Kind Group v. Black Bear Promotions

7/29/2019 Kind Group v. Black Bear Promotions

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JLm[,;:;:*l' t$",fi$wRF,tr,ffiNITED STATESDISSOUTIIERN DISTRICT OF NE,WYORKTheKind GroupLLC,

Plaintiff.V.

BlackBearPromotions,nc.

CivilECF

Defendant.COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, The Kind Group LLC ("Kind Group") brings this action for patentinfringement, trade dress nfringement, false designation of origin, and unfair tradepracticesagainstDefendantBlack Bear Promotions, nc. ("Black Bear"). For its Complaint, Plaintiff KindGroup herebyalleges as follows:

Parties1. Plaintiff Kind Group s a imited iability companyorgarized,underhe awsof

the Stateof NewYork, andhas tsprincipalplaceof businessat307Fifth Avenue,5th Floor,New York,NewYork 10016.

2. Upon nformationandbelief, Defendant lack Bear s a imited iability companyorgaruzednder he awsof theStateof Maine,andhas ts principalplaceof business t 28CherryfieldAvenue,Saco,ME 04072.

Jurisdiction and Venue3. Jurisdiction of this Court with respect o the claims set forth hereinarisesunder

the patent aws of the United States,as set forth in Title 35, United StatesCode, and theTrademarkAct of 1946,as amended, 5 U.S.C. $ 1051 et seq. Jurisdiction is also founded upon

Case 1:13-cv-01258-WHP Document 1 Filed 02/25/13 Page 1 of 22


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10. The 'oeosrM"and "eos evolution of smoothrM"brandshavebecomeknown in themarket, and particularly, in the mind of the relevant consumergoup as dentiffing the sourceofdistinctively-styled,quality cosmeticsand otherpersonalcareproductsand packaging.

11. 1n2009,Kind Group introduceda new line of lip balm, known as he SMOOTHSPHERETM ip Balm Collection.

12. Kind Groupactively advertises,markets,and otherwisepromotes ts SMOOTHSPHERETM ip Balm Collection, and has receivedvaluablepublicity and acclaim n well-knownmagazinesand other publications.

13. Kind Group's SMOOTH SPHERETU ip Balm Collection embodiesa protectibletradedress n the perceptionof purchasersand potential purchasersof cosmeticsand otherpersonalcareproducts(hereinafter the SMOOTH SPHERETM rade Dress"). The SMOOTHSPHERETMTrade Dress is as shown in Exhibit B attachedhereto and includes the overallappearanceeflected n the designsof the sMooTH SPHERETM ip Balm collection.

14. Kind Group's SMOOTH SPHERETM rade Dress s nonfunctional and s widelyrecognizedby the trade and the public, and hasbuilt up extensive goodwill and acquiredsecondarymeaning among the relevant trade and public as a symbol identiffing Kind Group asthe sourceof origin of the SMOOTH SPHERETM ip Balm Collection.

15. Upon information and belief the SMOOTH SPHERETM radeDress servesprimarily asa designatorof origin of lip balms ernanating rom or sponsoredor licensedby KindGroup.

16. Kind Group's promotional materialsand website are organizedand designed oenhanceand encompassts tradedress ights.Kind Group's advertisingof the SMOOTHSPHERETM ip Balm Collection drawsattentionto the SMOOTH SPHERETM radeDressand



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23. Upon information and belief, Defendant s aware of the SMOOTH SPHERETMLip Balm Collection andthe SMOOTH SPHERETM rade Dress embodied hereby, andintroduced ts spherical ip balm productsafter the SMOOTH SPHERETM ip Balm Collectionwas launched.

24. Upon information and belief, Defendant s aware of the commercialsuccessandindustry acclaim for Kind Group's SMOOTH SPHERETM ip Balm Collection. Upon furtherinformation and belief, Defendant ntended o reapthe benefit of such success ndacclaim byoffering its spherical lip balm products.

25. Kind Grouphas not licensed o Defendant,or otherwise authorizedDefendantanyrights, to use, offer for sale,sell, advertise,or promotethe SMOOTH SPHEREru Trade Dress,or to make any other use of such radedress n the United Statesor elsewhere.

26. DefendantBlack Bear's infringing spherical ip balm sphereproduct, and anypromotional materialsrelated hereto,havecaused,and are ikely to continue o cause,confusion, mistake arvd/ordeception as to the source of origin of the infringing spherical lip balmproducts in that the public, the trade and others are likely to believe that the infringing sphericallip balm productsareprovided by, sponsoredby, approvedby, licensedby, affiliated with or insome other way legitimately connected o Kind Group.

27. DefendantBlack Bear's spherical ip balm productsare advertised,promoted,andsold in the samechannelsof trade and arc directedto some of the samecustomersas KindGroup's SMOOTH SPHERETM ip Balm Collection.

