Los Angeles, CA – In a buzz worthy turn of events, Hansen Beverage Company filed a declaratory judgment action against PBEV, seeking a ruling that its use of the term “buzz” and “Killer-B” on its Monster Energy® drinks does not infringe PBEV’s “Killer Buzz” trademark. Hansen alleges that in July…
Santa Ana, CA – Chronic Tacos Enterprises (“CTE”) is a franchisor of Mexican food restaurants under its Chronic® and Chronic Tacos® trademarks. Defendants are alleged to be former temporary licensees at the Huntington Beach location, which license was terminated when CTE’s founders ceased being shareholders in the Huntington Beach location.…
Los Angeles, CA – Pepsi’s subsidiary owns the Manzanita Sol® trademark that is used on apple flavored soft drinks. Manzanita Sol® is Pepsi’s second most popular brand in Mexico. Pepsi has sold in the U.S. millions of dollars worth of Manzanita Sol® sodas through its authorized bottlers. Pepsi accuses SPE…
Santa Ana, CA – Electronic Arts’ 2009 release of its Sims 3 virtual reality game sequel was to be accompanied by a promotional PlumbBob USB flash drive, which design and prototype has resulted in a real world copyright lawsuit. Plaintiff Design Technologies (“DT”) alleges that Lithomania, a broker that specializes…
Oskar Systems sued Club Speed, Pole Position, P2R Karting, and individuals for allegedly infringing its copyright in source code for a computer program used in the operation of go-kart tracks. Details blogged here. In late 2001-early 2002, the software was initially developed and owned by Contemporary Systems, Inc. (“CSI”). In…
Los Angeles, CA – In 1977, Singer/Songwriter Lamont Dozier composed a song entitled “Peddlin’ Music on the Side” and registered the copyright therein. He further renewed the copyright registration in January of 2005. In 2009, Derek Christoff (pka “D-Sisive”) recorded a rap song entitled “(I’m A) Nobody With a Notepad.…
Los Angeles, CA – Private Chefs, Inc. is suing Food Network for stealing the recipe for the successful show “Private Chefs of Beverly Hills” in an idea submission, trademark infringement, and unfair competition case. Plaintiff is the owner of a USPTO registration for its design mark “PCI Private Chefs, Inc.”,…
San Diego, CA – The Coalition to Advance the Protection of Sports logos (“CAPS”) protects and enforces the trademarks and logos owned by the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, and Collegiate Licensing Company. CAPS sent a cease and desist letter to Plaintiff James Simpson informing him that the CAPS members “maintain…
Santa Ana, CA – Peter Van Bregmann is suing Burton Snowboards for infringing on a snowboard binding patent. Plaintiff alleges that in 1996 he met with Burton and after signing a confidentiality agreement, Plaintiff showed his invention to Burton, but it was not interested. On March 2, 1999, Plaintiff was…
Santa Ana, CA – GT Beverage Company sued The Coca Cola Company seeking Court judgment that its sports-themed shaped bottles did not infringe Coke’s trademark and design patent. Details blogged here. Coke filed counterclaims for trademark infringement and GT moved to dismiss them based on the doctrine of judicial estoppel,…