Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Hammond, Indiana – The Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division, issued its Opinion and Order denying a Motion for Preliminary Injunction in the case of Furrion Property Holding Limited, and Furrion Limited (collectively “Furrion”) versus Way Interglobal Network, LLC (“Way Interglobal”). This case was filed by 
Furrion in July 2019 alleging Way Interglobal’s oven infringed Furrion’s 2 in 1 Range Oven. Furrion then moved for a preliminary injunction, barring any further sales of the allegedly infringing product until the lawsuit was decided. The Court held Furrion “failed to meet its burden of showing irreparable harm”, and therefore denied the Motion for a Preliminary Injunction.
Furrion, as evidence of intentional copying and infringement, claims the user manual produced by Way Interglobal utilizes identical language to Furrion’s manual. While that could be an exceptional coincidence, Judge Simon found the images included in Way Interglobal’s manual included images of Furrion’s 2 in 1 Range Oven including Furrion’s trademarked logo. Way Interglobal’s CEO and president, Wayne Kaylor, testified that he was unaware of the similarities in the user manuals and speculated that the Chinese manufacturer who writes the user manual may have taken a shortcut when preparing the manual. Kaylor further testified that Way Interglobal had heard rumors that Furrion was alleging Way Interglobal’s range oven infringed Furrion’s patents in or around July 2018 and that “Way Interglobal changed the metal grate of its gas range to distinguish it from Furrion’s” without admitting any infringement.
To find in favor of Furrion’s motion for preliminary injunction, Furrion must show “(1) a likelihood of success on the merits . . . ; (2) a likelihood of irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted; (3) the balance of hardships between the parties favors an injunction; and (4) the public interest likewise favors an injunction.” PHG Techs., LLC v. St. John Companies, Inc., 469 F.3d 1361, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2006). “[I]f the moving party fails to clear the likelihood of success and irreparable harm hurdles, ‘a court’s inquiry is over and the injunction must be denied” in the Seventh Circuit. Abbott Labs v. Mead Johnson & Co., 971 F.2d 6, 11 (7th Cir. 1992). However, if the moving party shows all four elements, the court weighs he factors in deciding whether to grant the injunction.
In this case, the Court asked two questions to determine if Furrion demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits: “(1) Are each of Furrion’s asserted patents valid? And (2) does Way Interglobal’s oven infringe on what is protected by the scope of those patents?” Judge Simon reviewed the patents at issue and found there are both ornamental and functional elements in the patents and the D’851 Patent further has definiteness concerns, which undercuts the strength of showing a likelihood of success on the merits. The Court found the D’038 and D’978 Patents were substantially similar to Way Interglobal’s range oven and therefore, Furrion “demonstrated some likelihood of success on the merits on [those] two patents.” Furrion further showed some likelihood of success on the merits as to the D’979 Patent. As to the final patent, the D’990 Patent, the Court found that if valid, the claim scope is so narrow only minor changes could be expected. In this case, Furrion has not shown a likelihood of success for the D’990 Patent. Overall, Furrion did not show a “high” likelihood of success on the merits.
After analyzing the likelihood of success on the merits, the Court analyzed whether Furrion showed that it will suffer irreparable harm if not for the issuance of a preliminary injunction. Furrion asserted three types of irreparable harm for the Court to review: “(1) loss of market share; (2) loss of good will; and (3) price erosion”. In this case, the Court found Furrion’s argument of price erosion was “lost sales gussied up and called price erosion.” A preliminary injunction cannot be issued merely based upon lost sales and economic harm. Therefore, the Court did not find that Furrion made a showing of likely irreparable harm. While it need not be analyzed by the Court as Furrion failed to show a likelihood of irreparable harm, the Court further found the balance of harms and public interest to slightly favor Way Interglobal and denied Furrion’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction.
Cause No. 3:19-cv-566-PPS-MGG was assigned to District Judge Judge Philip P. Simon and Michael G. Gotsch, Sr. The Opinion was issued by Judge Simon on October 30. 2019.