INND News

July 25, 2025

R Bar’s Unauthorized Playlist Sparks $30K-Per-Song Copyright Lawsuit

A lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana by two music publishing companies, Delicate Music and W Chappell Music Corp., against A and R, Inc. and Amy Gatchel. The companies are accusing the defendants of copyright infringement for publicly playing music without proper licensing.

The plaintiffs claim that A and R, Inc., which owns and operates R Bar in South Bend, Indiana, has played songs owned by the plaintiffs without authorization. Amy Gatchel is named in the suit as an individual responsible for managing and operating R Bar. According to the complaint, both the company and Gatchel had control over what music was played at the venue and financially benefited from those performances.

The music in question is part of a large catalog managed by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), a group that licenses music on behalf of its members. ASCAP reportedly tried more than sixty times to contact the defendants through various means, offering them licenses to legally play the music. The complaint states that these offers were consistently refused, and the music continued to be played without permission.

July 14, 2025

Rock and Troll: Led Zeppelin Takes on Online Sellers in Trademark Infringement Suit

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

A British company owned by the members of Led Zeppelin has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Indiana, accusing a group of unidentified online sellers—referred to in the complaint as “The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A”—of selling counterfeit merchandise that uses the band’s trademarks without authorization. The company, Superhype Tapes Limited, is based in London and owns the rights to several trademarks associated with Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential rock bands in history. The trademarks at issue in the case are LED ZEPPELIN (U.S. Reg. No. 4,340,692) and THE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE (U.S. Reg. No. 5,663,514).

According to the complaint, the online sellers have created e-commerce stores designed to trick consumers into thinking they’re buying legitimate Led Zeppelin merchandise. These stores, operating under multiple aliases, allegedly use similar design elements and even search keywords tied to the band’s name to attract buyers looking for official products.

The lawsuit says that the sellers are offering unauthorized goods such as clothing, posters, and other items that imitate the real products made and sold under Led Zeppelin’s brand. Superhype Tapes claims the merchandise not only infringes on their trademarks but also harms their reputation by confusing customers and diluting the value of the brand.

July 7, 2025

Northern District of Indiana to Begin Directly Assigning Magistrate Judges to New Cases

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Starting July 7, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana will implement a new order changing how civil cases are assigned—expanding the role of Magistrate Judges.

Most civil cases will now be randomly assigned to either a District or Magistrate Judge. If a Magistrate Judge is assigned, parties will receive a notice after the initial scheduling order and have 21 days to consent to the Magistrate Judge handling the entire case, including trial. If all parties consent, the Magistrate Judge will oversee all proceedings. If any party declines, the case goes to a District Judge, with the Magistrate Judge assisting with pretrial matters.

The court highlights Magistrate Judges as vital to timely and efficient case resolution. Because they don’t have to prioritize criminal cases, they can often move civil cases faster, saving time and cost.

June 30, 2025

Field Tested, Patent Contested: Precision Planter Solutions v. Solid Rock AG Solutions

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Missouri-based company, Precision Planter Solutions, LLC, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana against Solid Rock AG Solutions, Inc., accusing the company of patent infringement. According to the complaint, Precision Planter owns a patent—U.S. Patent No. 12,274,187—that describes a method and apparatus aimed at extending the service life of agricultural planters by addressing wear and tear in pivoting support arms. The patented technology seeks to solve problems caused by constant motion over uneven farmland, which can lead to equipment damage and costly repairs.

Precision Planter alleges that Solid Rock is making, using, selling, and offering to sell products that unlawfully use the technology covered by this patent. The complaint specifically points to Solid Rock’s parallel arm rebuilding and exchange systems, sold and promoted through its websites, which Precision Planter says match each part of its patented design. Images and descriptions from the websites are cited to support these claims, including the use of metallic collars and bushings that fit the specifications outlined in the patent.

The lawsuit claims that Solid Rock’s actions violate federal patent law and that the infringement is ongoing and willful. Precision Planter argues that this has caused financial damage, loss of market share, and harm to its reputation, and that these harms will continue unless the court intervenes.

June 23, 2025

Drop-Down, Drag-Out Fight: Brotherhood Mutual vs. Aloft Media, et al.

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Fort Wayne, Indiana – Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company has filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment against Aloft Media, LLC, George Street Partners, Todd Schmidt, and George Andrew Gordon. The case centers on a patent dispute over U.S. Patent No. 10,372,793, which Brotherhood says is being wrongly used to demand a licensing payment.

According to the complaint, Aloft Media claims that Brotherhood’s website infringes on this patent, which covers a method involving drop-down menus on a web page. Brotherhood argues the patent is invalid and unenforceable and claims it does not infringe on any part of it. Brotherhood also says that the technology described in the patent is not new or inventive and would not meet modern patent standards, especially following the Supreme Court’s 2016 Alice decision, which raised the bar for patenting abstract ideas implemented on computers.

Brotherhood is asking the court to declare that its website does not infringe the patent, that the patent itself is invalid, and that it cannot be enforced due to inequitable conduct—alleging that key information was intentionally withheld during the patent’s approval process. The complaint outlines what Brotherhood claims were misrepresentations or omissions in the history of the patent application, Aloft’s record of filing at least 14 patent infringement lawsuits in Texas, and a complex web of related entities that frequently file similar patent lawsuits.

