Indiana Intellectual Property Law News

November 19, 2015

Indiana Patent Law: Bifurcation of Patent Infringement Trial Held to be Unwarranted

Indianapolis, Indiana – Magistrate Judge Mark Dinsmore of the Southern District of Indiana denied a motion to bifurcate the patent infringement trial in ongoing litigation styled Knauf Insulation, LLC et al. v. Johns Manville Corp. et al.

This Indiana patent litigation began in January 2015 when Knauf Insulation, LLC, Knauf Insulation GmbH, and Knauf Insulation SPRL (“Plaintiffs”) sued Johns Manville Corporation and Johns Manville, Inc. (“Defendants”). Plaintiffs contended that Defendants had infringed U.S. Patents Nos. 8,114,210; 8,940,089; D631,670; 9,039,827 and 9,040,652 (“the ‘652 patent”).

Patent attorneys for Denver-based Defendants asked the court to bifurcate the trial, asking it to hear the claims of patent infringement of the ‘652 patent separately from the infringement claims regarding the other patents. Defendants supported its motion for bifurcation by asserting that the ‘652 patent is made from binding chemistry different from the other patents and that this difference might confuse the jury.

Whether or not to bifurcate a trial is within the discretion of the trial court, subject to certain conditions: (1) the bifurcation should avoid prejudice to a party or promote judicial economy; (2) the bifurcation should not unfairly prejudice the non-moving party; and (3) the bifurcation must not be granted if doing so would violate the Seventh Amendment.

The court noted that the burden of establishing that bifurcation is appropriate rests on the party seeking it and that “bifurcation remains the exception, not the rule.” It held that Defendants had failed to meet that burden. Instead, the difference in binder chemistry by itself did not outweigh the benefits of a single trial during which the finder of fact could evaluate the “many common facts” relating to all of the patents-in-suit.

The court finally noted that, even if bifurcation might at some point be appropriate, it was too early in the litigation for it to be ordered. The parties were advised that the court would review a motion for bifurcation, should a party choose to submit one, when the matter was closer to trial.

November 18, 2015

Indiana Copyright Law: Court Restricts Discovery in Copyright Infringement Litigation to Facts Regarding Jurisdiction

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – In the matter of Bell v. Find Tickets, LLC, the Southern District of Indiana quashed overbroad discovery requests and limited inquiries to those pertaining to the matter of personal jurisdiction.

Plaintiff Richard Bell of McCordsville, Indiana photographed the Indianapolis skyline in 2000 and copyrighted the work. In this copyright lawsuit, Bell, acting as his own copyright attorney, alleges that Defendant Find Tickets of Alpharetta, Georgia published the photo on a website without Bell’s permission.

As part of the litigation, Bell propounded multiple interrogatories to Defendant. Defendant asked the court to quash this discovery, characterizing it as “far exceed[ing] the scope of a reasonable jurisdictional inquiry.” Defendant also asked for a protective order prohibiting Bell from deposing Find Tickets’ officers.

Writing for the court, Magistrate Judge Mark Dinsmore noted that Defendant’s own affidavit had estimated that “less than 1% of Find Tickets [sic] income is from Indiana related sales.” Consequently, the court concluded that, while personal jurisdiction might eventually be found to be lacking, this small amount of business was sufficient as the required “colorable showing” that jurisdiction over Defendant might exist. Consequently, the court ruled that jurisdictional discovery would be permitted.

However, the court also found that the interrogatories that had been served had been too broad for the limited question of establishing whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction over Defendant was proper. Judge Dinsmore ordered that the interrogatories be limited to inquiries that would support that “Defendant had extensive and pervasive contact with Indiana (general jurisdiction) or that Defendant ‘purposely availed’ itself of the privilege of conducting business in Indiana and the alleged copyright infringement arose from Defendant’s conducting business in Indiana (specific jurisdiction).” The court revised Plaintiff Bell’s interrogatories to limit them to the relevant jurisdictional matters, pending a ruling on Defendant’s separate motion to dismiss, and ordered that Defendant respond by December 1, 2015.

Defendant’s motion to quash the deposition of the owner of Find Tickets was also granted as the court found that such a deposition was unnecessary under the circumstances.

November 16, 2015

Indiana Cable/Satellite TV Litigation: Joe Hand Adds a Lawsuit in the Northern District

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Fort Wayne, Indiana – Plaintiff Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. of Feasterville, Pennsylvania filed an intellectual property lawsuit in the Northern District of Indiana asserting unlawful interception of Plaintiff’s program “Ultimate Fighting Championship 167: Georges St. Pierre v. Johny Hendricks” on November 16, 2013. This lawsuit is in addition to the litigation commenced by Plaintiff in the Southern District of Indiana on Thursday.

