Apple Corps Limited v. The Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A"

District Court, S.D. Florida·Decided October 13, 2020·No. 0:20-cv-61916·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

Case No. 20-cv-61916-BLOOM/Valle

APPLE CORPS LIMITED and SUBAFILMS LIMITED,

Plaintiffs,

v.

BAGANI.MOBI, et al.,

Defendants. /

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR ENTRY OF PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (“Motion”), ECF No. [9]. The Court has carefully considered the Motion, the record in this case, and the applicable law, and is otherwise fully advised. By the instant Motion, Plaintiffs, Apple Corps Limited and Subafilms Limited (collectively “Plaintiffs”), move for entry of a preliminary injunction against Defendants,1 for alleged violations of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1125(a). The Court held a hearing by video conference on October 13, 2020, which was attended by counsel for Plaintiffs only. During the hearing, Plaintiffs directed the Court to evidence supporting the Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Prior to the hearing, Plaintiffs notified the Court that it had received an email inquiry from Defendant Number 182 to which Plaintiffs provided notice of the hearing and

1 Defendants are the Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations identified on Schedule “A” hereto (collectively “Defendants”). 2 Plaintiffs’ counsel was also contacted via email by attorneys based in the United States and China regarding a possible resolution of the matter on behalf of Defendant Numbers 15, 18, 19, 35, 37, 38, 40, 45, 47, 51, 53, 54, 60, 62, 63, 65, 70, 81, 82, 83, 87, 89, 91, 94, and 95, ECF No. [24], at n.1. Defendants’ rights to file answers in response to Plaintiffs’ claims. Other email communications were received but were in the context of attempting to resolve the case and were not objections to the issuance of a preliminary injunction. None of the Defendants formally responded to the Motion, nor have they made any appearance or filing in this case, other than the above- mentioned emails, either individually or through counsel. Because Plaintiffs have satisfied the

requirements for the issuance of a preliminary injunction, the Court grants the Motion. I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND3 Plaintiff, Apple Corps Limited, is the owner of the following trademarks which are valid and registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “BEATLES Marks”):

Registration Registration Trademark Class(es) / Good(s) Number Date

IC 025 - Headwear, sweatshirts, t-shirts,

February 16, shirts. THE BEATLES 1,752,120 1993

IC 026 - Belt buckles.

IC 006 – Key rings and key chains. September 8, BEATLES 3,680,063 2009 IC 026 – Ornamental buckles for clothing.

BEATLES 4,373,956 July 30, 2013 IC 009 - Decorative refrigerator magnets; computer keyboard accessories,

However, counsel or Defendants have not entered any formal appearance or filed any response with the Court as of this date.

3 The factual background is taken from Plaintiffs’ Complaint, ECF No. [1], Plaintiffs’ Motion, ECF No. [9], and supporting evidentiary submissions. Plaintiffs filed declarations and exhibits annexed thereto in support of their Motion. The declarations are available in the docket at the following entries: Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], Declaration of Stephen M. Gaffigan, ECF No. [9-2], and Declaration of Kathleen Burns, ECF No. [9-3]. namely mouse pads and wrist rests in the form of pads for use with computers; telephone apparatus, namely, telephones; telephone receivers, telephone answering machines, mobile telephones; cases for mobile telephones; cell phone covers; covers for mobile telephones, namely, fitted plastic films known as skins for covering and protecting electronic apparatus in the nature of mobile telephones; straps for mobile telephones; telephone call indicator lights and electro- mechanical shakers for detecting and signaling incoming telephone calls; mechanical and electric egg timers; boxes and cases specially adapted for holding audio cassettes, video cassettes, gramophone records, audio compact discs, audio mini discs, video discs, and interactive compact discs or cd-roms.

IC 014 - Jewelry; horological and chronometric instruments, namely, watches and clocks; cuff links, bracelets, pendants, medallions, trinkets being jewelry, charms being jewelry, ornamental pins.

IC 015 – Musical instruments.

IC 018 - Luggage, clutch bags, rucksacks, backpacks, umbrellas; bags, namely, handbags, shoulder bags, all-purpose sports bags, carry-on flight bags, suitcases, school bags, satchels, gym bags, tote bags, textile shopping bags.

IC 025 - Footwear and headgear, namely, hats and caps; clothing, namely, shirts, polo shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts; jackets, Case No. 20-cv-61916-BLOOM/Valle

coats; scarves; neck-ties; socks; long- sleeved shirts and long sleeved t-shirts; fleece tops; thermal tops; jerseys; tank tops; swim wear; slippers; cloth babies' bibs.

See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 4-5; ECF No. [1-2] (containing Certificates of Registrations for the BEATLES Marks at issue). The BEATLES Marks are used in connection with the manufacture and distribution of quality goods in the categories identified above. See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 4-5. Plaintiff, Subafilms Limited, is the owner of the following trademark which is valid and registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “YELLOW SUBMARINE Mark”):

Registration Registration

IC 025 - Shirts; polo shirts; t- shirts; long-sleeved shirts and long-sleeved t-shirts; sweatshirts; jackets; pullovers; vests; scarves; neck-ties; hats; caps; sock; ; November 6, . □ YELLOW SUBMARINE 3,328,170 3007 thermal tops; jerseys; sweaters; tank tops; pajamas; clothing for toddlers, infants and babies namely, one piece garments for infants and toddlers, sleep suits, t- shirts and long-sleeved t-shirts. See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 10-11; ECF No. [1-3] (containing Certificate of Registration for the YELLOW SUBMARINE Mark at issue). The YELLOW SUBMARINE Mark is used in connection with the manufacture and distribution of quality goods in the category identified above. See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 10-11.

Defendants, by operating commercial Internet websites and Internet based e-commerce stores operating under Defendants’ respective domain names and seller identification names identified on Schedule “A” hereto (the “Subject Domain Names and Seller IDs”), have advertised, promoted, offered for sale, or sold goods bearing and/or using what Plaintiffs have determined to be counterfeits, infringements, reproductions or colorable imitations of the

BEATLES Marks and/or the YELLOW SUBMARINE Mark (collectively “Plaintiffs’ Marks”). See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 16-20; Declaration of Stephen M. Gaffigan, ECF No. [9-2], at 2; Declaration of Kathleen Burns, ECF No. [9-3], at 4. Although each Defendant may not copy and infringe each of Plaintiffs’ Marks for each category of goods protected, Plaintiffs have submitted sufficient evidence showing each Defendant has infringed, at least, one or more of Plaintiffs’ Marks. See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 16-23. Defendants are not now, nor have they ever been, authorized or licensed to use, reproduce, or make counterfeits, reproductions, and/or colorable imitations of Plaintiffs’ Marks. See Declaration of Paul Cole, ECF No. [9-1], at 16, 18-20, 23.

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Apple Corps Limited v. The Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A", (S.D. Fla. 2020).

Apple Corps Limited v. The Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A" (Apple Corps Limited v. The Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A") — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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