Brighton Collectibles, Inc. v. RK Texas Leather Mfg.

923 F. Supp. 2d 1245, 2013 WL 589005, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19556
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedFebruary 12, 2013
DocketCase No. 10-CV-419-GPC (WVG)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 923 F. Supp. 2d 1245 (Brighton Collectibles, Inc. v. RK Texas Leather Mfg.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brighton Collectibles, Inc. v. RK Texas Leather Mfg., 923 F. Supp. 2d 1245, 2013 WL 589005, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19556 (S.D. Cal. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER (1) DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON TRADE DRESS; (2) GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO EXCLUDE DR. WUNDERLICH’S EXPERT TESTIMONY; AND (8) GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO EXCLUDE DR. FRAZIER’S EXPERT TESTIMONY; AND (4) DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON LOST PROFITS

GONZALO P. CURIE L, District Judge.

Plaintiff Brighton Collectibles, Inc. (“Brighton”) manufactures and sells women’s fashion accessories, including handbags. Brighton filed this copyright infringement action against Defendants RK Texas Leather Manufacturing, Inc., Richard Ohr, K & L Import, Inc., NHW, Inc., YK Trading, Inc., JC NY, Joy Max Trading Inc., and AIF Corporation (“Defendants”). The Court heard oral argument on December 20, 2012. For the reasons stated below, the Court denies both summary judgment motions, and grants in part and denies in part the motions to exclude two of Brighton’s expert witnesses.1

I. Defendants ’ Motion for Summary Adjudication of Trade Dress Claim

The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), “gives a producer a cause of action for the use by any person of ‘any word, term, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof ... which ... is likely to cause confusion ... as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of his or her goods....’” Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Samara Bros., Inc., 529 U.S. 205, 209, 120 S.Ct. 1339, 146 L.Ed.2d 182 (2000) (children’s clothing). The Lanham Act “has been held to embrace not just word marks, such as ‘Nike,’ and symbol marks, such as Nike’s ‘swoosh’ symbol, but also ‘trade dress’ — a category that originally including only the packaging, or ‘dressing,’ of a product, but in recent years has been expanded ... to encompass the design of a product.” Id.

In its second claim, Brighton alleges that Defendants infringed its distinctive trade dress in the “Brighton” line of fashion accessories. Brighton describes its trade dress as “a sculpted, silver heart, [1250]*1250used in conjunction with any two or more of the following: (i) leather embossed to resemble exotic materials such as crocodile, alligator, snake and lizard; (ii) filigreed, silver ornamentation; (iii) a silver heart dangling from a leather strap; (iv) cowhide or brocaded fabrics; and/or (v) additional sculpted silver hearts.” Second Amended Compl. ¶ 36.

To prove trade dress infringement, plaintiff must prove “(1) that its claimed trade dress is nonfunctional; (2) that its claimed trade dress serves as a source-identifying role either because it is inherently distinctive or has acquired secondary meaning; and (3) that the defendant’s product ... creates a likelihood of consumer confusion.” Clicks Billiards, Inc. v. Sixshooters, Inc., 251 F.3d 1252, 1258 (9th Cir.2001) (footnote omitted).2

Defendants seek summary adjudication on the first and second elements. Summary judgment is appropriate when the “pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

A. Nonfunctional Requirement and Aesthetic Functionality Doctrine

The first element of a trade dress claim is that the product design is “not functional.” 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(3).

Over the years, the Supreme Court has articulated the functionality standard in several ways. In 1982, the Supreme Court held that “a product feature is functional if it is essential to the use or purpose of the article or if it affects the cost or quality of the article.” Inwood Labs., Inc. v. Ives Labs., Inc., 456 U.S. 844, 850 n. 10, 102 S.Ct. 2182, 72 L.Ed.2d 606 (1982). This is known as the traditional or utilitarian test. Aw-Tomotive Gold, Inc. v. Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 457 F.3d 1062, 1067 (9th Cir.2006) (“ ‘utilitarian’ functionality ... relates to the performance of the product in its intended purpose”); Clicks, 251 F.3d at 1260 (“functionality denotes utility”).

In 1995, the Court announced another test and explained that a feature is functional if “exclusive use of the feature would put competitors at a significant non-reputation-related disadvantage.” Qualitex Co. v. Jacobson Prods. Co., Inc., 514 U.S. 159, 165, 115 S.Ct. 1300, 131 L.Ed.2d 248 (1995). Under this “competition theory of functionality,” courts consider whether trade dress protection would leave a “variety of comparable alternative features that competitors may use to compete in the market.” Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc. v. Diageo N. Am., Inc., 679 F.3d 410, 418 (6th Cir.2012). “If the feature is not a likely impediment to market competition, then the feature is nonfunctional.” Id.; Disc Golf Ass’n v. Champion Discs, Inc., 158 F.3d 1002, 1008 (9th Cir.1998) (considering whether “commercially feasible alternative configurations exist”) (quotations and emphasis omitted).

In 2001, the Supreme Court held that a plaintiff can prove a feature is not functional “by showing that it is merely an ornamental, incidental, or arbitrary aspect” of the product. TrafFix Devices, Inc. v. Mktg. Displays, Inc., 532 U.S. 23, 30, 121 S.Ct. 1255, 149 L.Ed.2d 164 (2001).

[1251]*1251In the Ninth Circuit, when the feature also “contributes to the consumer appeal and saleability of the product,” the “aesthetic functionality” doctrine “retains some limited viability.” Au-Tomotive Gold, 457 F.3d at 1070; Vuitton et fils SA. v. J. Young Enters., Inc., 644 F.2d 769 (9th Cir.1981). In that situation, the Ninth Circuit first applies the utilitarian test (supplemented by additional factors) before turning to the competition test. Au-To-motive Gold, 457 F.3d at 1072 & n. 8 (citing Disc Golf, 158 F.3d at 1006-09).

Defendants invoke the aesthetic functionality doctrine. Pagliero v. Wallace China Co., 198 F.2d 339 (9th Cir.1952). They argue Brighton cannot meet its burden of proving that its trade dress is not aesthetically functional because its eye-pleasing quality does not identify the source of the handbags. Defendants contend customers buy Brighton’s products simply because they are attractive. The elements are aesthetically functional because “some people will simply wish to purchase a leather purse adorned with silver hearts, regardless of who supplies it.” Br. at 18.

Defendants also rely on the competition theory of functionality.

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923 F. Supp. 2d 1245, 2013 WL 589005, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19556, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brighton-collectibles-inc-v-rk-texas-leather-mfg-casd-2013.