Excelsior Printing Company v. Inman et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 350, receipt number 0101-4210590 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Excelsior Printing Company. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form)(Hennessey, Christopher) (Attachment 1 replaced on 11/21/2012) (Lindsay, Maurice). (Attachment 2 replaced on 11/21/2012) (Lindsay, Maurice).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
Western Division
______________________________
EXCELSIOR PRINTING
)
COMPANY,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
v.
)
)
Civil Action No.
MATTHEW INMAN
)
and
)
PAPYRUS-RECYCLED
)
GREETINGS, INC.
)
)
Defendants.
)
______________________________)
COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND
Plaintiff, Excelsior Printing Company (“Excelsior” or “Plaintiff”), by its attorneys, Cohen
Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP, alleges as follows:
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
1.

This is an action for damages and injunctive relief based upon the sale of products

under a brand name “The Oatmeal” by the defendants Matthew Inman and Papyrus-Recycled
Greetings, Inc. (collectively “Defendants”) that is confusingly similar to Plaintiff’s registered
trademark Oatmeal Studios®. Defendants have willfully infringed Plaintiffs’ trademark rights in
violation of federal trademark law.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2.

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28

U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1337 and 1338 because this case arises under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, et
seq., for trademark infringement.

3.

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This Court also has original jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, because the

parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive
of interest and costs.
4.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over each of the Defendants because they:
(a) transact business in this Commonwealth;
(b) contracted to supply services or things in this Commonwealth;
(c) caused tortious injury by an act or omission in this Commonwealth;
and/or
(d ) regularly do or solicit business, or engage in any other persistent course
of conduct, or derive substantial revenue from goods used or consumed or
services rendered, in this Commonwealth and have caused tortious injury in
this Commonwealth by an act or omission outside this Commonwealth.

5.

Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391 and 1400.
PARTIES

6.

Excelsior is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a principal place of business located at 60 Roberts Drive
North Adams, MA 01247. Excelsior sells greeting cards and related products sold under the
trademark Oatmeal Studios®.
7.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Matthew Inman (“Inman”) is an

individual residing in Seattle, Washington.
8.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Papyrus-Recycled Greetings, Inc.

(“Recycled Greetings”) is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Illinois , with a
principal place of business at 111 N. Canal, Suite 700 Chicago, Illinois 60606.
9.

Upon information and belief, Defendants Inman and Recycled Greetings

(collectively “Defendants”) acted in concert at all relevant times in connection with the activities

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that are the subject of this action.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff’s Business
10.

In January 2011, Excelsior purchased Oatmeal Studios, Inc., a company that has

produced an extensive line of greeting cards and related products sold under the trademark
Oatmeal Studios® (the “Mark”) for more than thirty-five years.
11.

Excelsior is the owner of the Mark, which is federally registered on the Principal

Register in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), Reg. No. 2913017.
12.

Since acquiring Oatmeal Studios, Inc., Excelsior has continued its business and

the use of the Mark.
13.

Excelsior commonly uses the Mark to advertise its products in the United States.

14.

Excelsior advertises its products bearing the Mark heavily on the Internet and

elsewhere.

Excelsior and its predecessor have expended great time and effort in the

development, promotion and marketing of its products under the Oatmeal Studios® trademark.
15.

Oatmeal Studios® brand products are sold throughout the United States in major

retail stores and on the Internet.
16.

In connection with the marketing of the Oatmeal Studios® brand products,

Excelsior has a promotional website, http://oatmealstudios.com where consumers may view its
products.
17.

Through Excelsior and its predecessor’s extensive efforts, as well as the products’

quality and overwhelming customer satisfaction, the Oatmeal Studios® brand has become highly
successful and well known.
18.

Excelsior has extensively and exclusively used the Mark throughout the United

States. Through such use, the Mark has become distinctively connected with Excelsior.

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19.

As a result of this effort, goodwill and the expanding reputation of the Oatmeal

Studios® brand, customers and others in the marketplace recognize Oatmeal Studios® as an
indication of the high quality of products offered by Excelsior.
20.

In view of Excelsior’s and/or its predecessor’s long-standing use, substantial

sales, and wide-spread marketing and promotional efforts of the Mark, the Mark has become
famous and distinctive, being associated exclusively with products provided by or authorized by
Excelsior.
Defendants’ Competing Businesses
21.

