Jack Russell v. Mark Kendall et al
Filing
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COMPLAINT against Defendants Bigg Time Entertainment Inc, Audie Desbrow, Does 1-10, Mark Kendall, Michael Lardie. Case assigned to Judge Otis D Wright, II for all further proceedings. Discovery referred to Magistrate Judge David T. Bristow.(Filing fee $ 350 PAID.) Jury Demanded., filed by Plaintiff Jack Russell. (et) (Additional attachment(s) added on 3/26/2012: # 1 Ntc of Assignment, # 2 Summons, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet) (mg).
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1.
This is a civil action seeking injunctive relief and damages for federal trademark
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infringement/false endorsement, federal trademark dilution, and federal statutory unfair
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competition under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, et seq. (the“Lanham Act”), and
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specifically 15 U.S.C. § 1125, and California state common law trademark infringement, injury
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to business reputation and interference with prospective economic advantage, and statutory
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unfair competition.
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2.
This Court has original subject matter jurisdiction over the federal claims in this action
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pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1338(a) and (b),and 15 U.S.C. 1121, and
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supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a).
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3.
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and belief, reside in the State of California. In addition, Defendants do business in the State of
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California and have performed as “Great White” within the state, and events giving rise to the
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cause of action have occurred within California.
This Court has personal jurisdiction over the Defendants, all of whom, on information
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4.
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and belief, all defendants reside within the State of California, and Defendants Mark Kendall and
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Audie Desbrow reside in this district, and Defendant Bigg Time Entertainment, Inc. has a
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principal place of business within this district. Additionally the principal events complained of
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have and will occur in this District.
Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b), in that, on information
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NATURE OF THE ACTION
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5.
This is an action for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and damages arising
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from Defendants’ infringement of the Federal and California state statutory and common law
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rights of Plaintiff JACK RUSSELL and his common law trademark of the band name “GREAT
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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WHITE”. Plaintiff is the founder and lead singer of the musical group “Great White”.
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Throughout the group’s existence, he has been the primary creative director of the band. He
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determined the band’s membership, signed most all of its contracts, gave nearly all of the band’s
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publicity interviews, and determined the band’s creative direction. He has been the sole member
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is the only original member of the band to continuously perform with the group throughout its
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existence. He is also the sole member to exercise control over the quality of the groups service.
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Accordingly, Plaintiff is the owner of the common law trademark in the name “Great White”.
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6.
The individual Defendants, MARK KENDALL, AUDIE DESBROW, and MICHAEL
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LARDIE seek to perform, promote and market themselves as the musical group “Great White”,
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without Plaintiff’s consent, and have recently announced that they will release an album under
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that name. By performing and announcing their intent to record an album under the name
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“GREAT WHITE”, Defendants have infringed upon and diluted the value of the trademark
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rights owned by Plaintiff. Further, Defendants have, both individually and through their agents,
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intentionally defamed Plaintiff and injured his business reputation and ability to contract by
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stating to promoters and to the general public that he is unable to perform as a musician, and by
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wrongfully threatening to file legal action against any venue or promoter that books Plaintiff to
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perform.
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7.
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and booking the individual defendants as the band “Great White” without Plaintiff’s consent.
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BIGG TIME ENTERTAINMENT INC. is a California Corporation with a principal place of
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business in Los Angeles, California. BIGG TIME ENTERTAINMENT, INC. has assisted and
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profited from the individual defendants infringement and dilution of Plaintiff’s common law
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trademark, and has assisted and profited from individual defendants attempts to wrongfully
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injure Plaintiff’s business reputation and ability to contract.
Defendant BIGG TIME ENTERTAINMENT, INC., acts as the talent agency promoting
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PARTIES
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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1
8.
