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Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

~ Trademark and Copyright Law Updates in Indiana

Indiana Intellectual Property Blog

Tag Archives: Unfair Competition

WORLD OF LEGGINGS vs. LEGGINGS WORLD…are you confused?

17 Tuesday Apr 2018

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

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Common Law Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Tanya Walton Pratt, Tim A. Baker, Trademark Dilution, Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment

The Plaintiff in this trademark lawsuit, California-based Muscle Flex, Inc., operates a hosiery website, worldofleggings.com, which boasts “5.5 million visitors, 27 million views, and millions of dollars in sales across the United States.”

The Defendants operate several hosiery stores called “Leggings World” inside Simon Property Group (“Simon”) properties across the Midwest and Northeast. Simon is included as a defendant in the lawsuit.

When Muscle Flex complained of the infringement to Simon, Simon responded by removing instances of “Leggings World” from its website and digital directories inside its malls, and sending cease-and-desist letters to tenants operating under the “Leggings World” name in its properties.

However, this didn’t satisfy Muscle Flex, which also wants to receive some money for damages, leading to some slight lawyer shade:

Simon has seemingly thrown in the towel on Leggings World, removing it from all Simon online directories (really, go try to find a store online), but we’ll see whether Leggings World decides to challenge Muscle Flex and continue operating the physical stores. Stay tuned for updates.

Muscle Flex, Inc. v. Simon Property Group, L.P. et al.

Court Case Number: 1:18-cv-1140
File Date: Friday, April 13, 2018
Plaintiff: Muscle Flex, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Christopher A. Brown of Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, McNett & Henry LLP, Connor Lynch of Lynch LLP (pro hac vice)
Defendants: Simon Property Group, L.P., Simon Property Group, Inc., Matt Murat Dagli, New Purple LLC
Cause: Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition, False Designation of Origin, Trademark Dilution, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Unjust Enrichment
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Tim A. Baker

Complaint:

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Vera Bradley sues numerous eBay sellers over counterfeit goods

27 Tuesday Mar 2018

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

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Common Law Unfair Competition, Copyright Infringement, Counterfeiting, eBay, False Designation of Origin, Trademark Infringement, Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices, Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment

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:

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Shoe retailer Shoe Carnival sues two counterfeit websites

24 Friday Nov 2017

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

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Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition, Matthew P. Brookman, Richard L. Young, Trade Dress Infringement, Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition

Shoe retailer Shoe Carnival brings this lawsuit against the owners of two domains, daretodreamwebdesign.com and afordrunning.com, which appear to be counterfeit Shoe Carnival websites.

I used to love shopping at Shoe Carnival. I remember the frequent sale announcements over the intercom and the booth for catching blowing cash.

SCLC, Inc. v. Kettering et al

Court Case Number: 3:17-cv-00193-RLY-MPB
File Date: November 22, 2017
Plaintiff: SCLC, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Keith E. Rounder, Gary K. Price of Terrell, Baugh, Salmon & Born, LLP
Defendant: Marie Kettering, Lanny Tyndall
Cause: Trade Dress Infringement, Unfair Competition, Trademark Infringement, Common Law Trademark Infringement, Common Law Unfair Competition
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Richard L. Young
Referred To: Matthew P. Brookman

Complaint: 

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Update 11/30/2017: 

Shoe Carnival has requested a Temporary Restraining Order for the purpose of ordering search engines to remove the offending websites.

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adidas sued for violating Jackie Robinson’s right of publicity

13 Thursday Jul 2017

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

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adidas, Common Law Unfair Competition, Debra McVicker Lynch, Deception, False Endorsement, Tanya Walton Pratt, Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment, Violation of Right of Publicity

This lawsuit involves adidas’ alleged infringement of the right of publicity of deceased baseball player Jackie Robinson.

The plaintiff, CMG Worldwide Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the exclusive worldwide agent and representative for the estate of Jackie Robinson.

adidas allegedly, without authorization from Plaintiff, created and promoted merchandise based on the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first appearance as a Brooklyn Dodger. The products were promoted heavily by adidas and sponsored athletes on April 15, 2017…”Jackie Robinson Day.”

Plaintiff asks for an injunction against further sales, recovery for damages suffered, disgorgment of all of adidas’ profits and attorneys’ fees and costs, so there’s a lot on the line for adidas. Stay tuned for updates.

CMG Worldwide, Inc. v. adidas AG et al.

Court Case Number: 1:17-cv-02356-TWP-DWL
File Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Plaintiff: CMG Worldwide, Inc.
Plaintiff Counsel: Theodore J. Minch of Sovich Minch, LLP
Defendant: adidas AG, adidas America, Inc.,  Does 1-10
Cause: False Endorsement, Unfair Competition, Violation of Right of Publicity, Common Law Unfair Competition, Unjust Enrichment, Deception
Court: Southern District of Indiana
Judge: Tanya Walton Pratt
Referred To: Debra McVicker Lynch

Complaint:

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Harry’s Chocolate Shop sues University Spirit over unauthorized apparel sales

10 Monday Jul 2017

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

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Andrew P. Rodovich, Breach of Contract, False and Deceptive Labeling, Joseph S. Van Bokkelen, Trademark Infringement and Counterfeiting, Unfair Competition

Harry’s Chocolate Shop was founded in 1919 as the first and only soda fountain near Purdue University. Today it is a popular restaurant/bar, voted one of the best college bars in America.

Harry’s owns the following registered trademarks: GO UGLY EARLY, DRINK ‘EM PRETTY, DRINK ‘EM CUTE, and HOME OF “THE GREAT INDOORSMAN”.

Defendants operate a nearby retail store named University Spirit. The parties previously had a non-exclusive (oral) license agreement for University Spirit to produce and sell apparel bearing Harry’s trademarks. In 2012, the Defendants stopped making royalty payments and Harry’s brings this action seeking payment of royalties owed and an injunction against further sales.

Harry’s Chocolate Shop Incorporated v. Goldden Corporation et al

Court Case Number: 4:17-cv-000570-JVB-APR
File Date: July 6, 2017
Plaintiff: Harry’s Chocolate Shop Incorporated
Plaintiff Counsel: William A. McKenna of Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, McNett & Henry LLP
Defendant: Goldden Corporation, Gary E. Edmondson
Cause: Breach of Contract, Trademark Infringement and Counterfeiting, False and Deceptive Labeling, Unfair Competition
Court: Northern District of Indiana
Judge: Joseph S. Van Bokkelen
Referred To: Andrew P. Rodovich

Complaint:

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