Articles Posted in Copyright Litigation

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UPDATE 1/10/2010: Court rules that Upper Deck counterfeited Yu Gi Oh! cards. Details here.

UPDATE: Court grants preliminary injunction (details here).

trademark-litigation-attorney-los-angeles-konami-yu-gi-oh.jpgLos Angeles, CA – Konami Digital Entertainment filed a trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit (details here) against Vintage Sports Cards, Inc. over sales of Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards. Konami then discovered that Upper Deck Company allegedly supplied the the infringing cards to Vintage. Konami amend its complaint to add Upper Deck and moved for preliminary injunction while the case was pending, preventing further sales of allegedly unauthorized cards by Upper Deck.

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Los Angeles, CA – Copyright lawyers for Stussy, Inc. filed a copyright infringement lawsuit, at the Central District Of California, against Defendants Shoes And Tees99 and If Investments. In 1980, Shawn Stussy, a local cult surfboard designer, applied his scrawled signature logo to tee-shirts and sold them in Laguna Beach, California. Since that time, the clothing line has grown to an internationally recognized brand which is promoted and sold on its websites www.stussy.com and www.stussydirect.com. The websites and the photographs thereon have been registered with the US Copyright Office.

copyright-lawyer-infringement-stussy.jpgThe complaint alleges that Defendants reproduced and copied the copyrighted photographs without Stussy’s permission. “Specifically, Defendants have used the copyrighted photographs in connection with auctions on www.ebay.com. Stussy notified eBay, Inc. that Defendants were using infringing copies of Stussy’s Copyrighted Works. eBay terminated the Defendants’ auctions because of the infringement. Yet, Defendants continue to make further and additional use of the photographs contained in the Copyrighted Works.” The case is titled: Stussy, Inc. v. ShoesAndTees99, et al., SACV08-01435 AG (C.D. Cal. 2008).

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clothing-copyright-christian-audigier-lawsuit.jpgLos Angeles, CA – Bryan Callan filed a lawsuit at the Federal District Court in Los Angeles against clothing designer Christian Audigier and Nervous Tattoo, Inc. and Shop On State, Inc. Callan is an artist and graphic designer whose style draws from his background as a tattoo artist. Callan also goes by his “Mr. Lucky” nickname and uses a Mr. Lucky logo on his artwork, which consists of text and four-leaf clover motif. The complaint alleges that in 2006, Callan and Audigier executed a licensing agreement which allowed the use of Callan’s art work subject to agreed-upon material terms:

The Agreement required that Defendants accompany each and every use of Callan’s artwork, or any part thereof, with a clearly visible Mr. Lucky logo…The Agreement also required that Defendants use commercially best efforts and act in good faith to market and advertise the Mr. Lucky logo and/or Callan’s name in each and every marketing, public relations and advertising effort made in connection with their use of Callan’s artwork. The Agreement also required that Defendants provide Callan with the right of first refusal if Defendant makes the decision to sell, lease, license, or in any way provide a third party to utilize Callan’s work in any way.

The complaint alleges that Defendants have failed to use the Mr. Lucky logo on the clothing products and have granted sub-licenses to numerous other companies, which have produced unauthorized products such as wines, cars, air fresheners, handbags and shoes. The expansion of rights beyond the agreement is alleged to constitute copyright infringement, in addition to breach of contract. By failing to place the Mr. Lucky logo on the products, Callan alleges that Defendants have engaged in unfair competition under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). The case is titled Bryan Callan v. Christian Audigier, Inc. et al., CV 08-08072 GW (C.D. Cal. 2008).

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Los Angeles, CA – Trademark and copyright attorneys for Bagdasarian Productions, LLC filed a trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and Lanham Act § 43(a) unfair competition (15 U.S.C. § 1125) complaint at the Federal District Court in Los Angeles to stop sales of allegedly infringing music CDs. “Alvin and the Chipmunks” was originally a music group created by Plaintiff’s predecessor, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., consisting of three singing animated chipmunks: Alvin, Simon and Theodore. In 1958, Ross authored and copyrighted the words and music to the original musical composition, “The Chipmunk Song,” aka “Christmas, Don’t Be Late.” Also, since 1961, the members of the music group were portrayed as animated characters, first in cartoons and later in CGI form. Plaintiff also owns several USPTO registered “ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS” marks for use on entertainment services, products and a variety of merchandise.