Plaintiff Jack Russell is the founder and lead singer of the band Great White. Mr. Russell
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founded the band in 1978. It was originally called “Dante Fox” until the name was changed to
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“Great White” in 1982. Over the past thirty years, the band experienced astonishing success, and
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also faced difficult challenges. Through both success and difficulty, Jack Russell was the one
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constant member of the band. Mr Russell was the primary creative director of the band. He
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determined the band’s membership, signed most all of its contracts, gave nearly all of the band’s
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publicity interviews, determined the band’s creative direction, and exercised the power to both
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dissolve and reform the band. While the band’s membership has changed substantially over the
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past thirty years (over 20 musicians have played with the band in various capacities in that time),
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Jack Russell has always been the lead singer and creative director of the band. Until recent
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events that form the basis of this lawsuit, there has never been a “Great White” without Jack
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Russell.
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9.
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“Great White”. Mr Kendall was a member of the original “Great White” in 1982, but resigned
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from the band in 2000. Plaintiff hired Ty Longley to replace Kendall, and continued to perform
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as “Great White” and “Jack Russell’s Great White” after Mr. Kendall quit the band. Plaintiff
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later hired Kendall to perform as part of “Jack Russell’s Great White” at the end of 2002. In
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2010, Plaintiff took a temporary absence from the band to recuperate from major surgery.
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During that time, Mr. Kendall played guitar for the band ‘Great White” with a number of
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temporary fill in vocalists. After Plaintiff announced that he had recuperated from surgery, Mr.
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Kendall, along with defendants Lardie and Desbrow, filed a trademark application for the name
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“Great White” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office without plaintiff’s knowledge
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and consent in an attempt to lay claim to the band name. Mr Kendall has since continued to
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perform with other vocalists under the name “Great White” without plaintiff’s consent. On
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information and belief, Mr Kendall is a resides in San Bernardino County.
Defendant Mark Kendall is the lead guitarist of the band currently promoting itself as
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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10.
Defendants Michael Lardie and Audie Desbrow were not members of the original “Great
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White”. They joined the band in 1985. In 2000, shortly after Mr. Kendall resigned, Audie
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Desbrow was fired by Plaintiff. Michael Lardie remained with the band through the end of
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2001, when Plaintiff announced that the band would stop playing. At the end of 2002, Plaintiff
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reformed the band, without Lardie or Desbrow, who both remained absent from the band until
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2006, when Plaintiff invited them to return for a reunion tour. Lardie and Desbrow, along with
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defendant Kendall, were playing with the band while Plaintiff was recuperating from surgery in
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2011, joined with defendant Kendall in attempting to trademark the name “Great White” and
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have been performing as the “Official” Great White band without Plaintiff’s consent. On
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information and belief, Defendant Lardie resides in Sacramento County, and Defendant Desbrow
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resides in Los Angeles County.
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11.
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and booking the individual defendants as the band “Great White” without Plaintiff’s consent.
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BIGG TIME ENTERTAINMENT INC. is a California Corporation with a principal place of
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business in Los Angeles, California. BIGG TIME ENTERTAINMENT, INC. has assisted and
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profited from the individual defendants infringement and dilution of Plaintiff’s common law
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trademark, and has assisted and profited from individual defendants attempts to wrongfully
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injure Plaintiff’s business reputation and ability to contract.
Defendant BIGG TIME ENTERTAINMENT, INC., acts as the talent agency promoting
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and therefore sues these defendants by such fictitious names. Plaintiff will amend this complaint
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to allege their true names and capacities when ascertained. Plaintiff is informed and believes and
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therefore alleges that each of the fictitiously named defendants is responsible in some manner for
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the occurrences herein alleged, and Plaintiff ‘s injuries as herein alleged were proximately
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caused by such defendants. These fictitiously named defendants along with the defendants
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named above, are herein referred to collectively as "Defendants."
Plaintiff is unaware of the true names and identities of DOES 1 through 10, inclusive,
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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FACTS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS
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13.
