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Kevin M. Hayes, OSB #012801 Email: kevin.hayes@klarquist.com KLARQUIST SPARKMAN, LLP 121 S.W. Salmon Street, Suite 1600 Portland, Oregon 97204 Telephone: 503-595-5300 Facsimile: 503-595-5301 Attorneys for Plaintiff HINRICHS, PROUDFOOT AND SKOV, INC.
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON EUGENE DIVISION
HINRICHS, PROUDFOOT AND SKOV, INC., a Delaware Corporation Plaintiff, v. MCBASSI AND COMPANY, INC., a Maryland Corporation, Defendant.
COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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Plaintiff Hinrichs, Proudfoot and Skov, Inc., doing business as Good Company, through its attorneys, complains of Defendant McBassi & Company, Inc. (McBassi) and alleges as follows, upon knowledge with respect to itself and its own acts, and upon information and belief as to all other matters: I. THE GOOD COMPANY MARK AND THE NATURE OF THE ACTION 1. Good Company owns the mark GOOD COMPANY and has been using
the mark for over a decade for its business consultation services. 2. Good Company also owns the design mark shown below and has been
using that mark for over a decade for its business consultation services:
3.
the GOOD COMPANY design mark shown in Paragraph 2 for [b]usiness consultation services related to an organization's environmental planning performance and sustainable development performance. 4. Defendant, McBassi, is using the mark GOOD COMPANY in connection
with providing business consultation services. 5. Defendant is selling GOOD COMPANY marked products in Eugene,
Oregon, as shown in the screen capture from the UO Bookstore copied below.
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6.
all over the country to any person with Internet access, including in Oregon and Eugene, Oregon, through its own bookstore at http://mcbassi.com/store-3/, as shown in the screen capture from the Defendants website at McBassi.com shown below:
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7.
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8.
Defendant also is attempting to register with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office nationwide rights in the mark GOOD COMPANY INDEX in Application No. 85411715 for [p]roviding independent ratings and reviews of other businesses for commercial purposes. 9. Defendant advertises having presented at one or more conferences in
Oregon in its list of Selected Past Presentation on its website at www.mcbassi.com. 10. Good Company brings this suit to stop McBassi from causing confusion
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II.
THE PARTIES 11. Plaintiff Good Company is a Delaware corporation operating in the state
of Oregon with its principal place of business at 65 Centennial Loop #B Eugene, Oregon, 97401. Good Company is located and does business within this judicial district. 12. Defendant McBassi is a Maryland corporation with a principal place of
business in Golden, Colorado. McBassi is doing business in this judicial district. III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 13. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action because
this action arises under the Federal Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051-1127, jurisdiction being conferred in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1121 and 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338. Supplemental jurisdiction over the causes of action under Oregon state law is proper as those causes of action are substantially related to the causes of action over which the Court has original jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1338(b) and 1367. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) in that Defendant is doing and transacting business within this judicial district and has committed acts complained of herein in this judicial district (or those acts have been aimed at and felt within this judicial district). IV. THE FACTS 14. McBassi uses GOOD COMPANY for its business consultation services
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15.
