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12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728Michael D. Rounds, Esq.State Bar No. 4734Matthew D. Francis, Esq.State Bar No. 6978WATSON ROUNDS5371 Kietzke LaneReno, Nevada 89511(775) 324-4100Of Counsel:Daniel M. Cislo, Esq.California State Bar No. 125,378Kelly W. Cunningham, Esq.California State Bar No. 186,229CISLO & THOMAS
LLP
 1333 2nd Street, Suite 500Santa Monica, California 90401(310) 451-0647Pro Hac Vice PendingAttorneys for Plaintiff SAMICK MUSIC CORPORATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTDISTRICT OF NEVADA
SAMICK MUSIC CORPORATION, aCalifornia corporation,Plaintiff,v.PERSIS INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Nevadacorporation,Defendant.)))))))))))))))))))Case No.
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR:(1)
 
FEDERAL TRADEMARKINFRINGEMENT;(2)
 
COMMON LAW TRADEMARKINFRINGEMENT;(3)
 
FEDERAL TRADEMARK DILUTION;(4)
 
FEDERAL UNFAIR COMPETITION;(5)
 
STATE AND COMMON LAW UNFAIRCOMPETITIONJURY DEMAND
 For its Complaint, Plaintiff SAMICK MUSIC CORPORATION (“Samick”) herebyalleges and asserts as follows:
 
Case 3:09-cv-00197-LRH-VPC Document 1 Filed 04/15/2009 Page 1 of 15
 
 
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1.
 
This is an action for federal trademark infringement, federal unfair competition,and federal trademark dilution in violation of the Federal Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, et seq.;common law trademark infringement; and state unfair competition in violation of Cal. Bus. &Prof. Code § 17200, et seq., against Defendant PERSIS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (“Defendant”),for its commercial use and exploitation of Samick’s SOHMER trademarks on or in connectionwith the sale of pianos. Samick hereby seeks (1) injunctive relief against Defendant’s continuedunauthorized and improper commercial use and exploitation of any trademark confusingly similarto Samick’s SOHMER trademarks on or in connection with the sale of any musical instruments,including pianos, or their components or accessories; and (2) all damages arising fromDefendant’s past and present infringement and reimbursement of Samick’s attorneys’ fees andcosts for having to bring this suit to enforce its trademark rights.
I.
 
THE PARTIES
2.
 
Samick is a California corporation with its principal place of business in Gallatin,Tennessee.3.
 
Samick is informed and based thereon believes that Defendant is a Nevadacorporation with an office in Chicago, Illinois.
II.
 
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
4.
 
This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1121, and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331and 1338(a) over the federal trademark infringement and dilution claims, which arise under theFederal Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051, et seq; and has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§1338(b) and 1367 over the state unfair competition and common law trademark infringementclaims.5.
 
Upon information and belief, this Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendantsince Defendant was incorporated under the laws of Nevada and thereby resides in this State.Upon information and belief, venue is proper in the Reno Division of the District of Nevada as toDefendant pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and (c) Defendant was incorporated under the lawsof Nevada and is thereby resides in this State and has transacted business in this District duringtimes relevant to this action, including a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims
 
Case 3:09-cv-00197-LRH-VPC Document 1 Filed 04/15/2009 Page 2 of 15
 
 
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Samick alleges and asserts herein.
III.
 
BACKGROUND FACTSA.
 
Samick’s SOHMER Trademarks and Pending Trademark Applications
6.
 
Samick has been using the SOHMER™ trademark continuously since at least2003 in connection with one of the highest quality lines of pianos in the world and, uponinformation. Samick is informed and based thereon believes that its predecessors-in-interest havelikewise been using the SOHMER™ trademark continuously before that time since at least asearly as 1872 in connection with one of the highest quality lines of pianos in the world.7.
 
Samick is informed and based thereon believes that in or about 1872, HugoSohmer, a German immigrant in New York founded the Sohmer & Co., Inc. and adopted andbegan using the SOHMER trademark on his pianos made with the highest craftsmanship. Sohmer& Co., Inc. changed its name to Sohmer Corporation in 1989, merged with Mason & Hamlin Co.in 1994, and was purchased by Burgett, Inc. in 1996.8.
 
Samick is informed and based thereon believes that Burgett has been using theSOHMER trademark on its pianos and related products and components therefor since at least asearly as 1996, when it acquired the SOHMER trademark, along with all of the assets of Mason &Hamlin Co., including its original piano rim presses, the long-standing factory in Haverhill,Massachusetts’ historic district, and a completely documented computer-based archive of theauthentic piano designs.9.
 
On or about 2002, Samick acquired the exclusive license to sell musicalinstruments, namely pianos, using the SOHMER trademark. On March 11, 2009, Samick acquired by assignment from Burgett, Inc. all rights, title, and interest in and to all of Burgett,Inc.’s rights in the SOHMER trademarks and the business pertaining thereto. Accordingly, at alltimes relevant to this action up until it acquired outright the foregoing SOHMER trademarks andtrademark applications, Samick was the exclusive licensee of the SOHMER trademarks.10.
 
Consequently and by written assignment, Samick is the current owner (byassignment) of the following trademarks:a.
 
SOHMER (in stylized lettering);
Case 3:09-cv-00197-LRH-VPC Document 1 Filed 04/15/2009 Page 3 of 15
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