Trademark Infringement

September 26, 2025

C is for Counterfeit: Sesame Workshop Accuses E-Commerce Merchants of Counterfeit Goods and Unauthorized Merchandise

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, has filed two identical lawsuits in the Northern District of Indiana against a group of unidentified online sellers accused of selling counterfeit and unauthorized products featuring its well-known characters and trademarks including SESAME STREET, BIG BIRD (Copyright Reg. No. VA0001693460), BERT (Copyright Reg. No. VA0001693461), COOKIE MONSTER (Copyright Registration No. VA0001693456), ERNIE (Copyright Reg. No. VA0001693452), OSCAR THE GROUCH, and ELMO’S WORLD (Elmo Copyright Reg. No. VA0001693455). The complaints argue that these sellers operate e-commerce stores on platforms such as Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, and DHGate, often under multiple aliases, in an effort to hide their identities and avoid accountability.

Sesame Workshop claims that these sellers use its trademarks and copyrighted works without permission, misleading consumers into thinking the products are genuine. The organization explains that this type of counterfeiting not only harms its reputation but also confuses buyers, reduces the value of its brand, and diverts sales from legitimate, licensed products.

The lawsuits describe Sesame Street’s long history and its global cultural impact, noting the extensive protections the organization has obtained through U.S. trademark and copyright registrations, including more than 39 copyrights and trademarks. They also point to the economic consequences of counterfeit goods, referencing reports that show job losses and lost tax revenue caused by infringing imports.

September 19, 2025

Smoke and Mirrors: Lawsuit Targets Counterfeit Rolling Papers

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Authentic Product

Plaintiffs North Atlantic Operating Company, Inc. (NAOC), National Tobacco Company, L.P. (NTC), and Republic Technologies International S.A.S. (Republic) have brought claims of counterfeiting and trademark infringement against Indiana Import LLC, its owners Ameer A. Salama and Shaker M. Hussein, as well as Areej 2020 Inc., doing business as Smoke & Vape Zone, an Ohio corporation.

The plaintiffs allege that the defendants have been selling and distributing counterfeit versions of their products, particularly cigarette rolling papers that carry imitations of their ZIG ZAG™ and NORTH ATLANTIC OPERATING COMPANY™ trademarks. Investigators working for the plaintiffs claimed to have been able to make multiple purchases from 2023 through 2025, buying large quantities of rolling papers directly from Indiana Import’s business address, the owners’ residences in Fishers, Indiana, and from Smoke & Vape Zone in Hamilton, Ohio. The plaintiffs claim the seized items used counterfeit versions of their marks and were sold at prices well below those of authentic ZIG-ZAG™ products.

September 8, 2025

Supplement Maker Prescribes Lawsuit in Label Dispute

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Allseason IpCo, LLC has filed a lawsuit against two Chinese defendants, Jiabao Wang and a company nicknamed Guangzhou. The case centers on allegations of willful copyright infringement and misrepresentation under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Allseason IpCo, which sells health supplements under the brand name CLEAN NUTRA or CLEAN NUTRACEUTICALS, claims that it owns the rights to several trademarks and copyrights, including the label for its product “VASCU GLOW” (Registration Number VA 2-454-182) The company says it discovered that the defendants were selling a nearly identical product on Amazon through the seller name VIFSSG, using what Allseason describes as a copied version of its copyrighted product label.

According to the complaint, Allseason filed a takedown notice with Amazon in July 2025, which resulted in the removal of the disputed product. Shortly afterward, the defendants submitted a counter-notice to Amazon stating that the removal was based on a mistake or misidentification. Allseason argues that this counter-notice was a false statement because the defendants were not authorized to use its copyrighted work. Under the DMCA, such a counter-notice caused Amazon to reinstate the listing unless Allseason filed a lawsuit within ten business days, which led to this legal action.

September 5, 2025

Pump the Brakes: RV Parts Makers Clash Over Designs

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Camco Manufacturing, LLC has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana against Seaflo Marine & RV North America, LLC. The case centers on allegations of trademark, trade dress, and patent infringement, as well as unfair competition.

