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Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Tag Archives: False Designation of Origin

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

31 Monday Jul 2017

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

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Common Law Unfair Competition, Conversion, Deception, False Designation of Origin, Fraud, Indiana Crime Victim's Relief Act, Jane Magnus-Stinson, Matthew P. Bookman, Theft, Tortious Interference with Economic Advantage

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:

View this document on Scribd

Indy’s COMFORT STAY INN sued for trademark infringement by owner of COMFORT INN

17 Monday Jul 2017

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

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Debra McVicker Lynch, False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Infringement, Indiana Trademark Infringement, Indiana Unfair Competition, Tanya Walton Pratt

The Plaintiff in this trademark lawsuit is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. Among its many well-known brands are COMFORT INN and COMFORT SUITES. Plaintiff has used its family of COMFORT trademark since at least 1984.

Defendant operates a hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana under the name “Comfort Stay Inn.” Defendant’s utilizes the domain name comfortstayinn.com.

Cease-and-desist coomunications from Plaintiff’s attorney were unsuccessful, hence this lawsuit. Plaintiff asserts that Defendant’s hotel name is confusingly similar and has irreparably damaged the value of the COMFORT family of marks.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. v. American Hospitality Solution, LLC

Court Case Number: 1:17-cv-02402-TWP-DML
File Date: Friday, July 14, 2017
Plaintiff: Choice Hotels International, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Calvert S. Miller of Carson Boxberger LLP
Defendant: American Hospitality Solution, LLC
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Indiana Trademark Infringement, Indiana Unfair Competition
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Debra McVicker Lynch

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Jayco sues unauthorized dealer of ENTEGRA COACH motorhomes

19 Monday Jun 2017

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

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Breach of Contract, Common Law Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Infringement, Federal Unfair Competition, Jr., Michael G. Gotsch, Robert L. Miller, Sr., Texas Unfair Competition

Plaintiff is an RV manufacturer based in Middlebury, Indiana. Defendants are accused of “flagrantly” using Plaintiff’s ENTEGRA COACH registered trademark in Texas. The Complaint (below) details a scheme by which an unauthorized dealer was surreptitiously arranging for sales of Plaintiff’s motorhomes. Plaintiff brought this lawsuit seeking an injunction against further sales to protect the contracted rights of its authorized dealers.

Jayco, Inc.v. National Indoor RV Centers, LLC

Court Case Number: 3:17-cv-00458-RLM-MGG
File Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Plaintiff: Jayco, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Louis S. Chronowski of Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Defendant: National Indoor RV Centers, LLC
Cause: Federal Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Federal Trademark Infringement, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Texas Unfair Competition, Breach of Contract
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Referred To: Michael G. Gotsch, Sr.

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

USA Football asserts ownership of “U.S. National Team” trademark, loses governing authority

10 Wednesday May 2017

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, Conversion, Deception, Denise K. LaRue, False Designation of Origin, Indiana Crime Victim's Relief Act, Larry J. McKinney, Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment

This lawsuit involves ownership of the “U.S. National Team” trademark. Plaintiff USA Football, Inc., the official youth football development partner of the NFL, claims exclusive use of the “U.S. National Team” mark since 2011.

Defendant, the U.S. Federation of American Football, is working to organize its own football team to participate in The World Games 2017 (held in Wrocław, Poland from July 20 – July 30, 2017) as the “U.S. National Team.”

Complicating matters is the fact that Plaintiff has recently lost its standing as the national governing body of American football. The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) withdrew recognition of Plaintiff’s authority in the USA due to “multiple, continuous and ongoing violations of the IFAF Anti-Doping Code.” With the expulsion of Plaintiff from IFAF, it’s not completely clear which, if any, organization is authorized to assemble a U.S. team for international competitions.

This case should get interesting so stay tuned for updates.

USA Football, Inc. v. U.S. Federation of American Football

Court Case Number: 1:17-cv-01395-LJM-DKL
File Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Plaintiff: USA Football, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Louis T. Perry, Amie Peele Carter of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Defendant: U.S. Federation of American Football
Cause: Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Unjust Enrichment, Conversion, Deception, Indiana Crime Victim’s Relief Act
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Larry J. McKinney
Referred To: Denise K. LaRue

Complaint:

View this document on Scribd

Garden Flag Manufacturer sues Former Reseller for Trademark Infringement, Cybersquatting

04 Thursday May 2017

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

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Tags

Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Unjust Enrichment, False Advertising, False Designation of Origin, Federal Cybersquatting, Federal Trademark Infringement, Injury to Business Reputation, Michael G. Gotsch, Philip P. Simon, Trademark Dilution, Unfair Competition

This lawsuit involves a garden flag manufacturer and a former reseller that continued selling product without authorization, as well as registering various infringing domain names. The Defendants’ bad faith use of the domain names has already been deterring by a WIPO proceeding.

Toland Home Garden v. PH Technologies et al.

Court Case Number: 3:17-cv-00336-PPS-MGG
File Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Plaintiff: Toland International Ltd. and Marketing Resource Group, Inc. d/b/a Toland Home Garden
Plaintiff Counsel: Todd Gale, Jennifer Fraser of Dykema Gossett PLLC
Defendant: PH Technologies, LLC, Philip S. Horvath
Cause: Federal Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, False Advertising, Unfair Competition, Federal Cybersquatting, Trademark Dilution, Injury to Business Reputation, Common Law Unfair Competition, Common Law Unjust Enrichment
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Philip P. Simon
Referred To: Michael G. Gotsch, Sr.

Complaint: 

View this document on Scribd

 

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