Plaintiff Jack Russell is the founder and lead singer of the band "Great White". From the
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band’s inception, he exerted primary creative control over the band, made the hiring and firing
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decisions for the band, signed nearly all of the contracts for the band, coined the name for the
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band, and performed nearly all of the interviews for the band. Other band members, including
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Defendants, came and went, but Plaintiff has continuously been the lead singer and director of
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the band. Until recently there had never been a “Great White” without Jack Russell, who is
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undeniably the face and voice of the band, and indisputably owns the trademark to the name
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name to "Great White" in 1982. In 1982, the band consisted of Plaintiff, Defendant Mark
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Kendall, Lorne Black and Gary Holland.
Plaintiff started the band in 1978 under the name “Dante Fox”, and later changed the
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touring. As with most bands, the lineup of musicians changed over time. In 1985, Plaintiff fired
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Gary Holland and hired Defendant Audie Desbrow to replace him. Plaintiff also hired
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Defendant Michael Lardie in late 1985 to play keyboards and guitar, after the release of their
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third studio recording “Shot in the Dark”.
“Great White” spent the next several years developing a following, releasing albums, and
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Bitten...” which by 1988 had sold over one million copies and was certified “Platinum”. Over
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the next five years, the band toured and released two more albums: “...Twice Shy” released in
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1989 sold over two million copies, and “Hooked” released in 1991 sold over half a million
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copies, which was followed by the album “Psycho City” in 1992. During this period, the band
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lineup, again like most bands, continued to change. Lorne Black was replaced by Tony
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Montana, who was in turn replaced by other bassists, and studio musicians were also hired for
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recording sessions.
In 1987, the band achieved mainstream success with the release of the album “Once
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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The band continued to tour throughout the 90s, releasing three more albums. Again, the
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lineup changed, Tony Montana was replaced with other musicians, including Sean McNabb.
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Mark Kendall underwent treatment for alcoholism and Plaintiff hired Al Petrelli to replace him
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on tour, and also similarly hired drummers to replace Defendant Audie Desbrow
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In 2000, the line up of the band changed substantially. Defendant Mark Kendall quit the
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band in January of 2000. Plaintiff hired Matthew Johnson to replace Kendall, and continued to
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perform as "Great White". Plaintiff also fired Defendant Audie Desbrow as drummer and
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replaced him.. Plaintiff continued on with the band, and from 2000 to the end of 2001, when
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Plaintiff dissolved the band (albeit temporarily). During that period the band consisted of
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Plaintiff and a number of other musicians.
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would stop performing. However, in late 2002, Plaintiff reformed the band, and called it ‘Jack
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Russell’s Great White”. Plaintiff invited Defendant Mark Kendall to play guitar, who agreed to
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join the band as an employee. From 2002 to 2005, the band toured as either “Jack Russell’s
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Great White” or “Great White”.
In November of 2001, Plaintiff decided, albeit for only a short while, that “Great White”
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them to rejoin the band for a reunion tour. From 2006 to 2010, the band consisted of Plaintiff,
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Defendants, and bassist Sean Mcnabb whom Plaintiff later fired and replaced with Scott Snyder.
Defendants Lardie and Desbrow did not rejoin the band until 2006, when Plaintiff invited
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threatening condition. While he recuperated from this surgery, other singers filled in for him
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during the band’s live performances, however, it was undisputed that Plaintiff’s absence was
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temporary, and that he retained his position in the band’s lineup and would resume singing with
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the band upon his recuperation.
In August of 2010, Plaintiff was hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery for a life
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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22.
By December of 2011, Plaintiff had recuperated sufficiently to be able to once again
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perform as lead singer. However, Defendants, who had apparently decided that they would
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prefer that band continue without Plaintiff, stated that he would not be “permitted” to return to
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his band until he agreed to a lengthy set of conditions (including, for example, that he agree to no
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longer take the pain medications or even the anti-inflammatory medicines that had been
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prescribed by his treating physicians) that was clearly designed to keep him from returning to the
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band.
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Also during this time, without the knowledge or consent of Plaintiff, Defendants secretly
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drafted and filed an application to register a trademark, in their name only, for both the name
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“Great White” and the band’s logo. The United States Patent and Trademark Office serial
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number for the application is 85489480.
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attempting to keep him from returning to the band, hired new musicians and began rehearsing for
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a new tour.
Plaintiff, rightfully sensing that the musicians he had hired to play in Great White were
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White” and demanded through his attorneys that they cease performing under the name.
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Defendants refused, and have continued to perform as “Great White” with other lead singers
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without Plaintiff’s consent.
Plaintiff informed Defendants that they did not own the trademark to the name “Great
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White” so that the public knows that they will be seeing him as the lead singer when they see his
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band’s live performances, and will be viewing a performance that maintains the vocal style and
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quality of the music they have come to expect from “Great White”.
Plaintiff, in order to minimize confusion, has named his band “Jack Russell’s Great
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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27.
In an attempt to injure the business reputation of Plaintiff and interfere with his band’s
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prospective economic advantage, Defendants posted defamatory material about him on their
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website (www.greatwhiterocks.com) claiming that he was too infirm to perform as a musician.
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Defendants also claimed to be the true owners of the “Great White” trademark, and posted
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threats to litigate against any venue or promoter that booked Plaintiff’s band. Plaintiff has also
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been informed by various venues that Defendants, by and through their agents, contacted
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bookers that had employed Plaintiff’s band and threatened litigation.
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28.
On March 17, 2012, Defendants announced that they would be releasing an album
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entitled “Elation” as “Great White” on May 18, 2012. Release of the album will irretrievably
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alter the discography of the band “Great White”, tarnishing and diluting the trademark,
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reputation, and goodwill that Plaintiff has developed over 30 years.
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memorabilia the same types of wholesale, retail and distribution channels and to the same classes
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of purchasers as Plaintiff’s products and services.
Defendants market their musical performances, CDs, DVDs, other recordings and band
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deception in the minds of the public, and will result in the dilution and tarnishment of the mark.
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Defendants' infringement constitutes a willful and malicious violation of Plaintiff’s trademark
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rights, aimed at preventing Plaintiff from continuing to build a business around a mark that he
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has long possessed and depriving him of nearly 30 years of goodwill.
Defendants' wrongful use of Plaintiff’s mark is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or
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31.
Defendants do not own the trademark to the name Great White. It is well settled in the
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Ninth Circuit that, with respect to trademark disputes over ownership of band names, “a person
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who remains continuously involved with the group and is in a position to control the quality of
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its services retains the right to use of the mark”. Robi v Reed, 173 F.3d 736, 741. As with the
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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prevailing party in Robi, Plaintiff “founded the group, gave the group its name, managed the
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group, and is the only member who has continuously performed with the group” throughout its
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existence. Id. Accordingly, it is Plaintiff, not Defendants, who owns the right to the “Great
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White” trademark.
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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT
(15 U.S.C. § 1125(a))
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32.
Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 31
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of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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33.
Plaintiff, as the sole member of the band who was consistently present in the group and
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maintained control over the quality of the services of the group throughout the majority of its
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existence, owns the common law trademark to the name “Great White”.
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34.
By intentionally using Plaintiff’s “Great White” common law trademark in commerce to
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promote their musical performances, record and sell music, and sell other items displaying
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Plaintiff’s mark without Plaintiff’s permission, Defendants are deliberately, intentionally and
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willfully infringing upon Plaintiff’s common law trademark, and the goodwill associated by
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the public with Plaintiff’s mark, diluting the value of the mark and creating confusion in the
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mind of the consuming public regarding which band they will be seeing perform, or buying
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music or other memorabilia from, when they see the name “Great White”.
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35.
Upon information and belief, if not preliminarily and permanently enjoined by this
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Court, Defendants will continue to advertise and display, and will sell, distribute and otherwise
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exploit Plaintiff’s common law trademark for their own commercial use in violation of Plaintiffs’
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rights under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) for which Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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at law.
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SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
DILUTION OF UNREGISTERED TRADEMARK
(15 U.S.C. § 1125 (c))
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36.
Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 31
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of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein..
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37.
Defendants’ deliberate, intentional and willful use of the “Great White” to promote their
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live musical performances, and to record and distribute records, CDs, and DVDs of those
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performances under the name “Great White, has resulted in actual dilution of the mark by
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blurring and tarnishment, in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c). Defendants have blurred and
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tarnished the distinctive quality and goodwill of the “Great White” mark by their creation of a
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second band under the same name as Plaintiff’s mark that markets itself as the “authentic” band,
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to the detriment of Plaintiff.
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38.
By reason of the foregoing, Defendants have deliberately, willfully and knowingly
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diluted and threatened to further dilute the rights of Plaintiff in his common law trademark in
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commerce, in order to intentionally deceive and mislead consumers and the public at large, and
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to willfully usurp the goodwill and reputation associated with the Plaintiff’s mark.
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39.
Upon information and belief, unless preliminarily and permanently enjoined by this
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Court, Defendants will continue to dilute, and to cause serious and irreparable harm and damage
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to the reputation and goodwill associated with Plaintiff’s mark for which Plaintiff has no
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adequate remedy at law.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
FALSE DESCRIPTION
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40.
Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 31
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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41.
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Plaintiff’s trademark established in the entertainment-related market for consumer products that
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Defendants' use thereof in the context of entertainment is likely to cause confusion, or to cause
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mistake, or to deceive consumers as to the affiliation, connection or association of Plaintiff’s
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products, or to deceive consumers as to the origin, sponsorship or approval by Plaintiff of the
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Defendants' counterfeit products. Plaintiff avers that Defendants' use of the mark "Great White"
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comprises a false description or representation of Defendants' business or products under 15
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Defendants' wrongful use of Plaintiff’s mark is such a colorable imitation and copy of
U.S.C. § 1125(a) (Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act).
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FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
FEDERAL UNFAIR COMPETITION
(15 U.S.C. § 1125(a))
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42.
Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 31
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of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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43.
Defendants' use of Plaintiff’s mark to promote and market their live performances, to
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record and sell records, and to sell other products bearing the mark places them in direct
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competition with Plaintiff’s live performances and sales of goods bearing the mark and
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constitutes Unfair Competition pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). Defendants' use of Plaintiff’s
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mark is likely to cause confusion, mistake and deception among consumers and will result in
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continued dillution and tarnishment of the mark. Defendants' unfair competition has caused and
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will continue to cause damage to Plaintiff, and is causing irreparable harm to Plaintiff for which
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there is no adequate remedy at law.
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44.
Upon information and belief, unless preliminarily and permanently enjoined by this
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Court, Defendants will continue to unlawfully advertise and exploit the Plaintiffs’ mark, causing
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plaintiff irreparable damage and injury for which Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
12
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
COMMON LAW TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT
(California Common Law)
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45.
Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 31
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of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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46.
This cause of action under California state common law is separate and independent of
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the federally-based causes of action previously set forth herein, but it is between the same parties
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and is based on the same operative facts as set forth in the prior causes of action; this Court
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accordingly has supplemental jurisdiction over said claim.
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47.
As set forth above, Plaintiff resides and does business in the State of California, where he
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owns and owns common law trademark rights throughout the United States in the “Great White”
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trademark for purposes of musical performances and the sale of goods related to those
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performances
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48.
The use of Plaintiff’s mark by Defendants in connection with the promotion of their live
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musical performances and with the advertising, sale and distribution of CDs, DVDs, electronic
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musical downloads, clothing and other memorabilia without Plaintiff’s permission, in the State
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of California and elsewhere in the United States, is likely to cause and has caused confusion
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among consumers as to the source of Defendants’ products, and purchasers thereof will likely
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associate such products as originating with Plaintiff, all to the detriment of said Plaintiffs.
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49.
Upon information and belief, unless preliminarily and permanently enjoined by this
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Court, Defendants will continue their aforesaid willful and deliberate infringement of Plaintiffs’
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trademark in the name “Great White”
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SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
CALIFORNIA UNFAIR COMPETITION
(Cal. Bus. Prof Code 17200 et seq)
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
13
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50.
Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in Paragraphs 1 through 31
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of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
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51.
This cause of action under California state law is separate and independent of the
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federally-based causes of action previously set forth herein, but it is between the same parties
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and is based on the same operative facts as set forth in the prior causes of action; this Court
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accordingly has supplemental jurisdiction over said claim.
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52.
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unfair or fraudulent business act or practice” or any “unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading
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advertising” constitutes unfair competition under the statute..
California Business and Professions Code Section 17200 provides that any “unlawful,
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engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in unfair competition may be enjoined in any court
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of competent jurisdiction”
California Business and Professions Code Section 17203 provides that any “person who
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the California Business and Professions Code, and Plaintiff therefore seeks to enjoin Defendants
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from further infringement of his trademark in the name “Great White”.
Defendants’ unlawful acts complained of herein constitute unfair competition pursuant to
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SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
COMMON LAW INJURY TO BUSINESS REPUTATION AND INTERFERENCE WITH
PROSPECTIVE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE
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55.
Plaintiff repeats and incorporates by reference, as though specifically pleaded herein, the
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allegations of paragraphs 1 through 31.
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56.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants' wrongful use of Plaintiff’s trademark inures to and
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
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1
creates a likelihood of injury to Plaintiff’s business reputation because any adverse reaction by
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the public to Defendants and the quality of its products and the nature of its business will injure
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the business reputation of Plaintiff and the goodwill that he enjoys in connection with his mark
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"Great White". Also, the confusion created in the mind of the public regarding which band is the
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authentic Great White injures Plaintiff’s business reputation. Additionally, Defendants’ repeated
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false statements regarding the ability of Plaintiff to perform as a musician and threats of
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unjustified litigation have injured his business reputation and interfered with Plaintiff’s business
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contracts and ability to contract. All of the foregoing have caused damage to plaintiff.
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PRAYER FOR RELIEF
Wherefore, plaintiff prays for judgment against DEFENDANTS, as follows:
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1.
The Defendants, MARK KENDALL, AUDIE DESBROW, MICHAEL LARDIE, BIG
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TIME ENTERTAINMENT, INC. and their agents, officers, employees, representatives,
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successors, assigns, and all other persons acting for, with, by, through or under authority
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from Defendants, and each of them, be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from:
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(a) Using Plaintiff’s trademark or any colorable imitation thereof;
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(b) using any trademark that imitates or is confusingly similar to or in any way
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similar to Plaintiff’s trademark "Great White," or that is likely to cause confusion,
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mistake, deception, or public misunderstanding as to the origin of Plaintiff’s
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products or his connectedness to Defendants.
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(c) that Defendants remove Plaintiff’s trademark from any and all websites under
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their control and remove all references to being the “Official” Great White
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2.
The Defendants be required to file with the Court and serve on Plaintiff within thirty (30)
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days after entry of the Injunction, a report in writing under oath setting forth in detail the
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manner and form in which Defendants have complied with the Injunction;
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COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
15
1
3.
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3
acts alleged herein;
4.
5.
That Defendants be ordered to remove all defamatory material injurious to Plaintiffs
business reputation from any websites under their control;
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7
That Defendants be compelled to disgorge to Plaintiff all profits derived from the illegal
acts complained of herein;
4
5
That Defendants be held liable for all damages suffered by Plaintiff resulting from the
6.
For an order pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1119 cancelling any registration for the mark "Great
White" obtained by defendants subsequent to the initiation of this action;
8
9
7.
For damages not less than$ 500,000 and to the extent permitted by law;
10
8.
For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
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12
13
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Dated: March 22, 2012
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,-
By~-----------------
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Brian Acree
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Attorney for Plaintiff
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22
23
24
25
26
27
28
COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION, INJURY TO
BUSINESS REPUTATION
16
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