The complaint filed in the Northern District, filed by an intellectual property lawyer for Joe Hand, was nearly identical to Thursday’s complaint, with the primary difference being the Defendants named. In this lawsuit, the Defendants listed are Glen Robert Dotson, individually and d/b/a Fatzboyz Bar & Grill, and Dotson R. Inc., also d/b/a Fatzboyz Bar & Grill of Ligonier, Indiana. Defendants are accused of “depriving Plaintiff of the commercial license fee to which Plaintiff was rightfully entitled to receive from them” by showing the championship fight without having purchased a commercial license from Plaintiff.

Under Counts I and II, Joe Hand seeks statutory damages for all violations of 47 U.S.C. § 605 and 47 U.S.C. § 553, including additional damages for willful violations, where appropriate. Costs and attorney’s fees are also sought. A claim of conversion is included as Count III.

November 13, 2015

Indiana Cable/Satellite TV Litigation: Joe Hand in Federal Court Again Alleging Interception

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – A lawyer for Plaintiff Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. of Feasterville, Pennsylvania filed an intellectual property lawsuit in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Angelina S. Alford, individually and d/b/a Tag’s Pub and Eatery LLC of Frankfort, Indiana, unlawfully intercepted Plaintiff’s program.

Joe Hand distributes digital content. It asserts that it holds exclusive domestic rights to the commercial distribution of “Ultimate Fighting Championship 167: Georges St. Pierre v. Johny Hendricks.” In an intellectual property complaint filed yesterday, Joe Hand accuses Alford and Tag’s Pub and Eatery LLC, of which Alford is allegedly an officer, of illegally intercepting the program on November 16, 2013.

In addition to interception, the allegations against Defendants include reception, publication, divulgence, display, exhibition, and “tortuous” [sic] conversion of the program. Joe Hand asserts that the acts were “willful, malicious, egregious, and intentionally designed to harm Plaintiff, Joe Hand Promotions, Inc., by depriving Plaintiff of the commercial license fee to which Plaintiff was rightfully entitled to receive from them.” Joe Hand contends that by doing so, “the Defendants subjected the Plaintiff to severe economic distress and great financial loss.” As a result of these alleged acts, Defendants have been have been accused in this lawsuit of violating 47 U.S.C. § 605 and 47 U.S.C. § 553 as well as conversion.

Joe Hand seeks statutory damages of $110,000 for each violation of 47 U.S.C. § 605; $10,000 for each violation of 47 U.S.C. § 553; $50,000 for each willful violation of 47 U.S.C. § 553; compensatory and punitive damages on the claim of conversion; costs; and attorney’s fees.

November 12, 2015

Indiana Patent Litigation: USITC Begins Investigation at Request of Indianapolis-Based Plaintiff

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

hdl-test-strips2-new[1].jpg

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. International Trade Commission (“USITC”) began an investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 regarding the importation and sale of blood cholesterol test strips that allegedly infringe a U.S. patent. The respondents are Jant Pharmacal Corp. of Encino, California; Infopia America LLC of Titusville, Florida and Infopia Co., Ltd. of the Republic of Korea.

In August 2014, Indiana patent attorneys for Plaintiff Polymer Technology Systems (“PTS”) of Indianapolis, Indiana sued respondents in the Southern District of Indiana alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,087,397, “Method for determining HDL concentration from whole blood or plasma,” which was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In the lawsuit filed in Indiana federal court, PTS also asserted that Defendants had violated the Lanham Act.

In October 2015, PTS filed a complaint with the USITC involving its point-of-care blood cholesterol testing meters, test strips, and systems containing the same naming the same three parties. PTS asks that the USITC issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

No decision has yet been made on the merits of the USITC action. The matter will be assigned to an administrative law judge (“ALJ”), who will hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination regarding whether there is a violation of section 337. That decision, in turn, is subject to review by the USITC, which then makes a final determination.

November 10, 2015

Indiana Trademark Litigation: Shipshewana Spice Company Sues Amish Farms for Use of “Happy Salt” Trademark

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Shipshewana, Indiana – Indiana trademark lawyers for Plaintiff Kevin Horn, sole proprietor of Shipshewana Spice Company of Warsaw, Indiana, filed an intellectual property lawsuit in the Northern District of Indiana alleging that Bob Wilson d/b/a Amish Farms and Shipshewana’s Best Spice Co. of Millersburg, Indiana infringed the trademark “HAPPY SALT,” Trademark Registration No. 4,241,663, which was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Horn also alleges trademark counterfeiting, false description, trademark dilution and unfair competition.

Plaintiff Horn of Shipshewana Spice states in his intellectual property complaint that his company has been selling spices and other seasonings since 1994 both locally in north-central Indiana and online at www.shipshewanaspicecompany.com. Plaintiff further claims that the trade name “HAPPY SALT” has been associated with his spices since 1994. A trademark registration for this mark in International Class 30 for “Seasonings, namely, Seasonings in salt” was granted by the USPTO on November 13, 2012.

