Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
v.
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff FAM N.V. (“FAM” or “Plaintiff”), by and through its undersigned counsel, files
follows:
1. FAM brings this action for patent infringement to stop Urschel’s infringement of
FAM’s United States Design Patent No. D730,703 (“the ’703 Patent”), entitled “Knife Holder.”
A true and correct copy of the ’703 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
THE PARTIES
existing under the laws of Belgium, with its principal place of business located in Belgium.
existing under the laws of Delaware, with its principal place of business located at 1200 Cutting
4. This is an action for design patent infringement arising under the Patent Act, 35
5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and
1338(a) because the claim arises under federal law and relates to the Patent Act.
6. This Court further has diversity jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1332 because there is complete diversity between FAM and Urschel and the amount in
7. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Urschel because Urschel has its
principal place of business in Chesterton, Indiana. Upon information and belief, Urschel also,
8. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391 (b) and (c), and
§ 1400.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
10. FAM has distinguished itself from its competitors through its innovative designs,
11. On May 7, 2014, U.S. Patent Application No. 29/490,213 was filed with the
12. After a full and fair examination of U.S. Patent Application No. 29/490,213, the
USPTO duly and legally issued ’703 Patent on June 2, 2015 which claims an “ornamental design
for a knife holder.” The ’703 Patent claims a non-functional ornamental design.
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13. The ’703 Patent has been assigned to FAM, and FAM owns all right, title, and
interest in and to the ’703 Patent and has the right to sue and recover for past, present, and future
infringement.
COUNT I
14. FAM incorporates and restates paragraphs 1 through 13 as if fully set forth herein.
15. The Infringing Products are knife holders that infringe the ’703 Patent.
16. For example, Infringing Product, marked as “25883 Urschel® USA”, infringes
the ’703 Patent inasmuch as it has an overall visual appearance that, to an ordinary observer
conversant in the prior art, is substantially the same as the overall visual appearance of the design
17. Upon information and belief, Urschel has infringed and continues to infringe the
ornamental design for a knife holder claimed in the ’703 Patent within the meaning of 35 U.S.C.
§ 271(a) through activities including, without limitation, manufacturing, offering for sale, and
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USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1 filed 11/20/19 page 4 of 5
18. Urschel’s actions are without authority and/or license from FAM.
19. Upon information and belief, Urschel will continue to infringe FAM’s rights in
20. FAM has suffered and continues to suffer irreparable injury, for which it has no
21. As a result of Urschel’s infringement of the ’703 Patent, FAM has suffered
profits, lost profits, but in no event less than a reasonable royalty for the use made of the
invention by Urschel, together with interest and costs as fixed by the Court.
22. FAM has complied with 35 U.S.C. § 287 to the extent required by law.
23. Urschel’s infringement has been willful, deliberate, and objectively reckless.
24. Urschel’s infringement of the ’703 Patent has caused irreparable harm to FAM,
which has no adequate remedy at law, and will continue to injure FAM unless and until this
Court enters an injunction prohibiting further infringement and, specifically, enjoining further
importation, manufacture, use, offer for sale, and/or sale of the Infringing Products and any other
products within the scope of the design claimed in the ’703 Patent.
i. Enter judgment in favor of FAM and against Urschel based on Urschel’s infringement
FAM for Urschel’s infringement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, or the total profits from
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USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1 filed 11/20/19 page 5 of 5
iii. That one or more of Urschel’s acts of infringement be found to be willful from the
time that Urschel became aware of the infringing nature of their actions, which is the
time of service of FAM’s Complaint at the latest, and that the Court award treble
damages for the period of such willful infringement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;
v. Award FAM attorneys’ fees and costs for bringing and prosecuting this action;
vi. Award pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the highest rates allowed by law;
vii. Enter an order preliminarily and permanently enjoining Urschel and all other persons
or entities acting in concert with Urschel from infringing the ’703 Patent;
viii. Grant any such other and further relief as it deems proper and just.
JURY DEMAND
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USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1-1 filed 11/20/19 page 1 of 5
EXHIBIT A
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11/20/19 page 2 of 5
USOOD730703S
c12) United States Design Patent (10) Patent No.: US D730, 703 S
Bucks (45) Date of Patent: ** Jun.2,2015
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USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1-1 filed 11/20/19 page 5 of 5
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JS 44 (Rev. 0/16) CIVIL COVER SHEET
USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1-2 filed 11/20/19 page 1 of 2
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff Belgium County of Residence of First Listed Defendant Porter County
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Steven E. Jedlinski, Anthony J. Fuga, HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
150 N. Riverside Plaza, Ste 2700, Chicago, IL,60606, (312) 715-5818
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
u 1 U.S. Government u 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State u 1 u 1 Incorporated or Principal Place u 4 u 4
of Business In This State
u 2 U.S. Government u 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State u 2 u 2 Incorporated and Principal Place u 5 u 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replaces nor supplements the filings and service of pleading or other papers as
required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is
required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. Consequently, a civil cover sheet is submitted to the Clerk of
Court for each civil complaint filed. The attorney filing a case should complete the form as follows:
I.(a) Plaintiffs-Defendants. Enter names (last, first, middle initial) of plaintiff and defendant. If the plaintiff or defendant is a government agency, use
only the full name or standard abbreviations. If the plaintiff or defendant is an official within a government agency, identify first the agency and
then the official, giving both name and title.