28. Kind Group has no control over the nature,quality or pricing of Black Bear'sinfringing spherical ip balm productsand promotion thereof,or any other aspectof Defendant's



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businessconduct with respect hereto, thereby creating apotential adverseefFecton the goodwillcreated n the SMOOTH SPHERETM radeDress.

29. Defendant s violating Kind Group's distinctive trade dress n its lip balmproductsand s diminishing the value of suchproducts.Defendant'sunauthorizeduse of theSMOOTH SPHERETM radeDress s likelv to erode he distinctivenessof the SMOOTHSPHERETM radeDress.

30. Upon information and belief, Defendantwillfully and ntentionally violated theSMOOTH SPHERETM rade Dresswith the deliberate ntention of tading on the valuablegoodwill andreputationestablishedn the SMOOTH SPHERETM rade Dress.

31. Upon information andbelief, unless estrainedby this Court, Defendantwillcontinue o willfully and intentionallyuse, without authority from Kind Group, the SMOOTHSPHERETM radeDress n connectionwith its infringing spherical ip balm productdesigns,

COT]NT IPATENT INFRINGEMENT32. PlaintiffKind Group reallegesand restateseach and every allegationset forth in

Paragraphs1-31 nclusive, and ncorporates hem herein by reference.33. Without the consentof Plaintiff Kind Group, Defendant has nfringed the '939

patentby making, using, selling, offering for sale or importing into the United States certaininfringing productscoveredby thq claim of the '939 patentin this District andelsewhere n theUnited States,and will continue o do so unlessenjoined by the Court.

34. Defendant's nfringement of the '939 patenthas rreparablydamagedPlaintiffKind Group in an amount that is unknown and cannot at the present time be ascertained,and willcauseadded njury and loss unlessDefendant s enjoined by this Court.

35. Defendant's nfringement of the '939 patent s knowing and willful.



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COT]NT IITRADE DRESS INFRINGEMENT AI\D FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN36. PlaintiffKind Group reallegesand restateseach and every allegation set forth in

Paragraphs-35 inclusive, and ncorporates hem hereinby reference.37. Defendant'sunauthorizeduse of a trade dress or its infringing spherical ip balm

productsthat is confusingly similar to Kind Group's SMOOTH SPHERETM rade Dressconstifutes radedress nfringement, falsedesignationof origin, false representation nd falsedescription,all in violation of Section43(a)of the LanhamAct, 15U.S.C.g 1125(a), o thesubstantialand rreparable njury of the public and of PlaintiffKind Group, ncluding its businessreputationand goodwill.

38. Upon information and belief, by such wrongful acts, Defendanthas caused,andunlessrestrainedby the Court, will continue to cause serious rreparable injury and damage oPlaintiffKind Group, and to the goodwill associatedwith the distinctive SMOOTH SPHERETMTrade Dress, ncluding diversionof customers,ost sales,and ost profits.

39. PlaintiffKind Group has no adequate emedy at law.COTINT IIIT]NFAIR COMPETITION AIID UNLAWFUL FALSE ADVERTISING

40. PlaintiffKind Group reallegesand restateseachand every allegationset forth inParagraphs1-39 nclusive, and ncorporates hem herein by reference.

4I. Defendant'saforementionedactswere, and continue to be, engagedn byDefendant in the conduct of trade and/orcommerce.

42. Defendant'saforementionedactswere, and continue to be, unfair,unconscionable,and/ordeceptive.



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43. Defendant'saforernentionedacts constituteunfair competition,false advertising,andunfair or deceptiveacts or practices n violation of the New York ConsumerProtectionAct,NY. C.L.S.Gen. Bus. g 349 et seq.

44. Plaintiff Kind Group hasbeendamagedby Defendant'saforementionedacts.COT]NT IVCOMMON LAW UNFAIR COMPETITION

45. Plaintiff Kind Group reallegesand restateseach andevery allegationset forth inParagraphs1-44 nclusive, and ncorporates hem herein by reference.

46. Defendant'saforementionedactsconstituteunfair competitionunder the commonlaw.

47. Plaintiffhas been damagedby Defendant's aforementionedacts.Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, PlaintiffKind Group demandsudgment as follows:1. That the Court declare hat the '939 paterrtisvalid and nfringed by Defendant

Black Bear.2. That the Court preliminarily andpermanentlyenjoin DefendantBlack Bear, and

anyoneacting in concert with it, from infringing the '939 paterftasprovided in 35 U.S.C. $ 283,and specifically barring Defendant, and anyone acting in concert with it, from making, using,selling,offering for saleor importing into the United Statesproducts hat infringe the '939patent.

3. That the Court awardPlaintiff Kind Group damages,asprovided in 35 U.S.C. gg284 and289,in an amount o be provenalfral,resulting from the infringementof the '939patentby DefendantBlack Bear.



