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

Filing 195

ANSWER to 183 Amended Complaint, filed by STEVE CURL, TARA CURL.(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

STEVE AND TARA CURL'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT Steve and Tara Curl, by counsel, for their Answer to Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint states as follows: FIRST DEFENSE 1. Steve and Tara Curl 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 Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl 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 Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl deny said allegations. 4. Paragraph 4 makes no allegations against Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

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

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 5. 6. 7. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 6. Paragraph 7 makes no allegations against Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 7. 8. Paragraph 8 makes no allegations against Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 8. 9. 10. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 9. Steve and Tara Curl admit that Plaintiff makes claims for trademark infringement,

unfair competition, and dilution, but deny liability for such claims of paragraph 10. 11. Steve and Tara Curl admit this Court has subject matter jurisdiction but deny any

remaining allegations in paragraph 11. 12. Steve and Tara Curl admit venue is proper in this district, but deny any remaining

allegations of paragraph 12.

13.

Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the

truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 13. 14. 15. Steve and Tara Curl deny the allegations of paragraph 14. Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the

truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 15. 16. 17. Steve and Tara Curl deny the allegations of paragraph 16. Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the

truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 17. 18. Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the

truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 18. 19. 20. Steve and Tara Curl deny the allegations of paragraph 19. Paragraph 20 makes no allegations against Steve and Tara Curl To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 21. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 22. Steve and Tara Curl deny the allegations of paragraph 23. Paragraph 24 makes no allegations against Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 24. 25. Paragraph 25 makes no allegations against Steve and Tara Curl. To the extent an

answer is required to this paragraph, Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 25. 26. Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the

truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Steve and Tara Curl deny the allegations of paragraph 27. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 28. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 29. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 30. Steve and Tara Curl are without sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the

truth of, and therefore deny the allegations of paragraph 31. 32. 33. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 32. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraph 33. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraphs 34 through 43. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraphs 44 through 49. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraphs 50 through 54. Steve and Tara Curl deny paragraphs 55 through 57. Paragraphs 58 through 69 comprise a prayer for judgment by the Plaintiff. To

34 - 43. 44 ­ 49. 50 ­ 54. 55 ­ 57. 58 ­ 69.

the extent that Steve and Tara Curl are required to admit or deny such a prayer for judgment, they deny paragraphs 58 through 69.

SECOND DEFENSE Plaintiff's Third 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 Steve and Tara Curl 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 Steve and Tara Curl 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 Steve and Tara Curl 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.

Wherefore, Steve and Tara Curl pray for judgment in their favor, costs of this action including attorney fees, and all other just and proper relief.

JURY DEMAND Steve and Tara Curl demand trial by jury. Respectfully submitted by: /s/ Stephen L. Vaughan Stephen L. Vaughan, #2294-49 INDIANO VAUGHAN LLP One N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1300 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on August 28, 2008, a copy of the foregoing Steve and Tara Curl's Answer to Plaintiff's Third 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]