(b) County of Residence. For each civil case filed, except U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county where the first listed plaintiff resides at the
time of filing. In U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county in which the first listed defendant resides at the time of filing. (NOTE: In land
condemnation cases, the county of residence of the "defendant" is the location of the tract of land involved.)
(c) Attorneys. Enter the firm name, address, telephone number, and attorney of record. If there are several attorneys, list them on an attachment, noting
in this section "(see attachment)".
II. Jurisdiction. The basis of jurisdiction is set forth under Rule 8(a), F.R.Cv.P., which requires that jurisdictions be shown in pleadings. Place an "X"
in one of the boxes. If there is more than one basis of jurisdiction, precedence is given in the order shown below.
United States plaintiff. (1) Jurisdiction based on 28 U.S.C. 1345 and 1348. Suits by agencies and officers of the United States are included here.
United States defendant. (2) When the plaintiff is suing the United States, its officers or agencies, place an "X" in this box.
Federal question. (3) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1331, where jurisdiction arises under the Constitution of the United States, an amendment
to the Constitution, an act of Congress or a treaty of the United States. In cases where the U.S. is a party, the U.S. plaintiff or defendant code takes
precedence, and box 1 or 2 should be marked.
Diversity of citizenship. (4) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1332, where parties are citizens of different states. When Box 4 is checked, the
citizenship of the different parties must be checked. (See Section III below; NOTE: federal question actions take precedence over diversity
cases.)
III. Residence (citizenship) of Principal Parties. This section of the JS 44 is to be completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated above. Mark this
section for each principal party.
IV. Nature of Suit. Place an "X" in the appropriate box. If the nature of suit cannot be determined, be sure the cause of action, in Section VI below, is
sufficient to enable the deputy clerk or the statistical clerk(s) in the Administrative Office to determine the nature of suit. If the cause fits more than
one nature of suit, select the most definitive.
VI. Cause of Action. Report the civil statute directly related to the cause of action and give a brief description of the cause. Do not cite jurisdictional
statutes unless diversity. Example: U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC 553 Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service
VII. Requested in Complaint. Class Action. Place an "X" in this box if you are filing a class action under Rule 23, F.R.Cv.P.
Demand. In this space enter the actual dollar amount being demanded or indicate other demand, such as a preliminary injunction.
Jury Demand. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether or not a jury is being demanded.
VIII. Related Cases. This section of the JS 44 is used to reference related pending cases, if any. If there are related pending cases, insert the docket
numbers and the corresponding judge names for such cases.
Date and Attorney Signature. Date and sign the civil cover sheet.
USDC
AO 120 (Rev. 08/10) IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1-3 filed 11/20/19 page 1 of 1
Mail Stop 8 REPORT ON THE
TO:
Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office FILING OR DETERMINATION OF AN
P.O. Box 1450 ACTION REGARDING A PATENT OR
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 TRADEMARK
In Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 290 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1116 you are hereby advised that a court action has been
filed in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana on the following
G Trademarks or ✔ Patents.
G ( G the patent action involves 35 U.S.C. § 292.):
In the above—entitled case, the following patent(s)/ trademark(s) have been included:
DATE INCLUDED INCLUDED BY
G
Amendment G Answer G Cross Bill G Other Pleading
PATENT OR DATE OF PATENT
HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
TRADEMARK NO. OR TRADEMARK
1
In the above—entitled case, the following decision has been rendered or judgement issued:
DECISION/JUDGEMENT
Copy 1—Upon initiation of action, mail this copy to Director Copy 3—Upon termination of action, mail this copy to Director
Copy 2—Upon filing document adding patent(s), mail this copy to Director Copy 4—Case file copy
USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1-4 filed 11/20/19 page 1 of 2
AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action
FAM N.V. )
)
)
)
Plaintiff(s) )
)
v. Civil Action No. 19-cv-439
)
URSCHEL LABORATORIES, INC. )
)
)
)
Defendant(s) )
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) — or 60 days if you
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) — you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney,
whose name and address are: Steven E. Jedlinski (steven.jedlinski@hklaw.com)
Anthony J. Fuga (anthony.fuga@hklaw.com)
HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
150 N. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2700
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Tel.: (312) 715-5818 / Fax: (312) 578-6666
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
CLERK OF COURT
Date:
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk
USDC IN/ND case 2:19-cv-00439 document 1-4 filed 11/20/19 page 2 of 2
AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)
PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))
u I left the summons at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)
, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,
on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individual’s last known address; or
u Other (specify):
.
My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ 0.00 .
Date:
Server’s signature
Server’s address