copyright-attorney-in-los-angeles-alvin-chipmunks.jpgIn 2007, a live-action/CGI comedy film entitled “Alvin and the Chipmunks” was released and generated over $350 million in theatrical motion picture box office revenues worldwide, and sold more than 12 million DVDs worldwide. The soundtrack form the film was released as a CD on November 20, 2007, and sold over 880,000 copies. Plaintiff alleges that after the success of the film and music CD, Defendant “St. Clair embarked upon a plan to fabricate a cheap knockoff of the Authorized CD containing 10 recordings, each of which is the exact composition found on the Authorized CD.” The complaint continues, “in order to further [Defendant’s] scheme to deceive the public into believing that its unlicensed album was authorized, endorsed by, associated or affiliated with plaintiff or its licensees, St. Clair entitled the album ‘A Tribute to Alvin and the Chipmunks,’ and . . . used artwork and CD packaging prominently featuring images closely approximating Alvin, Simon, and Theodore and using the Alvin and the Chipmunks trademark (and de-emphasizing the ‘Tribute’) in the same size, color, and typeface of the Authorized CD. The St. Clair CD cover is pictured herein. The case is titled Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. St. Clair Entertainment Group, Inc., CV 08-07525 FMC (C.D. Cal. 2008).

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Los Angeles, CA – Trademark and copyright attorneys for Guru Denim filed a trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and Lanham Act § 43(a) unfair competition (15 U.S.C. § 1125) complaint at the Federal District Court in Los Angeles to stop sales of allegedly counterfeit knock-offs of its True Religion® brand of jeans. Guru Denim has sought copyright, patent, and trademark protection on its garments and jeans. Guru Denim owns U.S. Patent No. D547530 for the stitch pattern applied to True Religion Brand Jeans pants. Guru Denim owns two U.S. Copyright Registrations for the True Religion Brand Jeans Designs, Copyright Certificate of Registration numbers VA1-192-834 and VA1-301-845.

attorneys-jeans-denim-apparel-copying-trademark-design-copyright-patent-true-religion.jpgGuru Denim owns a USPTO registered trademark in the pocket stitching pattern that appears on True Religion Brand Jeans pants and the overall stitching pattern on the front of True Religion Brand Jeans pants. Guru Denim also has 4 USPTO registered trademarks for “True Religion Brand Jeans” with assorted designs. Finally, Guru Denim has registered its “True Religion” word marks with the USPTO.

Guru Denim’s investigators discovered that numerous defendants were selling allegedly fake and counterfeit True Religion® jeans in their retail stores. The complaint states that the Los Angeles Police Department executed search warrants on some of the defendants’ premises and seized numerous allegedly counterfeit True Religion® apparel. The complaint asserts the following causes of action: (1) Federal trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. §1114; (2) Federal copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. §501; (3) False designation of origin under 15 U.S.C. §1125(a); (4) Trademark dilution under 15 U.S.C. §1125(c) and California Business & Professions Code §14330; and (5) Common law copyright infringement under California Civil Code §980. The case is titled Guru Denim, Inc. v. Hercel Zarrabian, et al., CV 08-07395 R (C.D. Cal. 2008).

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jewelry-copyright-attorney-trade-dress-steven-shein.jpgLos Angeles, CA – Attorneys for jewelry designer Steven Shein filed a copyright and trade dress infringement lawsuit against Delia’s, Inc. at the Federal District Court in Los Angeles. In 2003, after paying his own way through design school, Steven Shein began designing and selling jewelry. Plaintiff’s jewelry designs have been sold at the Museum of Contemporary Art and through high-end boutiques such as Kitson and Fred Segal. In 2006, Plaintiff authored a jewelry design entitled “The Red Flat Laminate Ice Cream” which was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

The complaint alleges that “subsequent to Plaintiff’s registration of the Subject Design, Plaintiff’s investigation into the unlawful use of his proprietary designs revealed that Delia’s was purchasing, distributing and selling for profit, jewelry which infringed the Subject Design.” Plaintiff sent a cease and desist letter to the defendant requesting its sales figures of the allegedly infringing jewelry, but the defendant allegedly refused to stop the sales or provide the information. The case is titled Steven Shein v. Delia’s, Inc., CV 08-07291 SJO (C.D. Cal. 2008).

Read a jewelry patent attorney‘s more detailed article on how to protect jewelry through both design patents and utility patents when copyright protection is unavailable.

