Trafficking v. Madmann Trademark Holding - Maverick Music Festival v. Maverick
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Transcript of Trafficking v. Madmann Trademark Holding - Maverick Music Festival v. Maverick
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SAN ANTONIO DIVISION
TRAFFICKING, LLC Plaintiff v. CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:14-cv-1002 MADMANN TRADEMARK HOLDING COMPANY, LTD. Defendant
FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Trafficking, LLC, First Amended Complaint seeking a judgment and injunctive
relief and declaratory judgment against Madmann Trademark Holding Company, Ltd., regarding
claimed trademark infringement, trademark counterfeiting, false designation of origin, palming
off, unfair competition, cybersquatting in violation of the Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C.
1051 et seq. and under the statutes and common law of Texas.
PARTIES
1. Plaintiff Trafficking, LLC, is a Texas limited liability company with an address at
PO Box 571493, Houston, Texas 77257.
2. Plaintiffs primary business is an annual music festival under the trademark
MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL conducted in San Antonio, Texas.
3. Defendant, Madmann Trademark Holding Company Ltd., a California
corporation having its principal place of business at 2850 Ocean Park Blvd, Suite 300, Santa
Monica, California 90405
4. The Registered Agent on file for Defendant is Bill Vuylsteke and is located at
2850 Ocean Park Blvd #300, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
Case 5:14-cv-01002-FB Document 6 Filed 11/25/14 Page 1 of 31
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5. Defendant claims it is doing business in the San Antonio Division of the Western
District of Texas.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
6. Jurisdiction exists pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331, 1332, 1338, 1367, 2201 and
2202 and 15 U.S.C. 1116 and 1121.
7. The suit is based on a Federal question and statute, namely 15 U.S.C. 1051 et
seq. and Texas laws on unfair competition and on 28 U.S.C. 1338 and 2201 and 2202.
8. Jurisdiction of this suit is based on the Federal Trademark Act, a/k/a Lanham Act,
as amended, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., and Texas statutes and laws on trademarks, trade names,
unfair competition, deceptive trade practices and dilution and on 28 U.S.C. 1331, 1338, 2201,
and 2202.
9. The suit is based on a Federal question and statute, namely 15 U.S.C. 1051 et
seq.
10. Plaintiffs principal business is conducted in Western District of Texas.
11. Plaintiff resides in Western District of Texas.
12. Defendants goods and services are claimed to have been marketed and sold in
Texas.
13. An actual case or controversy exists between Plaintiff and Defendant.
14. A ruling by this Court will settle all disputes between Plaintiff and Defendant.
15. The amount in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000.00.
16. Venue is proper in the Western District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
1391(b).
Case 5:14-cv-01002-FB Document 6 Filed 11/25/14 Page 2 of 31
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17. Since 2013, Plaintiff has produced its annual MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL in
the Western District of Texas.
18. Defendant claims it is doing business in Texas, including the Western District of
Texas, and is actively pursuing business in Texas, including the Western District of Texas.
19. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the events giving rise to the causes of action
described herein occurred in Texas, including Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas, in the Western
District of Texas, and the acts complained of are occurring in Texas, including in Bexar County,
San Antonio, Texas, in the Western District of Texas.
20. Defendant has threatened Plaintiff with an injunction and has demanded that
Plaintiff cease all use of Plaintiffs MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL mark.
21. Plaintiff has repeatedly offered to coexist with Defendant and Defendant has
repeatedly refused to allow Plaintiff to continue use of its MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL
mark.
22. The music business has changed substantially in the last twenty years with many
companies like Defendant seeing their business obsoleted and abandoned by technology and the
internet.
23. In 2006 SFX Entertainment, Inc. filed an application serial No. 7872540 in the
United States Patent and Trademark Office to register LIVENATION for, inter alia., promoting a
variety of live entertainment events for others and merchandise related thereto; business and
event management of musical, theatrical and family/variety tours and presentations but
abandoned this intent to use application after it was allowed by not filing a statement of use by
July 2, 2007.
