578539 B.C., Ltd. v. Kortz, 2014 WL 12572679, No. CV
14-04375 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 16, 2014)
Westlaw is doing something to surface all sorts of old cases,
but this one covers an issue about abandoned marks that often comes up in my
class on abandonment, so here goes.
Plaintiff, trading as Canadian Maico, filed a trademark
infringement claim against Kortz, d/b/a SoCal Maico. Maicowerk A.G. was a popular German
motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1926; it went out of business in the
1980’s. Plaintiff was founded in 1996
with the goal of rebuilding Maicowerk’s business by restoring and selling
genuine Maicowerk motorcycles, as well as parts that could be used by others to
restore and maintain Maicowerk motorcycles. Canadian Maico now serves Maicowerk
motorcycle enthusiasts in the US and Canada, as well as internationally. It had registrations for the word Maico and a
large “M” superimposed over a shield (the “Maico marks”) for relevant goods.
Plaintiff alleged that Kortz observed its success and
decided to copy it under the name SoCal Maico. In 2014, Kortz sought to register
MAICO in connection with “on-line retail store services featuring new and used
Maico motorcycle parts” and his website www.socalmaico.com. Kortz’s logo
allegedly incorporated Maico’s federally registered trademarks; Kortz
petitioned to have the USPTO cancel Maico’s registration. Kortz also allegedly made false and damaging
statements about Maico and its goods to potential customers.
Kortz alleged, in his counterclaims, that Maico registered
Maicowerk’s abandoned trademarks despite the fact that it had not received an
assignment of any of Maicowerk’s rights, reputation or goodwill, even though
that reputation and goodwill persists.
He alleged that Maico traded on Maicowerk’s goodwill and caused consumer
confusion as to the source or origin of its goods and services.
The court found that Kortz lacked Article III standing to
bring his counterclaims. He lacked
allegations of injury to himself that was “concrete and particularized” and
“actual or imminent” in order to satisfy the injury in fact requirement of
Article III standing. Kortz wasn’t Maicowork’s successor in interest:
Because Kortz admittedly has no
protectable legal interest in Maicowerk’s purported goodwill and reputation, he
cannot assert injury based on damage to that goodwill and reputation. Because
he sues as a competitor, and not as a member of the public confused by Maico’s
use of the Maico marks, he cannot assert injury to consumers as a basis for his
claims.
H didn’t plead that Maico’s customers would otherwise do
business with him or that its use of the marks otherwise injured him in his
business. Lexmark analysis would reason likewise.
Later, the court commented that the fact of Maicowerks’
persistent goodwill would not, in itself, make Maico’s adoption of the Maicowerks
marks invalid, quoting McCarthy: “Once abandoned, a mark may be seized
immediately and the person doing so may build up rights against the whole
world.” “After abandonment, those who then adopt the mark must turn to the
basic rules of trademark priority to determine priority of use and ownership.” True, parties who adopt an abandoned mark “must
take steps to avoid a likelihood of confusion arising from an association with
the former owner,” but that’s the former owner’s business, and even the former
owner won’t win without use that fraudulently trades on its reputation.
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