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4. That the Court awardPlaintiffKind Group trebledamagesasprovided in 35u.s.c.$284.

5. That theCourtawardPlaintiff Kind Group ts costsn this action, ogetherwithreasonablettorneys'eesasprovidedn 35U.S.C.$285.

6. Thatthe Courtprelirninarilyandpermanentlyenjoinand estrainDefendantBlackBear,andanyone cting n concert ith t, pursuanto l5 U.S.C.$$ 1116and l25; andN.Y.C.L.S.Gen.Bus.$$349(h),350-e(3)rom:

(a) infringingPlaintiffKind Group'sSMOOTHSPHERETMradeDress;and(b) unfairly competingwith Plaintiff Kind Group.7. ThatDefendant lackBearbeordered o accountor and pay oPlaintiffKind

Group he actualdamages ufferedby Kind Group, ncludinganyprofits derived romDefendant'swillful actsof infringernent,alsedesignation f origin,andunfaircompetition,togetherwith interest.

8. ThattheCourt orderDefendanto deliver up anddestroyall infringing productsin its possessionhat containPlaintiffKindGroup'sSMOOTHSPHERETMradeDress.

9. That heCourtorderDefendanto requesthatall retailers ellingDefendant'sinfringingproducts ontainingPlaintiffKind Group'sSMOOTHSPHERETMradeDressetumthoseproductso Defendant t Defendant's xpense nd equiringDefendanto destroy hoseproducts.

10. ThattheCourtawardPlaintiffKind Group rebledamages ndprejudgmentinterest ursuanto 15U.S.C.$$11 7 and1125.



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I l. That the Court awardPlaintiff Kind Group its costs n this action, togetherwithreasonable ttorneys' ees,asprovided n 15U.S.C.g 1117(a),N.Y. C.L.S. Gen.Bus. $$ 349(h),350-e(3)and/orany other applicableprovision.

12. That Defendantbe requiredto account or anddeliver up to PlaintiffKind Group,for impoundment during pendency of this action and for deskuction thereafter, all spherical lipbalm products nfringing upon the SMOOTH SPHERETM radeDress,pursuant o 15 U.S.C. gg1118 nd1125 .

13. That PlaintiffKind Group be awardedsuch other and further relief, generalandspecial, at law or in equity, which this Court, in its discretion, may deem ust andproper.

l 0



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EXHIBIT A



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(12)nited StatesDesignPatentTellerilrl|fiffilllilfilffl|lrilliltill illfit$|[llllus00D644939S

1to; atent o.: US D644,939S1as; ate fPatent: ** *Sep.13,2011

(n)(51)(s2)(58)

(54) SPHERICALLY.SEAPED LIPBALM(75) lnventor: JonathanTeller, Nernr orl(, {y (US)(?3) Assignee The Kind Group, Ne*'Yor! lfY OS)(**)Ql)

Term: l4YearsAppl. No.: zgl3Sl,TIEEiled: Dec.3,2009Loc (9) t. ........................e-01U.S.CI. ....Wn26f,'leldof Clrsrlffcetlon Search D9/500,D9/502-5M,5t 9, 529,549,557,559,682,D9/686-.691,94,723-:729,W; 220160-662,22Al 69,675, 4.yt.,4.25 2O6119,DO,2061221,16,217,23; 2151379183:DB|T 6,

m8t78, 91, 91.1; D24t22212/lSeeapplication ile for completesearch istory.

4342,522 A E 8/1982 Mackles ,......................0ll2l4D266,146S r 9/1982 Monis .....,,....................9n26D272,723 * Zllg84 B&er ...................,........9l5AD280,289 S | 8i/1985 Aldrichetal. ................. 9t26D286,616S + ll/1986 Becker...........................9.l57l4,765.501 | 8/1988 Ka o .....,...........,,..........2014.21f,f:f7,ll8 S 1 5/1991 Crawford ,.....................D91726D333,?80S * 3/1993 Jonesetal. ...................91726D343,699S i lil9X Yang .D2&885,297,919A * 71994 Dourgeois ...................2014.21f,f846,l12S i 4il9% Alciador ....,..................9.1726D357,584S * 4/1995 Swingler ....,..................3R00D868,220S i 3/1996 Bicknell e{ l. ................ 9.1726D368An S ] 4/1996 Bichell d al. ................ fl26mTl,757 S a 2J1997 Bqtoliniet al. .,............. 9.1746I,87,662 S I lul997 Brightetal. ...................D9.1414D389109 S ' I/1998 Tuc&er ..........................9/4J4Dt:|93.421 | 4/1998 Kovens .........................9/4283J43AM A * 4/1998 Melasheokoerd. ..... 2W524.3D398,533S * 9i1998 Kotyukt41. ................. 9l5395,808,215 r 9/1998 Krdtiketal. ....................lN2

(Continued)Primary Emminer - Thomas JohannesQ4) Attorney, Agent, or finr - McCormick" Paulding &HuberLLP(s7) cr.ArMI claim theornamental esigo orthe spherically-shapedipbalm,asshownand described.

