STELOR PRODUCTIONS, INC. v. OOGLES N GOOGLES et al

Filing 135

Jason and Shelley Blackhurst's ANSWER to 94 Amended Complaint, filed by JASON BLACKHURST, SHELLEY BLACKHURST.(Vaughan, Stephen)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION STELOR PRODUCTIONS, LLC ) ) Plaintiff ) ) ) v. ) ) ) OOGLES N GOOGLES FRANCHISING LLC )
et. al. Defendants. ) ) )

Case Number: 1:05-CV-0354-DFH-TAB

Jury Demanded

JASON AND SHELLEY BLACKHURST'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT Jason and Shelley Blackhurst, by counsel, for their Answer to Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint states as follows: FIRST DEFENSE 1. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 1. 2. Paragraph 2 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 2. 3. Paragraph 3 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations

of paragraph 3. 4. Paragraph 4 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 4. 5. 6. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 5. Paragraph 6 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 6. 7. Paragraph 7 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 7. 8. 9. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 8. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst admit that Plaintiff makes claims for trademark

infringement, unfair competition, and dilution, but deny liability for such claims of paragraph 9. 10. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst admit this Court has subject matter jurisdiction but

deny any remaining allegations in paragraph 10. 11. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst admit venue is proper in this district, but deny any

remaining allegations of paragraph 11. 12. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 12. 13. 14. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny the allegations of paragraph 13. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 14. 15. 16. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny the allegations of paragraph 15. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 16. 17. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 17. 18. 19. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny the allegations of paragraph 18. Paragraph 19 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 20. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 21. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny the allegations of paragraph 22. Paragraph 23 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 23. 24. Paragraph 24 makes no allegations against Jason and Shelley Blackhurst. To the

extent an answer is required to this paragraph, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without

sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 24. 25. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny the allegations of paragraph 26. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 27. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 28. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 29. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as

to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 30. 31. 32. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 31. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraph 32. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraphs 33 through 42. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraphs 43 through 48. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraphs 49 through 53. Jason and Shelley Blackhurst deny paragraphs 54 through 56. Paragraphs 57 through 68 comprise a prayer for judgment by the Plaintiff. To

33 - 42. 43 ­ 48. 49 ­ 53. 54 ­ 56. 57 ­ 68.

the extent that Jason and Shelley Blackhurst are required to admit or deny such a prayer for judgment, they deny paragraphs 57 through 68.

SECOND DEFENSE Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint fails to state claim upon which relief can be granted.

THIRD DEFENSE The Oogles n Googles name and trademark do not infringe Plaintiff's alleged trademarks because there is no likelihood of confusion between the Oogles n Googles name and Plaintiff's alleged trademarks or between Oogles n Googles services and any goods or services allegedly offered for sale by Plaintiff.

FOURTH DEFENSE Jason and Shelley Blackhurst have made no representations whatsoever regarding Plaintiff's alleged goods and services, nor have they falsely represented any facts pertaining the origin, sponsorship, approval, quality, characteristics, or geographic origin Oogles n Googles own services.

FIFTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred because Plaintiff and prior alleged owners or licensees of the alleged trademarks have not used such marks in commerce as trademarks to identify the source or origin of its alleged goods or services.

SIXTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred because Jason and Shelley Blackhurst have done nothing to mislead, deceive or confuse consumers or to generate likelihood of confusion as to the source or origin of Oogles n Googles' services, or the source or origin of Plaintiff's alleged goods and services.

SEVENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by doctrine of unclean hands.

EIGHTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by fair use.

NINTH DEFENSE . Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred by laches and/or statutes of limitations.

TENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's alleged trademarks are not famous except to the extent the Google, Inc., has made the word "Google" famous; Plaintiff has no right to make claims based upon the fame of Google, Inc.'s trademarks.

ELEVENTH DEFENSE Oogles n Googles use of its name and trademark in commerce preceded any alleged fame of Plaintiff's alleged trademarks.

TWELFTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's alleged trademarks are not distinctive or famous and in any case no dilution has occurred to Plaintiff's alleged trademarks irrespective of their lack of distinctiveness or fame.

THIRTEENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff's claims are barred because Plaintiff has incurred no damages.

FOURTEENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff's claims are barred because of waiver, acquiescence and/or estoppel.

FIFTEENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff and/or other alleged predecessor owners of the alleged trademarks have abandoned the alleged trademarks.

SIXTEENTH DEFENSE Subject to discovery, Plaintiff has failed to mitigate its damages.

SEVENTEENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff and/or the prior alleged owner(s) of the alleged trademarks committed fraud on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

EIGHTEENTH DEFENSE Plaintiff does not have a federal registration for the word "googles" as a trademark, nor does Plaintiff have any common law or other trademark rights to the word "googles".

NINETEENTH DEFENSE Jason and Shelley Blackhurst had no knowledge or notice of Plaintiff, Plaintiff's alleged goods and services, or Plaintiff's alleged trademarks prior to being notified of Plaintiff's lawsuit. TWENTIETH DEFENSE Process and service of process is insufficient with respect to Jason Blackhurst

Wherefore, Jason and Shelley Blackhurst pray for judgment in their favor, costs of this action including attorney fees, and all other just and proper relief.

JURY DEMAND Jason and Shelley Blackhurst demand trial by jury. Respectfully submitted by: /s/ Stephen L. Vaughan Stephen L. Vaughan, #2294-49 INDIANO VAUGHAN LLP One N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 850 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on May 5, 2008, a copy of the foregoing Jason and Shelley Blackhurst's Answer to Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint was filed electronically on all counsel of record. Notice of this filing will be sent to all counsel of record by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system.

/s/ Stephen L. Vaughan Stephen L. Vaughan, #2294-49 INDIANO VAUGHAN LLP One N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 E-mail: [e-mail]