Upon information and belief, Defendants have acted in concert to develop,

produce and sell various products under the brand name “The Oatmeal” (the “Infringing
Products”).
22.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Inman operates an interactive

commercial website with the URL: http://www.theoatmeal.com (the “Infringing Website”).
23.

The Infringing Website contains an online store located at

http://shop.theoatmeal.com/ where consumers may purchase various Infringing Products
including greeting cards, boxed cards and other novelty items.
24.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Recycled Greetings produces and

distributes the Infringing Products sold at the Infringing Website.
25.

Upon information and belief, Defendants use the Infringing Website to solicit

business in Massachusetts and to effect commercial transactions with customers, including
customers in Massachusetts.
26.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Recycled Greetings or its affiliates,

operate a chain of retail stores called, “Papyrus”, which exists throughout the United States and
internationally, including in Massachusetts.
27.
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Upon information and belief, Papyrus sells Infringing Products.
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28.

Upon information and belief, Defendants have placed the Infringing Product into

the stream of commerce and intended to serve customers in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
COUNT I
FEDERAL TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT (15 U.S.C. § 1114)
29.

Excelsior repeats and incorporates the foregoing allegations as if fully set forth

30.

Excelsior is the rightful owner of the Mark.

31.

Without authorization from Excelsior, upon information and belief, Defendants

herein.

have used and continue to use as a trademark “The Oatmeal”.
32.

“The Oatmeal” is substantially similar to Excelsior’s Mark.

33.

The products offered by Defendants bearing “The Oatmeal” mark are

substantially similar or related to those products offered and sold by Excelsior.
34.

Defendants’ use of the “The Oatmeal” as a trademark may lead consumers in

relevant markets to believe that Defendants’ businesses are related to or associated with
Excelsior.
35.

Defendants’ use of a mark that is confusingly similar to Excelsior’s Mark

constitutes a reproduction, copying, counterfeiting, and colorable imitation of Excelsior’s Mark
in a manner that is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or is likely to deceive consumers.
36.

By using a mark that is likely to cause confusion, mistake and/or deception as to

source, sponsorship or affiliation, Defendants’ past, present and ongoing actions constitute
trademark infringement of Plaintiff’s rights, subjecting Defendants to liability under 15 U.S.C. §
1114.
WHEREFORE, Excelsior demands judgment as follows:
1. Defendants, as well as all their agents, representatives, employees, assigns and all

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persons acting in concert or privity with them, are permanently enjoined from
maintaining, using, disseminating, reproducing, promoting, distributing or otherwise
using the mark “The Oatmeal”, or any mark confusingly similar thereto, as all or part
of any mark, design, or trade name;
2. Defendants, as well as all their agents, representatives, employees, assigns and all
persons acting in concert or privity with them, are permanently enjoined from using
“The Oatmeal” in association with products or services in the same or similar
channels of trade as Excelsior’s products or services;
3. An award of damages, including interest, sustained by Excelsior as a result of the
wrongful acts of Defendant; Defendants’ actions have been knowing, deliberate,
willful, and intended to cause mistake or deceive, and in disregard of Excelsior’s
rights;
4. Defendants shall pay to Excelsior any damages attributable to its infringement of
Excelsior’s Mark and Defendants shall account for all gains, profits, and advantages
derived through said infringement, and such damages authorized by law, including 15
U.S.C. § 1117, including an accounting for any period not directly covered by a
verdict in Excelsior’s favor;
5. An increase and/or trebling of damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), or any other
applicable or statutory or common law basis;
6. An award of reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117, or
any other applicable or statutory or common law basis; and
7. The costs of this action, reasonable attorneys’ fees and such other and further relief as
this Court may find to be just.

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DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiff demands a jury trial on all issues so triable.
Dated: November 20, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
EXCELSIOR PRINTING COMPANY
By Its Attorneys,

/s/Christopher M. Hennessey__________
David Valicenti, Esq. (BBO# 632980)
Christopher M. Hennessey, Esq. (BBO# 654680)
COHEN KINNE VALICENTI & COOK, LLP
28 North Street, 3rd Floor
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile [phone]

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