DESCRIPTTONFlG. I is atopperspectir/eiew ofa spherically-shaFedipbalm showingmy ncw desip;FIG. 2 is a topplanview thereof;FIG. 3 is afront elevationvierr thereof;FIG. 4 is arear elerratioa ieu, hermf; andFIG.5 is aside elevationview hereof.Thebrokeo ine portionofthe figure drarings is included oshowunclainred ubjectmatter'onlyand orms nopartoftheclaimed.design.

1 Clatm,3 Drawlng Sheets

(56) References CitedU.S. PATENTDOCUMENTS

75,524A i 3/1868 Cbage .........................ZOt4.ZL2,201Aff|A + 5/1940 Bloom ..........................-.0tl18D129,291 + 9/1941 Pdzold ..........................Z8/88D130,030 i l0/1941 Myer ,.....,....................2Sl88D180,109 * 4/195? Slsts .............................28802,998,896 * 9/1961 Miller ..........................ZO\4.263,085,709 * 4/1963 Klein ..................:.........m62l3,292,840 + 12/ 966 Schmidt .....-............... OJ4.Z53,494,515 + 21970 Fsttori .............,....".......L2tytD240,711S * 7/1976 Anglernauetal ............D9/726D243,585S * 3n977 Angananetal.........,.... D9/?264,04l,8W A + 8/1977 Ostteichrd. ........ 206/459.54,124,135 | 1l/'1978Wederetal. ................2Ol42lD253,394S I ll/1979 Berghahnetat. .............Dgt726q255,653S N 7/1980 Lipsz .............................9t7Z6D255,990 i ?/1980 Lucas ............................)t726D256,095 * 7/1980 Saadonato..................-.)n26D258,199 * 2/1981 Torongo, . ...................9t726D261,105 a 10/1981Schwartz .............,........9/504



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us D644,939Page2

U.S. PATENT [email protected],764 * 3/1999 Bdght{al. ...................9i503D,108,738 * 411999Wu ... D9l5035,925,391A * 7/199 Whetstone,t, ,..........,.... 2619059E9424A * 1ll1999 Kwem ......................20n54.]6,010,2&4 ] l/2@0 ScuderietaI. .................4l2lD,122,904 + 42000 kpsiusetal. ..,..............9l6006,099,872A t 8/2000 WhtstoDe.r. ................26D0D2158,835 + 6/2002 De[i-Venneri ........-....... gt726D459,216 ' 6/2002 Heijdenrijk...................91726D46,252 S * lllm02 ltu-.................,,...............28l88Dt76,884 S t 712A03Mirandz ........................n266,626,313B2* 9/2003 Herbsheit .21. ....,...... 201425D2180533 r 10/2003 Mirada ,.......................9/5046,688,795 l * 212004 rcobettl. .........,.........Ol/2ADf89,148S t 4/20M Sheng ...-.......................28n9D504,979S ' 512005T-ai .... mgn6D507,177S * 7/2005 Weissmas .........,.......,... /42O

D534,076 t 12fi)6 Greenetal. ...........-..-...9i435D554,529S r 112007 Greonetal. ...,,,..,....,..,.9.1726D56I,608S | 2008 Hogber ............,..........,,Dn26D562.699S | 2008 Greenetal. ..................91726D56lf,9{}0 * 3/2008 Greenetal. ..................I)9.1715D573,026S i 72008 Tsai .. D9/519D577,583S t 9/2008 Portereta|. ..................91447D577.584S ' 9/2008 Porteretal. ...................JD.{4fiID592,0@1 i 5i2009 Kilany ........;..................DIS19m02,663 S * 10/2009 Pennington............,......3235D610,45ES t VZOIO tvlarlin ..........................9/500D5l2/4S S 4 3/2010 CsmPuigbo........ D9/519D615,818S t 52010 Janeen ...,......................7l5t52002/0008105 la 1i2002 Herbstrcitetal. ..,........22O14.252004/0005186 l i ll2004 Ue


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IJ.S.Patent Sep. 3,2011 Sheet of3 us D644,939

1;/

FIG.1



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[I.S. Patent Sep. 3,2011 Sheet of3

FIG.2

FIG.3

us D644.939



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[LS. Patent Sep. 3,2011 Sheet of3

FIG.4

FIG.5

us D644,939



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EXHIBIT B



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; wCase 1:13-cv-01258-WHP Document 1 Filed 02/25/13 Page 19 of 22


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EXHIBIT C



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Page oflCase 1:13-cv-01258-WHP Document 1 Filed 02/25/13 Page 22 of 22

Kind Group v. Black Bear Promotions

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