business consultation services to third parties. 16. McBassi also uses the mark GOOD COMPANY INDEX for providing
independent ratings and reviews of other businesses for commercial purposes. 17. McBassis trademark application for GOOD COMPANY INDEX has
been refused by the United States Patent and Trademark Office over Good Companys Registration No. 4294238 for the GOOD COMPANY design mark. 18. On information and belief, McBassi is aware of Good Companys GOOD
COMPANY trademark. 19. Despite being aware of Good Companys GOOD COMPANY mark, and
even being refused registration by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in view COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION Page 6
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of Good Companys GOOD COMPANY mark, McBassi continues to use GOOD COMPANY and GOOD COMPANY INDEX. 20. McBassis actions are knowing, willful, and without Plaintiffs
authorization. Defendants are liable for the resulting acts of unfair competition, and trademark infringement. V. CAUSES OF ACTION A. 21. Unfair Competition Good Company repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation contained
in the above paragraphs of this Complaint as though fully set forth herein. 22. This cause of action for unfair competition arises under Section 43(a)(1) of
the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125 (a)(1), and Oregon state common law. 23. Defendants use of the GOOD COMPANY and GOOD COMPANY
INDEX in commerce as alleged hereinabove is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception as to the affiliation, connection, or association of Defendant with Plaintiff Good Company or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of the products and services of Defendant and those of Plaintiff Good Company, and misrepresents the nature, characteristics, and qualities of these products and services. 24. The acts of Defendant constitute unfair competition in violation of Section
43(a)(1) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a)(1), and unfair competition under Oregon common law. 25. Good Company is without an adequate remedy at law because Defendants
unfair competition is causing irreparable injury to Good Company, and unless said acts are
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enjoined by this Court, they will continue and Good Company will continue to suffer irreparable injury. 26. Defendants acts of unfair competition, if not enjoined, will cause Good
Company to sustain monetary damages, loss, and injury. B. 27. Trademark Infringement Good Company repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained
in the above paragraphs of this Complaint as though fully set forth herein. 28. The acts of Defendant constitute trademark infringement in violation of 15
U.S.C. 1114(1)(a) and Oregon common law. 29. Defendants use of the GOOD COMPANY and GOOD COMPANY
INDEX as alleged hereinabove is likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception as to the source, sponsorship, or approval of the products and services of Defendant in that others are likely to believe that Defendants services are in some way legitimately connected with, sponsored or licensed by, or otherwise related to Good Company. 30. Defendants use of the GOOD COMPANY and GOOD COMPANY
INDEX was made with actual or constructive knowledge of Good Companys rights in GOOD COMPANY. 31. Defendants use of the GOOD COMPANY and GOOD COMPANY
INDEX is without Good Companys consent or permission. 32. Defendants acts of trademark infringement, unless enjoined, will cause
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PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Good Company prays that, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1116 to 1125 and Oregon state law: A. The Court finds that Good Company owns valid and subsisting trademark
. B. Complaint. C. The Court grant an injunction that Defendant, its affiliated companies, and Defendant be held liable under each claim for relief set forth in this
its/their agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and all other persons in active concert or participation with them, be enjoined from using GOOD COMPANY (however spelled or punctuated, whether capitalized, abbreviated, singular or plural, printed or stylized, whether alone or in combination with any word(s), punctuation or symbol(s), and whether used in caption, text, orally or otherwise), or any other reproduction, counterfeit, copy, colorable imitation or confusingly similar variation of GOOD COMPANY, as a trademark or service mark, trade name or domain name, or in advertising, distribution, sale, or offering for sale of consulting services. D. The Court order as part of the injunction that Defendant withdraw its
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E.
1116(a) that Defendant file with the Court and serve on Plaintiff within thirty days after the service on the Defendant of the injunction, a report in writing under oath setting forth in detail the manner and form in which the Defendant has complied with the injunction. F. Defendant be required to pay to Good Company profits made in
connection with its use of GOOD COMPANY and/or GOOD COMPANY INDEX, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117 and the equity powers of this Court. G. Defendant be required to pay to Good Company its reasonable attorneys
fees and disbursements incurred herein, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117 and the equity powers of this Court. H. I. Defendant be required to pay Good Company the costs of this action. The Court award Good Company such other and further relief as this
Court deems just and equitable. J. Jury trial is demanded. Respectfully submitted,
By:
_s/ Kevin M. Hayes______________ Kevin M. Hayes, OSB #012801 Email: kevin.hayes@klarquist.com 121 S.W. Salmon Street, Suite 1600 Portland, Oregon 97204 Telephone: 503-595-5300 Facsimile: 503-595-5301 Attorneys for Plaintiff HINRICHS, PROUDFOOT AND SKOV, INC.