Defendant Wilson, alleged to be the operator of the website www.amishfarms.com, is accused of offering counterfeit goods offered as “HAPPY SALT SEASONING,” “HAPPY HEARTS SALT FREE SEASONING” and “HAPPY SEA SALT SEASONING.” Plaintiff also protests the use by Defendant of the business name “Shipshewana’s Best Spice Company,” which it contends is nearly identical to Plaintiff’s business name, “Shipshewana Spice Company”.

The complaint, filed by Indiana trademark attorneys for Plaintiff, includes the following counts:

• First Claim: Trademark Infringement Under Lanham Act §32; 15 U.S.C. §1114
• Second Claim: Trademark Counterfeiting Under Lanham Act §32; 15 U.S.C. §1114
• Third Claim: False Description Under Lanham Act §43; 15 U.S.C. §1125
• Fourth Claim: Trademark Dilution Under Lanham Act §43; 15 U.S.C. §1125

• Fifth Claim: Unfair Competition Under Lanham Act §43; 15 U.S.C. §1125

Horn seeks equitable relief along with damages, costs and attorneys’ fees.

November 9, 2015

EFF at Congressional Roundtable: Do U.S. Copyright Laws Work in the Digital Age?

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Santa Clara, California – EFF to participate in today’s U.S. House Judiciary Committee discussion on copyright law in the digital age.

Today at 2 p.m., Electronic Frontier Foundation (“EFF”) Staff Attorney Kit Walsh will participate in a roundtable discussion about U.S. copyright laws convened by the House Judiciary Committee, which is undertaking the first comprehensive review of the nation’s copyright laws since the 1960s.

EFF argues that copyright was intended to promote creativity, but the law has not developed to support the explosion of creativity enabled by new technologies. Too often, it says, copyright is instead being abused to shut down innovation, creative expression, and even everyday activities like tinkering with your car.

November 6, 2015

Indiana E-Filing Extended to Indiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – Chief Justice Loretta Rush of the Indiana Supreme Court today signed an order extending e-filing.

In July, the Indiana E-filing System (“IEFS”) commenced in Indiana’s state courts with a pilot program in Hamilton County. That program extends to filings with the Indiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeals effective Monday, November 9, 2015.

E-filing via IEFS will be required for all filings for appeals “in which: (a) either the Indiana Public Defender or the Marion County Public Defender, on one side, and the Attorney General of Indiana, on the other side, represent the parties to the appeal; and (b) the Notice of Appeal has already been conventionally filed.”

Other appeals for which a Notice of Appeal have been conventionally filed may submit filings through the IEFS but are not yet required to do so. The court’s plan is to require electronic filing in all Indiana state courts by the end of 2018.

November 5, 2015

Copyright Law: Copyright Office Publishes DMCA Exemption Rule

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

The U.S. Copyright Office, a part of the Library of Congress, issued a final rule adopting exemptions to the provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) that prohibits circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.

The DMCA was enacted in 1998 to implement various elements of copyright-related World Intellectual Property Organization treaties. Included in the DMCA was a prohibition against circumventing technological measures employed by or on behalf of copyright owners to protect access to their works. The DMCA also provided for exemptions to this prohibition, which are issued by the Librarian of Congress following a rulemaking proceeding. In the course of this proceeding, the Librarian determines which “noninfringing uses by persons who are users of a copyrighted work are, or are likely to be, adversely affected by the prohibition against circumvention in the succeeding three-year period” and, through the final rule, exempts that class from the prohibition for that three-year period.

Under the DMCA, this final rule must consider “(i) the availability for use of copyrighted works; (ii) the availability for use of works for nonprofit archival, preservation, and educational purposes; (iii) the impact that the prohibition on the circumvention of technological measures applied to copyrighted works has on criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research; (iv) the effect of circumvention of technological measures on the market for or value of copyrighted works; and (v) such other factors as the Librarian considers appropriate.”

November 4, 2015

176 Trademark Registrations Issued to Indiana Companies in October 2015

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

The U.S.
Trademark Office issued the following
176 trademark registrations to persons and businesses in Indiana in October 2015 based on applications filed by Indiana trademark attorneys:

Registration No.	Word Mark	Click To View

4830409	FULLBEAUTY BRANDS	LIVE
4842231	TRULY FLAWLESS	LIVE
4841223	YUNG MOGUL	LIVE
4841080	CPA LIFE	LIVE
4841040	ORTHOPEDIATRICS	LIVE
4840968	ECOSILVER	LIVE
4840421	FRESH START DENTURES	LIVE
4840418	PATIENT FRIENDLY PROMISE	LIVE
4840328	CORK MEDICAL	LIVE
4840310	3X	LIVE
4842921	BOWDAGGER	LIVE
4840081	SCAR TISSUE TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA	LIVE