Urantia Foundation v. Maaherra

895 F. Supp. 1338, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12358, 1995 WL 478875
District Court, D. Arizona·Decided February 27, 1995·No. Civ. 91-0325 PHX WKU·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON TRADEMARK ISSUES

URBOM, Senior District Judge.

This cause is before me on the plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The plaintiff, Urantia Foundation, alleges that the defendant, Kristen Maaherra, has infringed two of its registered trademarks. The defendant denies the allegation of infringement and contends that the plaintiffs marks are generic and were obtained fraudulently. Upon review of the record, I find that the plaintiffs motion shall be granted in part and denied in part.

/. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The Urantia Foundation was created in 1950 with an objective of educating the peoples of the world in an attempt to increase and enhance their comfort, happiness, and well being. The plaintiff employs various means to accomplish this goal, one of which is the sale of The URANTIA Book 1 and related publications. In 1971, the plaintiff registered “URANTIA” and the symbol of three blue concentric circles as trademarks 2 for books manufactured, printed, or distributed by the Urantia Foundation. (Pl.’s Compl. at Exs. C, D.) In 1979, the plaintiff expanded its trademark protection to include printed publications in general. Id. at E, F.

The defendant has been an avid reader of The URANTIA Book since 1969, and “[o]ver the years, she has given away many study aids for [the book].” (Def.’s Statement of Facts in Opp’n to Pl.’s Mot. for Partial Summ.J on Trademark Issues ¶ 29.) [hereinafter Def.’s Facts]. In 1990, the defendant prepared a study aid that included the text of The URANTIA Book. (Def.’s Facts ¶ 31.) Thereafter, the defendant distributed the *1341 aforementioned study aid to various individuals free of charge. Id. ¶ 32.

In September, 1990, the Urantia Foundation was notified that an unidentified source was distributing computer disks that contained the entire text of The URANTIA Book. (Second Aff. of Wharton Ex. A, ¶ 16.) In November, 1990, the plaintiff discovered a second set of computer disks that not only contained the entire text of The URANTIA Book but bore the plaintiffs trademarks: “URANTIA” and the symbol of three blue concentric circles. Id. ¶22. In January, 1991, the plaintiff surmised that the defendant was the source of the computer disks and, shortly thereafter, filed the instant action against her. The defendant admits she had full knowledge of the plaintiffs use and registration of its trademarks when she distributed the computer disks but denies that her actions constitute infringement. ((Revised) Def.’s Substitute 2nd Am. Answer and Counterel. for Cancellation of Federal Trademark Registrations at 4, ¶¶ 24-25.) [hereinafter Def.’s Answer].

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A motion for summary judgment is properly granted if the pleadings and evidence submitted in support of the motion show that “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Calnetics Corp. v. Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 532 F.2d 674, 683 n. 11 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 940, 97 S.Ct. 355, 50 L.Ed.2d 309 (1976). The moving party has the burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Blair Foods, Inc. v. Ranchers Cotton Oil, 610 F.2d 665, 668 (9th Cir.1980). A genuine issue of material fact exists when there is sufficient evidence favoring the party opposing the motion for a jury to return a verdict for that party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); First Nat. Bank of Arizona v. Cities Serv. Co., 391 U.S. 253, 288-89, 88 S.Ct. 1575, 1592-93, 20 L.Ed.2d 569 (1968). If the moving party meets its initial burden, then the burden shifts to the opposing party to produce evidence of the existence of a genuine issue for trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, all evidence is considered in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Blair Foods, 610 F.2d at 668 (citations omitted). “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. at 2510-11 (citations omitted).

III. LEGAL DISCUSSION

Trademark Claim

The plaintiff brings this action pursuant to the Trademark Act of 1946. 3 Section 1114 of the Act requires that the plaintiff in a trademark infringement action show that the defendant (1) without consent, (2) used in commerce, (3) a reproduction, copy or colorable imitation of the plaintiffs registered mark in connection with a sale or distribution of goods or services, and (4) that such a use is likely to cause confusion. See 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1)(a) (1988); Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing v. Meredith Corp., 991 F.2d 1072, 1075 (2d Cir.1993); Kelley Blue Book v. Car-Smarts, Inc., 802 F.Supp. 278, 284 (C.D.Cal.1992). Ms. Maaherra admits that she did not have the plaintiffs consent to reproduce exact copies of the plaintiffs marks on her computer disks before she distributed the disks throughout the United States. (Def.’s Answer at 3-4, ¶¶ 13, 25-27.) Therefore, to prevail on its claim of trademark infringement, the plaintiff must overcome only two obstacles. The plaintiff must prove that it has a valid mark entitled to protection and that the defendant’s use of the mark is likely to cause confusion in the minds of the public.

1. Trademark Validity

a. Certificates as Evidence

The defendant admits that the plaintiff has obtained trademark registration certificates for both “URANTIA” and the sym *1342 bol of three blue concentric circles. (Def.’s Answer at 3, ¶ 10.) “Federal registration of a trademark endows it with a strong presumption of validity.” Coca-Cola Co. v. Overland, Inc.,

Urantia Foundation v. Maaherra, 895 F. Supp. 1338, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12358, 1995 WL 478875 (D. Ariz. 1995).

895 F. Supp. 1338 (Urantia Foundation v. Maaherra) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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