Camco, a company based in North Carolina with more than five decades in the recreational vehicle, boating, and camping accessories market, claims that Seaflo has copied its distinctive orange trade dress used on sewer hoses and fittings for RVs. According to the complaint, Camco has sold products with this design since 2006 and holds a federal trademark registration (U.S. Reg. No. 5,864,456) for the use of the color orange on those products. Camco argues that Seaflo’s products are so similar in appearance that consumers could be misled into believing they originate from or are associated with Camco.

In addition to the trade dress allegations, Camco asserts that Seaflo has infringed several of its patents, including one covering a corrugated hose with a bayonet connector (US Patent 11/732,829 B1) and another covering the ornamental design of a tongue jack pad (US Patent D893,120 S1). Camco claims that Seaflo’s competing sewer hose kits and jack stands are identical or nearly identical to its patented designs and therefore violate U.S. patent law.

August 29, 2025

Name of the Game: JD Sports vs. J.D. Sport

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

A trademark dispute over the name “JD Sports” has reached federal court in Indiana. The Finish Line, Inc., which does business as JD Sports, along with its parent company JD Sports Fashion Plc, is asking the court to declare that its use of the JD Sports name does not infringe on the rights of J.D. Sport LLC, a Pennsylvania company.

JD Sports Fashion Plc, based in the United Kingdom, operates thousands of stores worldwide and more than 300 in the United States. It holds several federal trademark registrations for “JD” and “JD Sports,” some classified as incontestable under U.S. law. The company states it has used these marks in the U.S. for years, first through online sales and later through physical stores, including several in Pennsylvania.

J.D. Sport LLC, founded in 1989 in Pennsylvania, operates a single store that provides custom embroidery, screen printing, and team apparel for local schools and organizations. The business does not have federal trademark registrations and instead relies on common law rights tied to its local use of the “J.D. Sport” name.

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.

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 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 28, 2025

Weight Loss, Heavy Lawsuit: Lilly says Premier’s Shots Miss the Mark

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Premier Weight Loss, also known as Premier Weight Loss of Indiana, is facing a lawsuit from Eli Lilly and Company. The lawsuit claims Premier has been selling altered versions of Lilly’s FDA-approved drugs, MOUNJARO® and ZEPBOUND®. Lilly accuses Premier of repackaging these medications, removing them from their original packaging, and distributing them in third-party insulin syringes without proper labeling, patient instructions, or safety information. Lilly argues that these altered drugs are unsafe, as they lack essential information like batch numbers and expiration dates, and may not meet FDA-approved dosages or sterility standards.

Lilly points out that Premier’s practices, including splitting auto-injector pens into multiple doses, can result in inconsistent and potentially harmful concentrations. The company also says Premier’s marketing misleads consumers and healthcare providers into believing these altered products are authentic, when they are not. Premier’s use of Lilly’s trademarks in advertisements is also a violation of intellectual property laws, according to the lawsuit.

Lilly argues that these practices pose serious risks to patients, particularly those using the drugs to manage conditions like type 2 diabetes. They believe the unapproved alterations could lead to ineffective treatments or dangerous side effects. The lawsuit aims to stop the sale of these allegedly altered drugs and correct Premier’s supposed false advertising. Lilly is also seeking damages for the purported harm caused by Premier’s actions.

April 16, 2025

Bone of Contention: WOOF FEST Fight Lands in Court

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Evansville, Indiana – A legal dispute has emerged over a local fundraising event called “Woof Fest.” Allison Bush, an event organizer who has been planning and promoting fundraising events since 2019, claims her intellectual property has been used without permission by P.A.A.W.S., Inc.—a local animal rescue group—and its treasurer, Julie Frazier.

According to the complaint, in July 2024, Bush and Frazier began discussing a joint fundraising event to benefit local foster-based animal rescues. During those discussions, Frazier suggested the name ‘Woofstock,’ despite allegedly knowing it was already used by another organization. In response, Bush says she proposed the alternative name ‘Woof Fest.’

Court Documents state that Bush then moved forward with the idea, hiring an artist to create a logo using images of her own dogs. The case filings further report that Bush paid for the design, received full rights to it, and began promoting “Woof Fest” on social media and other platforms. Records note that she later registered the name, WOOF FEST, and logo with the U.S. Copyright Office and applied for federal trademark protection.