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Los Angeles, CA – Copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit was filed at the Federal District Court in Los Angeles to prevent sales of allegedly unauthorized sales of Betty Boop merchandise by numerous defendants. Plaintiff Fleischer Studios, Inc. is owned by the heirs of Max Fleischer, the creator of famous cartoon characters – including the well-known fictional Betty Boop character. Plaintiff Hearst Holdings, Inc., through its King Features Syndicate Division, produces and distributes cartoon features and characters in the merchandising business. In 1986, Fleischer entered into an agreement with King Features granting it the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute and/or license the Betty Boop character in the United States and throughout the world.

copyright-lawyer-trademark-cartoon-betty-boop.jpgBetty Boop first appeared in a “talkartoon” in 1930 titled “Dizzy Dishes” – she is very spry for being almost 80 years old – when the character was known as Betty. A year later, she became known as Betty Boop in the talkartoon titled “Minding the Baby,” which drawings of the character and cartoons – including several others – are all subjects of several U.S. Copyright Registrations. In addition, the character and name are subject to trademark protection and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has granted four federal trademark registrations for the Betty Boop word mark on a wide array of merchandise.

Plaintiffs allege that the numerous named defendants – that do not appear to be related in any way – have been selling and distributing merchandise bearing unauthorized depictions of the Betty Boop character and name. The complaint alleges that the infringement is “carried out with Defendants’ full knowledge that such elements are protected by copyright. In doing the acts complained of herein, the Defendants have willfully and intentionally infringed Plaintiffs’ copyrights” and trademark rights. The case is titled Hearst Holdings, Inc. v. Roger Lalwani, et al., CV08-06932 FMC (C.D. Cal. 2008).

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Los Angeles, CA – I previously posted (click here) about the copyright infringement lawsuit filed against movierumor.com by several motion production companies at the Federal District Court In Los Angeles, wherein it was alleged that movierumor’s compilation of links to websites that showed movies – currently playing in theatres – constituted copyright infringement. The production companies filed an ex parte application to conduct expedited discovery to determine the identity of the owners of the movierumor.com website. Having conducted discovery, the motion production companies have now filed a First Amended Complaint (read here) adding Ali Jaffar as an additional defendant.

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The case is titled: Universal City Studios Productions, LLLP v. Movierumor.com, CV08-04931 RSWL (C.D. Cal. 2008).

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UPDATE 1/10/2010: Court rules that Upper Deck counterfeited Yu Gi Oh! cards. Details here.

Los Angeles, CA – Konami Digital Entertainment, through its trademark attorneys, commenced litigation for trademark infringement, Lanham Act 43(a) unfair competition, and copyright infringement lawsuit against Vintage Sports Cards, Inc. at the Los Angeles Federal District Court. Since 1973, Konami has developed and published popular trading cards, card games, interactive entertainment software products, collectibles and toys. Konami has registered numerous trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, including its word mark and numerous logos.

trademark-litigation-attorney-los-angeles-konami-yu-gi-oh.jpgKonami has created Yu-Gi-Oh!, a Japanese Manga (a form of comics), animation television series and card games. Konami has filed for and received numerous copyright registrations from the U.S. Copyright Office. The game’s rules ascribe a range of powers and relative values to specific cards, wherein “Rare Cards” are highly sought after by players and collectors and have the greatest commercial value. In the United States, Konami sells the game cards through its exclusive distributor, The Upper Deck Company.

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Los Angeles, CA – Copyright attorneys for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”) filed a copyright infringement lawsuit at the Los Angeles Federal District Court, accusing American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (“ABC”) of copyright infringement over its “Wipeout” television show. TBS created and aired its Japanese reality television shows “Takeshi’s Castle,” “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge” (“MXC”), “Sasuke,” “Kunoichi,” “Ninja Warrior” and “Women of Ninja Warrior.” TBS began airing “Takeshi’s Castle” in Japan from 1986 to 1989, which “involves laymen contestants who compete in a variety of silly physical challenges consisting of huge obstacle courses that most of the contestants are expected to fail. The contestants’ failed attempts to complete the challenges often look painful or ridiculous, but mostly they are comical in nature.” In 2003, “Takeshi’s Castle” was aired in the United States under the “MXC” name on the Spike television network.

los-angeles-copyright-attorneys-Takeshis-Castle-mxc.jpgTBS alleges that “Defendants had knowledge of and were familiar with the Shows before Defendants created – using that term loosely – ‘Wipeout.’ Indeed, it is a common custom and practice in the United States television industry to obtain copies of and view television programs (especially popular programs) airing in other countries, including Japan, and several of the Shows were and are broadcast in the United States.” The complaint continues by asserting that “before airing ‘Wipeout’ for the first time, Defendants took steps to ensure that a Google search of the terms ‘Takeshi’s Castle,’ ‘Ninja Warrior’ or ‘MXC’ would result in the Google Searcher being directed to ‘Wipeout on ABC’ as a Sponsored Link.” In addition to the copyright infringement claim, TBS asserts causes of action for California Statutory Unfair Competition under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 and common law unfair competition. The case is titled: Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc. v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., CV08-06550 SJO (C.D. Cal. 2008).