Canadian corporation, is alleged to be selling competing products using identical marks from an infringing website, americansportworksparts.com. It’s not clear from the Complaint (below) whether the infringing products are repackaged/refurbished items (which can void a warranty) or just plain ol’ counterfeit goods, although it seems closer to the latter. 

ASW, LLC v. Bisson et al.

Court Case Number: 1:18-cv-00086-TLS-PRC
File Date: Monday, April 9, 2018
Plaintiff: ASW, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: Linda A. Polley, Charles J. Heiny of Haller & Colvin, P.C.
Defendants: Bisson, 1837967 Alberta Ltd.
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Trademark Dilution, Common Law Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Passing Off
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Theresa L. Springmann
Referred To: Paul R. Cherry

Complaint:

Vera Bradley sues numerous eBay sellers over counterfeit goods

27 Tuesday Mar 2018

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

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The defendants in this lawsuit are alleged to have sold counterfeit Vera Bradley products on eBay since as early as January 2016.

Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. v. Denny et al.

Court Case Number: 1:18-cv-00070
File Date: Monday, March 26, 2018
Plaintiff: Vera Bradley Designs, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Mark D. Scudder of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Michael R. Gray of Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, P.A.
Defendants: Jennifer Denny, Austin Devin 2 Denny Boys, LLC, Darlene Nicholas, Amanda Whitfield, and Ilene Simpson
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Copyright Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Unfair Competition, Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices, Common Law Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: TBD
Referred To: TBD

Complaint:

Project management company files trademark lawsuit against potential scam artists

09 Monday Oct 2017

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

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Plaintiff operates a project management training company called “Project Management Academy.” Plaintiff has used the trademark since 2009 and owns several related federal trademark registrations.

The Defendants are accused of operating a similar company (some call it a scam) using the “Project Management Academy” or “PMA” trademarks.

Educate 360, LLC v. Patchree Patchrint et al.

Court Case Number: 4:17-cv-00078
File Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
Plaintiff: Educate 360, LLC
Plaintiff Counsel: William P. Kelley, David M. Stupich of Stuart & Branigin LLP
Defendant:  Patchree Patchrint a/k/a Patty Jones and Anthony Christopher Jones
Cause: Declaratory Relief, Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Cybersquatting, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Passing Off/Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: TBD
Referred To: TBD

Complaint:

Counterfeit gages result in trade dress, trademark litigation

17 Thursday Aug 2017

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

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The Plaintiff, Dwyer Instruments, is a manufacturer of industrial gages and controls headquartered in Michigan City. Plaintiff has used the registered trademark MAGNEHELIC since 1949.

The Defendants, a California manufacturer and Wal-Mart.com which lists the product, are accused of selling counterfeit gages with identical trade dress tp Plaintiff’s gages and a confusingly similar trademark, MAGRFHELIC.

Dwyer Instruments Inc v. Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC et al.

Court Case Number: 3:17-cv-00636-RLM-MGG
File Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Plaintiff: Dwyer Instruments, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Peter J. Shakula of Wood Phillips
Defendant: Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC, Tasharina Corp.
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, Trade Dress Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, False and Misleading Representations, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Referred To: Michael G. Gotsch, Sr.

Complaint: 

Indiana brewery alleges rights in its CORN MAZE BEER FEST stolen by own marketing agency

31 Monday Jul 2017

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

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This trademark lawsuit arises out of a dispute over ownership of the term “Corn Maze Beer Fest.”

The Plaintiff, 450 North Brewing Co. of Columbus, Indiana, hosted an event under that name in 2016 in the fields surrounding their brewery.

The Defendant is an Indiana company specializing in marketing for craft beer events.

The parties had worked together (with only an unsigned agreement and oral contract) on the 2016 event but a dispute has arisen over ownership of the event name. Despite the parties terminating their business relationship in early 2017, Defendant appears to be moving forward with its own version of a CORN MAZE BEER FEST, still being actively promoted on the website that Plaintiff believes it should own.

Stay tuned for updates.

Brix Haus Brewing Inc. d/b/a 450 North Brewing Co. v. Indiana On Tap, LLC

Court Case Number: 1:17-cv-02529-JMS-MPB
File Date: July 27, 2017
Plaintiff: Brix Haus Brewing Inc. d/b/a 450 North Brewing Co.
Plaintiff Counsel: Louis T. Perry, Amie Peele Carter of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Defendant: Indiana On Tap, LLC
Cause: False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition, Indiana Crime Victim’s Relief Act, Deception, Conversion, Theft, Fraud, Tortious Interference with Economic Advantage
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Jane Magnus-Stinson
Referred To: Matthew P. Bookman

Complaint: