Silvers v. Google, Inc.

Filing 57

ANSWER by Google, Inc. to [49-1] counter claim (cj, Deputy Clerk)

Case 9:05-cv-80387-KLR

Document 57

Entered on FLSD Docket 12/27/2005

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
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Case No . 05-80387-CIV RyskampNituna c

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STEVEN A . SILVERS, an individual, ) Plaintiff,
V.

)
) ) )

O

GOOGLE INC ., a Delaware corporation, Defendant,

) )

GOOGLE INC ., a Delaware corporation, ) Counterclaimant,
v. )

)

STEVEN A . SILVERS, an individual ; ) STELOR PRODUCTIONS, INC ., a Delaware) corporation ; STELOR PRODUCTIONS, LLC ;) a business entity of unknown form ; and ) STEVEN ESRIG, an individual, )

Counterdefendants,

)

GOOGLE INC .'S REPLY AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO STELOR'S COUNTERCLAIM DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Defendant and Counterclaimant Google Inc . ("Google "), by its undersigned counsel, hereby responds to the Counterclaim of Stelor Productions , LLC and Stelor Productions, Inc . (collectively " Stelor") as follows : 1 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 1 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations .

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2 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 2 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 3 . Google admits the allegations of paragraph 3 of the Counterclaim . 4 . Google admits that this action arises under the Lanham Act and the common law of the State of Florida, but denies the remaining allegations of paragraph 4 of the counterclaim, and specifically that the counterclaim arises from trademark infringement and unfair competition . 5 . Google admits that jurisdiction is proper pursuant to 15 U . S .C . § 1121 and 28 U .S .C . §§ 1331, 1338 , and 1367 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 5 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 6 . Google admits the allegations of paragraph 6 of the Counterclaim . 7 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny whether the trademark GOGGLES AND DESIGN , bearing registration number 2 , 087,590 , was registered on August 12, 1997 and therefore denies the allegation . Google denies the remaining allegations of paragraph 7. 8 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 8 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 9 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 9 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 10 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 10 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 11 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 11 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations .

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12 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 12 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 13 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 13 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 14 . Google admits that it owns and operates the very well known Google Internet search engine . Google denies the remaining allegations of paragraph 14 . 15 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 15 of the Counterclaim . 16 . Google admits that Stelor seeks injunctive relief and damages . Google denies the remaining allegations of paragraph 16 . 17 . Google denies that it has engaged in trademark infringement . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 17 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 18 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 18 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 19 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 19 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 20 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 20 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 21 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 21 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 22 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 22 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations .

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23 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 23 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 24 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 24 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 25 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 25 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 26. Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 26 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 27 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 27 of the Counterclaim . 28 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 28 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 29 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 29 are made solely against Steven A . Silvers ("Silvers") . 30 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 30 are made solely against Silvers. 31 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 31 are made solely against Silvers . 32 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 32 are made solely against Silvers . 33 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 33 are made solely against Silvers. 34 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 34 are made solely against Silvers.

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35 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 35 are made solely against Silvers . 36 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 36 are made solely against Silvers . 37 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 37 are made solely against Silvers . 38 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 38 are made solely against Silvers . Google incorporates by reference its responses to paragraphs 1 through 28 above . 39 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 39 of the Counterclaim . 40 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 40 of the Counterclaim . 41 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 41 of the Counterclaim . 42 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 42 of the Counterclaim . 43 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 43 of the Counterclaim . 44 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 44 of the Counterclaim . 45 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 45 of the Counterclaim . 46 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 46 of the Counterclaim . Google incorporates by reference its responses to paragraphs 1 through 28 above . 47 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 47 of the Counterclaim . 48 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 48 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 49 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 49 of the Counterclaim . 50 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 50 of the Counterclaim .

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51 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 51 of the Counterclaim . 52 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 52 of the Counterclaim . 53 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 53 of the Counterclaim . 54 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 54 of the Counterclaim . Google incorporates by reference its responses to paragraphs I through 28 above . 55 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 55 of the Counterclaim . 56 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 56 of the Counterclaim . 57 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 57 of the Counterclaim . 58 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 58 of the Counterclaim . 59 . Google denies the allegations of paragraph 59 of the Counterclaim . 60 . Google lacks information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 60 of the Counterclaim and therefore denies the allegations . 61 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 61 are made solely against Silvers. 62 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 62 are made solely against Silvers. 63 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 63 are made solely against Silvers . 64 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 64 are made solely against Silvers. 65 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 65 are made solely against Silvers .

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66 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 66 are made solely against Silvers . 67 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 67 are made solely against Silvers. 68 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 68 are made solely against Silvers . 69 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 69 are made solely against Silvers. 70 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 70 are made solely against Silvers . 71 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 71 are made solely against Silvers. 72 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 72 are made solely against Silvers . 73 . Google need not respond because the allegations of paragraph 73 are made solely against Silvers. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENS E The Counterclaim, and each count asserted in it, fails to allege facts sufficient to state a claim . SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENS E Stelor lacks standing to assert the claims asserted in the Complaint . THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Stelor's claims are barred because of its unclean hands and fraud .

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FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Stelor's claims are barred because of ]aches . FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Stelor's claims are barred by relevant statutes of limitations . SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENS E Stelor's claims are barred because of waiver, acquiescence and estoppel . SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Stelor's claims are barred because of its failure to mitigate damages . EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Stelor's claims fail because any marks claimed by it have been abandoned .

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DEMAND FOR JURY TRIA L Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38, Google hereby demands a jury trial of all issues triable by a jury .

Dated : December 21, 2005 Respectfully submitted,

By :

Jan D . Atlas (Bar No . 226246) jatlas@adorno .com ADORNO & YOSS LL P 350 East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 1700 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-4217 Phone [phone] Fax [phone] Andrew P . Bridges (Cal . Bar No. 122761) abridges@winston .com Jennifer A . Golinveaux (Cal . Bar. No. 203056) jolinveaux @ winston .com WINSTON & STRAWN LL P 101 California Street , Suite 3900 San Francisco , California 94111 Phone : [phone] Fax : [phone] Attorneys for Defendant and Counterclaimant GOOGLE INC .

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVIC E

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was se rved upon opposing counsel by U .S . mail this 21st day of December , 2005 , addressed as follows :

Harley S. Tropin Kenneth R . Hartmann Gail A . McQuilki n KOZYAK TROPIN & THROCKMORTON, P .A . 2525 Ponce de Leon , 9th Floor Miami, Florida 3313 4 Adam T . Rabin DIMOND KAPLAN & ROTHSTEIN, P .A . 525 S . Flagler Drive, Trump Plaza - Suite 200 West Palm Beach, Florida 3340 1 Kevin C . Kaplan David J . Zac k BURLINGTON, WEIL, SCHWIEP, KAPLAN & BLONSKY, P .A . 2699 South Bayshore Drive, Penthous e Miami, Florida 33133 Fax : [phone]

Dated : December 21%200 5

SF :121016.2