June 16, 2025

Brew-Haha Over Branding: Dog ‘N Suds Pours On the Pressure in Trademark Dispute

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

An Indiana-based company, TK&C’S, LLC, which operates under the name Dog ‘N Suds, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against a Michigan business, Airline Dog ‘N Suds, Inc., and its president, David J. Hosticka. The complaint centers around trademark infringement, unfair competition, and breach of contract.

Dog ‘N Suds alleges that it owns the exclusive rights to several trademarks associated with its brand, including names, logos, and recipes that date back to the 1950s and have been formally registered for decades. According to the lawsuit, Dog ‘N Suds entered into a licensing agreement with Airline Dog ‘N Suds in 2007, giving them permission to use these trademarks and recipes in a defined region of Michigan. That agreement expired in 2017 and was not renewed.

Despite the expiration of the license, Dog ‘N Suds claims that the Michigan business continued to use its name, branding, and products without authorization. The lawsuit includes allegations that Airline Dog ‘N Suds has continued selling food and root beer under the Dog ‘N Suds branding, which the Indiana company views as a violation of trademark law and a breach of the original licensing agreement. Dog ‘N Suds further claims that attempts to stop the use—including cease-and-desist letters sent in April 2025—were ignored or refused.

May 30, 2025

Cloud Cover Blown: Cloudbusters, Inc. Alleges Plot to Hijack Tech Business

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Crown Point, IN – Plaintiff Cloudbusters, Inc., a technology company based in Indiana, has filed a lawsuit against multiple parties including a former employee and two Florida-based businesses. The company is alleging theft of trade secrets, breach of contract, and other related claims.

According to the complaint, Cloudbusters accuses its former IT manager, Ryan Tinsley, and the companies Practice42, LLC and The Law Office of Audrey Ehrhardt, PLLC, of orchestrating a plan to take confidential business information for their own benefit.

Cloudbusters states that it had hired Tinsley in 2023 and promoted him to IT Manager, a role in which he had access to sensitive company data, including cybersecurity systems, customer lists, and proprietary tools. The company says Tinsley signed both non-compete and non-disclosure agreements during his employment.

May 16, 2025

Glitch in the Merch: Australian Animation Studio Sues Over Alleged Counterfeit Circus

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Glitch Productions Pty Ltd, an Australian animation studio behind hit web series like The Amazing Digital Circus, has filed a lawsuit against various individuals and businesses operating e-commerce stores under various aliases. These stores are accused of selling counterfeit merchandise featuring Glitch’s registered trademarks without permission.

Founded in 2017, Glitch is known for its distinctive 3D animation style and has built a global fanbase with over 8.5 million YouTube subscribers. Its show The Amazing Digital Circus, created by Gooseworx, became a viral success after its October 2023 debut, amassing hundreds of millions of views and expanding to Netflix in 2024. Glitch sells official merchandise—such as clothing, figures, and posters—through its online store, with trademarks recognized in the U.S. and internationally.

The complaint alleges that the defendants target U.S. consumers, including in Indiana, by running interactive storefronts that accept U.S. dollars, ship domestically, and present counterfeit items as official products. Glitch claims the defendants intentionally copy its branding to mislead buyers and weaken its trademark value. The company states it has not authorized these sellers and that their actions violate its intellectual property rights.

April 25, 2025

Quantum Litigator: Emrit’s Lawsuit Universe Expands

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Ronald Satish Emrit, an alleged resident of Florida and Maryland, has filed legal complaints in both Northern and Southern Indiana courts against six defendants, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Department of Commerce, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the American Institute of Physics, Kennedy Space Center, and the National Science Foundation. He seeks $500 billion in damages, claiming interference with business relations and potential contracts has prevented him from securing patents for his scientific theories.

In his Complaint, Emrit also identifies himself as “Preidential Candidate Number P60005535 and Presidential Committee/Political Action Committee/Seperate (sic) Segregated Fund (SSF) Number C00569897 d/b/a United Emrits of America.”

Emrit’s work involves concepts in quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and relativity, including ideas about black holes, wormholes, and higher-dimensional geometry. He claims these theories are unique and patentable but have been blocked by bureaucratic hurdles and lack of recognition from scientific and government bodies.

April 23, 2025

A Step Too Far? MORryde International, Inc. Accuses Airxcel, Inc. (Suburban) of Patent Infringement

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Elkhart, Indiana – MORryde International, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Airxcel, Inc., doing business as Suburban, claiming patent infringement. The case centers around three patents (US Patent Nos. 9,903,121, 10,519,671, and 11,739,534), allegedly owned by MORryde, that relate to folding staircases for vehicles like RVs and trailers. These patents—supposedly issued in 2018, 2019, and 2023—cover features such as spring-assisted folding and adjustable legs designed to improve safety and ease of use when entering and exiting a vehicle.

MORryde;s ‘671 Patent

MORryde contends that Suburban’s products, specifically the Stow Away Steps and the Lift Assist Step, unlawfully use the technology protected under MORryde’s patents. According to the complaint, these Suburban products are designed in a way that mimics MORryde’s patented features, including folding mechanisms and mounting systems similar to those described in the patent documents. MORryde claims it first raised conc