Healthvana, Inc. v. Telebrands Corp.

CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedFebruary 23, 2022
Docket2:20-cv-04305
StatusUnknown

This text of Healthvana, Inc. v. Telebrands Corp. (Healthvana, Inc. v. Telebrands Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Healthvana, Inc. v. Telebrands Corp., (C.D. Cal. 2022).

Opinion

Case 2:20-cv-04305-DDP-SK Document 102 Filed 02/23/22 Page 1 of 15 Page ID #:4182

1 2 O 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 HEALTHVANA, INC., ) Case No. CV 20-04305 DDP (SKx) ) 12 Plaintiff, ) ) ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION 13 v. ) FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ) 14 TELEBRANDS CORP., ) ) [Dkt. 70] 15 Defendants. ) ) 16 17 Presently before the court is a Motion for Summary Judgment 18 filed by Defendants Telebrands Corp.; Hempvana, LLC; Bulbhead.com, 19 LLC; and Healthbloom, LLC (collectively, “Telebrands”). Having 20 considered the submissions of the parties and heard oral argument, 21 the court grants the motion and adopts the following Order. 22 I. Background 23 Since 2014, Plaintiff Healthvana, Inc. (“Healthvana”) has 24 operated a “digital health platform” named Healthvana (“the 25 Healthvana app”). Healthvana holds a trademark in the name 26 “Healthvana” for use in connection with software and software as a 27 service. Prior to 2020, the Healthvana app focused on delivering 28 the results of HIV tests, and tests for other sexually transmitted diseases, to patients. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Case 2:20-cv-04305-DDP-SK Document 102 Filed 02/23/22 Page 2 of 15 Page ID #:4183

1 March 2020, however, Healthvana shifted the focus of its digital 2 platform to Covid test records, and later vaccination records. At 3 all times, Healthvana’s customers have not included end users of 4 software or the Healthvana app, but rather governmental entities, 5 healthcare firms, medical officers, laboratories, and employers. 6 Telebrands markets and sells “As Seen on TV” consumer 7 household products via websites, phone numbers, and big box 8 retailers such as Home Depot, Lowes, and Walgreens. Among 9 Telebrands’ products is a line of “Hempvana” products. Upon the 10 outset of the pandemic, Telebrands made an effort to market and 11 sell a hand sanitizer product. Because, however, retailers were 12 historically reluctant to carry products associated with hemp, 13 Telebrands opted to market a hand sanitizer under the name 14 “Healthvana.” Telebrands’ marketing efforts initially included a 15 “direct response” television commercial and a product website, and 16 later expanded to big box stores. 17 In late March 2020, Healthvana contacted Telebrands to express 18 concerns about Telebrands’ use of the name “Healthvana.” 19 Telebrands’ counsel indicated that Telebrands would rebrand the 20 hand sanitizer as “Handvana” and change all “Healthvana” hand 21 sanitizer marketing. Telebrands did not admit to any wrongdoing. 22 By April 17, Telebrands represented that all changes had been made. 23 Several hundred thousand bottles of hand sanitizer, however, had 24 already been produced with the older, “Healthvana” label. Those 25 bottles were filled and shipped to big box customers sometime after 26 April 17. Once those pre-printed bottles had run out, subsequent 27 shipments of hand sanitizer were delivered in the new “Handvana” 28 bottles. 2 Case 2:20-cv-04305-DDP-SK Document 102 Filed 02/23/22 Page 3 of 15 Page ID #:4184

1 On May 12, 2020, Healthvana filed the instant suit. The 2 Complaint alleges causes of action for trademark infringement, 3 unfair competition, and false advertising in violation of both 4 federal and state law, as well as a cause of action for violation 5 of the AntiCybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (“ACPA”). 6 Telebrands now moves for summary judgment on all claims. 7 II. Legal Standard 8 Summary judgment is appropriate where the pleadings, 9 depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, 10 together with the affidavits, if any, show “that there is no 11 genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled 12 to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A party 13 seeking summary judgment bears the initial burden of informing the 14 court of the basis for its motion and of identifying those portions 15 of the pleadings and discovery responses that demonstrate the 16 absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Celotex Corp. v. 17 Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). All reasonable inferences from 18 the evidence must be drawn in favor of the nonmoving party. See 19 Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 242 (1986). If the 20 moving party does not bear the burden of proof at trial, it is 21 entitled to summary judgment if it can demonstrate that “there is 22 an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case.” 23 Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. 24 Once the moving party meets its burden, the burden shifts to 25 the nonmoving party opposing the motion, who must “set forth 26 specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” 27 Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256. Summary judgment is warranted if a 28 party “fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the 3 Case |2:20-cv-04305-DDP-SK Document 102 Filed 02/23/22 Page4of15 Page ID #:4185

1]}/ existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on 2 which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex, 3] 477 U.S. at 322. A genuine issue exists if “the evidence is such 4! that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving 5] party,” and material facts are those “that might affect the outcome 6]}of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. 7 There is no genuine issue of fact “[w]here the record taken as a □ □□ whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the 9]}/nonmoving party.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio 10}} Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). 11 It is not the court’s task “to scour the record in search of a 12]/ genuine issue of triable fact.” Keenan v. Allan, 91 F.3d 1275, 13/1278 (9th Cir. 1996). Counsel have an obligation to lay out their 14] support clearly. Carmen v. San Francisco Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th Cir. 2001). The court “need not examine the entire 16} file for evidence establishing a genuine issue of fact, where the 17}/ evidence is not set forth in the opposition papers with adequate 18] references so that it could conveniently be found.” Id. IIIT. Discussion 20 A. Trademark claims 21 The “core element” of a trademark infringement claim is the likelihood that the similarity of the marks will confuse consumers 23]}as to the source of goods or services. Freecycle Network, Inc. v. 241 Oey, 505 F.3d 898, 902 (9th Cir. 2007). Relevant factors include 25|]}/ the strength of the mark, proximity of the goods, similarity of the 26||/marks, evidence of actual confusion, marketing channels used, the 27\|| degree of care likely to be exercised by consumers, the defendant’s 28

Case |2:20-cv-04305-DDP-SK Document 102 Filed 02/23/22 Page5of15 Page ID #:4186

intent, and likelihood of expansion of product lines. AMF Inc. v. 2} Sleekcraft Boats, 599 F.2d 941, 348-49 (9th Cir. 1979). 3 As an initial matter, Telebrands appears to suggest that a 4! Sleekcraft, or likelihood of confusion, analysis is not applicable Sf} in the first instance unless the goods at issue are “related.” The □□ Ninth Circuit has explained that the purpose of a Sleekcraft 7] analysis is to determine “whether consumers would likely be 8 || confused by related goods.” Network Automation, Inc. v. Advanced 9} Sys.

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Healthvana, Inc. v. Telebrands Corp., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/healthvana-inc-v-telebrands-corp-cacd-2022.