Case 5:14-cv-01002-FB Document 6 Filed 11/25/14 Page 3 of 31
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24. After many years of dormancy, Defendant in late 2013 began taking steps to
resurrect its dead Maverick name and go into competition with Plaintiff with new services and
announced in November of 2013 that Paul McGuinness would merge his Principle Management
business for U2 with Guy Osearys company. See more at:
http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/u2-and-madonna-managers-to-ally-via-new-deal-
with-live-nation/#sthash.xiMLNiG2.dpuf.
25. On December 16, 2013 U2 confirmed that long-time Madonna manager Guy
Oseary had taken over day-to-day management duties for the band via a new LiveNation-backed
venture, with their long-term manager Paul McGuinness now having an advisory role. See
http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/u2-confirm-osearylive-nation-deal-thank-
mcguinness.
26. On July 25, 2014, it was reported that LiveNation was going to restructure its
artist management business, with Madonna and U2 manager Guy Oseary set to head up a more
cohesive new division after Oseary merged his management firm with that of long-term U2
manager Paul McGuinness, See http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/live-nation-
reportedly-considering-overhaul-of-management-assets.
27. On October 30, 2014, LiveNation announced it was shaking up its artist
management assets resulting in a new division led by Guy Oseary with the new division taking
the name of Osearys defunct joint venture business with Madonna, namely Maverick. See
http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/live-nation-reshuffles-management-assets-
launches-the-new-maverick.
28. Defendant has opposed the registration of Plaintiffs MAVERICK MUSIC
FESTIVAL mark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Opposition No. 91214535.
Case 5:14-cv-01002-FB Document 6 Filed 11/25/14 Page 4 of 31
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29. In the oppositions, Defendant asserts that Opposer owns the exclusive right to
use and license the MAVERICK trademark for use with live musical performances by musical
bands, motion pictures and other audio/visual works and merchandise relating thereto.
30. In the opposition, Defendant asserts that Opposer owns and/or has the exclusive
right to use and license a family of MAVERICK Marks for use with live musical performances
by musical bands, motion pictures and other audio/visual works and merchandise relating thereto
and promote the family of marks together.
31. In the opposition, Defendant asserts that Applicant's mark is likely to cause
confusion, mistake, or deception as to the source, origin, affiliation, association, connection, or
sponsorship of Applicant's goods and services offered under the MAVERICK MUSIC
FESTIVAL mark with the MAVERICK Marks and/or with Opposer or Opposer's activities.
32. In the opposition, Defendant asserts that MAVERICK Marks are inherently
distinctive and have acquired secondary meaning and are associated with Opposer and the goods
and services offered under the MAVERICK Marks. The MAVERICK Marks are famous within
the meaning of the Federal Trademark Dilution Act. Applicant filed the Application after the
MAVERICK Marks had become famous, and Applicant seeks to commercially use the applied-
for mark MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL.
33. In the opposition, Defendant asserts that there is a likelihood of confusion,
likelihood of dilution and damage to Defendant if Plaintiff is allowed to use and register its
MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL mark.
34. In the opposition Defendant asserts that the maturation of the Application into a
registration would cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake, or deception with Opposer and the
MAVERICK Marks, a likelihood of association, connection or affiliation with Opposer, the
Case 5:14-cv-01002-FB Document 6 Filed 11/25/14 Page 5 of 31
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goods and services offered by Opposer under the MAVERICK Marks or as to the origin,
sponsorship or approval by Opposer of Applicant's goods or commercial activities, and a
likelihood of dilution of the MAVERICK Marks.
35. In the opposition Defendant asserts that Opposer would be damaged by the
registration of the mark shown in the Application, in that such registration would give Applicant
a prima facie exclusive right to the use of MAVERICK MUSIC FESTIVAL, despite the
likelihood of confusion, mistake, or deception with Opposer and the MAVERICK mark, or as to
the origin, sponsorship or approval by Opposer of Applicant's goods or commercial activities,
and likelihood of dilution described above, and will allow Applicant to trade on Opposer's
existing goodwill and exclusive rights in the MAVERICK Marks for use with live musical
performances by musical bands, motion pictures and audio/visual works and merchandise
relating there