Light Sources, Inc. v. Cosmedico Light, Inc.

360 F. Supp. 2d 432, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3698, 2005 WL 578671
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedMarch 4, 2005
Docket3:03CV874(MRK)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 360 F. Supp. 2d 432 (Light Sources, Inc. v. Cosmedico Light, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Light Sources, Inc. v. Cosmedico Light, Inc., 360 F. Supp. 2d 432, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3698, 2005 WL 578671 (D. Conn. 2005).

Opinion

RULING AND ORDER

KRAVITZ, District Judge.

This case arises out of Plaintiff Light Sources, Ine.’s (“Light- Sources”) and Plaintiff Tan Systems, Inc.’s (“Tan Systems”) alleged infringement of trademarks held by the Defendant, Cosmedico Light, Inc. (“Cosmedico”). Currently pending before the Court are seven motions that fall into four general categories: (1) cross-motions for partial summary judgment; (2) motions related to the sealing and unsealing of certain documents filed in this case; (3) motions related to discovery; and (4) a motion to strike certain documents in support of partial summary judgment.

I.

Turning first to the cross-motions for summary judgment, the standard for assessing such motions is familiar. Summary judgment is appropriate only 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(b). A genuine issue of fact exists when “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party,” and facts are material to the outcome if the substantive law renders them so. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 251-52, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The moving party bears the burden of demonstrating that no genuine issue exists as to any material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-25, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). If the moving party carries its burden, the party opposing summary judgment “may not rest upon mere allegations or denials,” rather the opposing party must “set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). The Court must draw all ambiguities and inferences in favor of the plaintiffs. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. However, to defeat a motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material *435 facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). “If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

The basic facts of this case are not in dispute. All parties to this lawsuit are in the business of making, marketing, and/or selling, inter alia, ultraviolet light bulbs for tanning beds. See Pis.’ Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement [doc. # 60], at ¶¶ 4, 9-11; Def.’s Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement [doc. # 66], at ¶¶ 1-3. Cosmedico has federally registered trademarks for “VHR” (Reg. No. 2,124,659) and “Cosmolux VLR” (Reg. No. 2,788,198). Pis.’ Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement [doc. # 60], at ¶¶ 32, 52; Def.’s Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement [doc. # 66], at ¶ 10. For the time period relevant to the pending litigation, Light Sources sold OEM (i.e., “original equipment manufacturer”) ultraviolet light bulbs for tanning beds to Tan Systems imprinted with the Tan Systems house brand “TURBOPOWER” and the allegedly infringing terms “THR” and “TLR” as a part of a model number (e.g., “FR71T12 — • THR 160” or “FR71T12 — TLR 100”). Pis.’ Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement ■ [doc. # 60], at ¶¶ 15-16; Def.’s Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement [doc. # 66], at ¶ 4. A “house brand” or “house mark” is a “trademark that identifies the business that produces the product.” Arrow Fastener Co. v. Stanley Works, 59 F.3d 384, 388 n. 1 (2d Cir.1995).

There are six claims and five counterclaims in this case, brought pursuant to various provisions of the Lanham Act (i.e., 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 1119, 1120, 1125), the common law of trademarks, and Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act (“CUT-PA”), Conn. Gen.Stat. § 42-110(b). The Court will assume familiarity with the numbering system for the Claims and Counterclaims as outlined in the Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint [doc. #27] and the Defendant’s Answer to Second Amended Complaint and Counterclaims [doc. # 34].

In Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [doc. # 58], Light Sources and Tan Systems seek summary judgment on their Claim 1 and Cosmedico’s Counterclaims 1, 2, 4, and 5. In Defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [doc. # 64], Cosmedico seeks summary judgment on Light Sources’ and Tan Systems’ Claims 1, 2, and 5. Neither party moved for summary judgment on Light Sources’ and Tan Systems’ Claims 3, 4, and 6, and Cosmedico’s Counterclaim 3. Therefore, regardless of the Court’s disposition of the cross-motions for partial summary judgment, it will be necessary to hold a trial of those four claims. For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [doe. # 58], and GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [doc. #' 64].

A.

The Court DENIES Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [doc. # 58], insofar as it seeks judgment for Light Sources and Tan Systems on Cos-medico’s Counterclaims 1, 2, and 4, and Light Sources’ and Tan Systems’ Claim 1, because there are numerous material issues of fact that preclude summary judgment.

Cosmedico’s Counterclaim 1 alleges infringement of Cosmedico’s federally registered trademarks “VHR” and ‘.‘Cosmolux VLR” under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1). A claim of trademark infringement is analyzed under a *436 familiar two-prong test: (1) whether Cos-medico’s marks are “entitled to protection”; and (2) whether Light Sources’ and/or Tan Systems’ use of their marks is “likely to cause consumers confusion as to the origin or sponsorship of the defendant’s goods.” Savin Corp. v. Savin Group, 391 F.3d 439, 456 (2d Cir.2004) (internal quotations and brackets omitted). The crucial issue in an action for trademark infringement is “whether there is any likelihood that an appreciable number of ordinarily prudent purchasers are likely to be misled, or indeed simply confused, as to the source of the goods in question.” Id. To make this determination, the court must look at a host of factors, including the eight factors — commonly known as the Poloroid factors — first articulated by Judge Friendly in his seminal decision in Polaroid Corp. v. Polarad Electronics Corp.,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
360 F. Supp. 2d 432, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3698, 2005 WL 578671, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/light-sources-inc-v-cosmedico-light-inc-ctd-2005.