Sorenson v. WD-40 Co., No. 12 C 50417, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Sep. 9, 2014) (Kapala, J.).

Judge Kapala granted defendant WD-40 summary judgment as to plaintiff’s Lanham Act and related state law claims regarding plaintiff’s THE INHIBITOR and related design marks (the “Inhibitor Marks”) and WD-40’s Specialist product line.

WD-40’s use of the

O.A. Cargo, Inc. v. OA Cargo Chicago, No. 12 C 5763, Slip OP. (N.D. Ill. Mar. 13, 2014) (Zagel, J.).

Judge Zagel awarded damages in this Lanham Act case after he and Judge Conlon entered default judgment against the defendants.

Pursuant to its “considerable discretion” to award damages based upon a default judgment, the

Box Acquisitions, LLC d/b/a Box Partners, LLC v. Box Packaging Prods., LLC, No. 12 C 4021, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Mar. 26, 2014) (Kocoras, J.).

The Court granted summary judgment for defendant in this Lanham Act case involving alleged trademark infringement regarding plaintiff’s BOX PACKAGING trademarks.  The “key issue” was whether BOX PACKAGING was

Slep-Tone Ent. Corp. v. Roberto, No. 12 C 5750, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 22, 2013) (Darrah, J.).

Judge Darrah denied defendants’ (collectively “Arrowsound”) Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, but granted Arrowsound’s motion to sever.  The Court, therefore, dismissed Arrowsound without prejudice for improper joinder in this trademark dispute regarding SOUND

NanoChem Sol’ns, Inc. v. Global Green Prods., LLC., No. 10 C 5686, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Sep. 10, 2013) (Hart, Sen. J.).

Judge Hart denied defendants’ motion in limine to exclude plaintiff NanoChem’s late-disclosed lost profit damages analysis.  The Court also granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to NanoChem’s Lanham Act and Illinois

7-Eleven, Inc. v. Spear, No. 10 C 6697, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. May 11, 2012) (Dow, J.).

 Judge Dow granted summary judgment to plaintiff 7-Eleven in this contract and Lanham Act case after defendants (collectively “Vianna”) failed to respond to 7-Eleven’s Local Rule 56.1 statements of fact or submit its own supplemental statements of

Personal Keepsakes, Inc. v. Personalizationmall.com, Inc., No. 11 C 5177, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Feb. 8, 2012) (Kendall, J.).

Judge Kendall granted defendant’s various Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss plaintiff Personal Keepsakes’ (PKI”) Digital Millenium Copyright Act (“DMCA”), Lanham Act and related state law claims in this case involving copyrighted poems.

Judge Holderman granted defendant Trading Technologies’ (“TT”) Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and 9(b) motion to dismiss plaintiff GL Trade’s false advertising, unfair competition and deceptive trade practices case alleging that TT misrepresented the scope of its patents. Initially, GL Trade’s Lanham Act false advertising and unfair competition claims were not preempted by patent law. The Federal Circuit held that Lanham Act unfair competition claims based upon marketplace statements were not preempted because the Lanham Act claim required a showing of bad faith. And the allegedly false patent markings were marketplace statements. As a matter of law, TT’s actions could not have been bad faith, although what constitutes bad faith in patent-related communications was “somewhat nebulous.” TT’s belief that the marked products read on the marked patents was legally plausible. GL Trade, therefore, could not have acted in bad faith. Similarly, it was legally plausible for TT to believe that it could mark covered products even when they were not being used in a patented way.

Continue Reading Patent Act Does Not Preempt Patent-Related Lanham Act Claims

Moran Indus. Inc. v. Baker, No. 10 C 7653, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. May 27, 2011) (Hibbler, Sen. J.).
Judge Hibbler granted in part defendant’s motion to dismiss and transfer in this Lanham Act case over Mr. Transmission and Meineke Car Care Center marks. Defendant allegedly violated franchise agreements with plaintiff Moran and plaintiff Meineke by using both plaintiffs’ trademarks at defendants’ auto repair shop. Moran’s franchise agreement had an exclusive jurisdiction provision requiring cases be brought in the Northern District of Illinois. So, Moran’s claims were not dismissed. Meineke’s agreement, however, had no such exclusive provision. So, Meineke’s claims were dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction.

Continue Reading Case Split Based Upon Differing Forum Selection Clauses

Eva’s Bridal Ltd. v. Halanick Enters., Inc., No. 07 C 1668, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Aug. 4, 2010) (Darrah, J.)
Judge Darrah granted in part defendants’ (collectively “Halanick”) motion to reconsider the Court’s summary judgment decisions in this trademark dispute. Initially, the Court overturned its decision that Sarniti could not file a proper claim in light of the Court’s earlier decision allowing the same claim.
The Court also reversed its decision regarding plaintiffs’ trademark claims. Plaintiffs exercised new control over defendants’ use of the marks. Proof of plaintiff paying sales tax and keeping tabs on sales were insufficient. As such, plaintiffs’ license is a “naked license”.
Finally, the Court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims.

Continue Reading Proof of Paying Sales Tax and Tracking Sales are not Enough Control for Trademark Licensing