Snuggie v. Amazon Lawsuit
Snuggie v. Amazon Lawsuit
Snuggie v. Amazon Lawsuit
COMPLAINT
AMAZON.COM, INC.
Defendant
Allstar Marketing Group, LLC, a New York limited liability company (Allstar),
Ideavillage Products Corp. (Ideavillage), a New Jersey corporation, and Ontel Products
Corporation (Ontel), a New Jersey corporation, (collectively, Plaintiffs) by and through their
undersigned counsel, allege as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1.
This Court has federal subject matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted in this
Action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a), as well as pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1121 as an
action arising out of violations of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq. and the Copyright
Act, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.; pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1338(b) as an action arising out of claims
for false designation of origin and unfair competition; and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1332, as there
is diversity between the parties and the matter in controversy exceeds, exclusive of interests and
costs, the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars.
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1367(a), as the claims asserted thereunder are so closely related to the
federal claims brought in this Action as to form part of the same case or controversy.
3.
N.Y.C.P.L.R. 302(a)(1) and (3), because Defendant regularly conducts, transacts and/or
solicits business in New York and in this judicial district, and/or derives substantial revenue from
its business transactions in New York and in this judicial district, and/or otherwise avails itself of
the privileges and protections of the laws of the State of New York, and Defendants unlawful
conduct complained of herein has caused and continues to cause injury to Plaintiffs in New York
and within this judicial district such that this Court's assertion of jurisdiction over Defendant
does not offend traditional notions of fair play and due process.
4.
conducts, transacts and/or solicits business in this judicial district and, upon information and
belief, a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to Plaintiffs claims, specifically
the infringement of Plaintiffs intellectual property, has occurred, and is continuing to occur in
this judicial district, and has caused damage to Plaintiffs in this judicial district.
THE PARTIES
5.
Plaintiff Allstar is a New York limited liability company, having its principal
Plaintiff Ontel is a New Jersey corporation, having its principal place of business
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
Plaintiffs and Their Well-Known Consumer Products
9.
innovative consumer products, which Plaintiffs initially promote and sell through national direct
response television advertising commonly called As Seen On TV (ASOTV Products). A
comprehensive list of Plaintiffs ASOTV Products and the corresponding U.S. trademark
registrations and U.S. copyright registrations are identified in the charts attached hereto as
Exhibits A & B, respectively, and incorporated by reference.
10.
Plaintiffs also promote and sell their ASOTV Products at the retail level at well-
known mass retail outlets, including, for example: Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Toys
R Us, Rite-Aid, CVS and Walgreens; through catalog companies; online, through their own
websites and their retail customers websites; as well as through a network of international
distributors, among other channels of trade.
11.
corporate
More specifically, Plaintiffs promote and sell their ASOTV Products through their
websites:
https://www.allstarmg.com,
(Corporate
https://www.ideavillage.com
https://www.ontelproducts.com,
Websites)
and
individual
product
and
websites
specifically designed and developed by Plaintiffs to sell each of their ASOTV Products, using
and/or featuring Plaintiffs direct response advertising and through which consumers can
purchase
the
ASOTV
Product
www.mysnuggiestore.com;
advertised
directly
https://www.magicmesh.com;
https://www.magictracks.com;
from
Plaintiffs,
such
as:
https://www.simplyfitboard.com;
https://www.5secondfix.com;
https://www.buysimplystraight.com;
https://www.getcopperfit.com/;
Product Websites are collectively referred to as, Plaintiffs Websites. Screenshots from a
representative sample of Plaintiffs Websites are attached hereto as Exhibit C and incorporated
herein by reference.
12.
Plaintiffs are among the most well-known, well-respected sources of many of the
most popular and most successful ASOTV Products sold in the United States.
13.
Snuggie, Simply Fit Board (under exclusive license) and Magic Mesh products, which are
marketed and sold under the respective distinctive trademarks (Example Allstar Products);
Ontels Magic Tracks, 5 Second Fix, and Simply Straight products which are marketed and sold
under the respective distinctive trademarks (Example Ontel Products); and Ideavillages
Copper Fit, Finishing Touch and MicroTouch products which are marketed and sold under the
respective distinctive trademarks (Example Ideavillage Products).
Collectively, Example
Allstar Products, Example Ontel Products and Example Ideavillage Products are referred to as,
(Example ASOTV Products).
14.
While Plaintiffs have gained significant common law trademark and other rights
in their trademarks for their ASOTV Products, including, without limitation, the Example
ASOTV Products, through use, advertising and promotion, Plaintiffs have also protected their
valuable rights by filing for and obtaining federal trademark registrations.
15.
registrations and/or applications identified in the charts attached hereto as Exhibit A and
incorporated herein by reference (collectively, Plaintiffs Marks).
16.
Plaintiffs Marks are currently in use in commerce and were first used in
commerce on or before the dates of first use reflected in the respective registrations and/or
applications, which are identified in the charts attached hereto as Exhibit A.
17.
unregistered copyrights, including the relevant U.S. copyright registrations identified in the
charts attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference, in and related to the
packaging, instructions and other marketing materials and/or artwork for their ASOTV Products
(collectively, Plaintiffs Works).
18.
Plaintiffs have spent substantial time, money and effort in building up and
and promotional efforts. These efforts include advertising and promotion through television,
Plaintiffs Websites, retailer websites and other internet-based advertising, print, participation in
trade shows, among other efforts, both domestically and abroad.
20.
Plaintiffs success is also due to their use of the highest quality materials,
Products to their third-party inventors, consumers and the word-of-mouth buzz that such
inventors and consumers have generated.
22.
Products and the word-of-mouth buzz generated by their inventors and consumers, have made
Plaintiffs ASOTV Products and Plaintiffs Marks prominently placed in the minds of the public.
Retailers, retail buyers, consumers, and members of the public have become familiar with
Plaintiffs ASOTV Products, and associate them exclusively with Plaintiffs.
23.
Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs Marks have acquired a valuable reputation and goodwill
among the public as a result of such associations (i.e., acquired distinctiveness or secondary
meaning).
24.
Plaintiffs have gone to great lengths to protect their interests in and to Plaintiffs
company and is the worlds largest internet-based retailer by total sales and market
capitalization, with revenues of $107.01 billion in 2015, up 20.2% from $88.99 billion in 2014.1
26.
Amazons stock has climbed 37% over the last twelve (12) monthsmaking it
Amazon itself develops, advertises, distributes, offers for sale, sells and ships a
number of private-label brands of products (e.g., Amazon Basics, Amazon Kindle, Amazon
Echo, Amazon Fire) (Private-Label Products), and also sources and purchases a wide range of
products from manufacturers, wholesalers and brand owners (1P Sellers) pursuant to vendor
central agreements (1P Products and VCAs, respectively), and imports, exports, advertises,
distributes, offers for sale, sells and ships such 1P Products directly to consumers through the
Amazon website, at www.amazon.com (Amazon Website). Both Private-Label Products and
1P Products are designated as, Ships from and sold by Amazon.com in the product listings on
1
Allison Enright, Amazon sales climb 22% in Q4 and 20% in 2015, INTERNET RETAILER (2016),
https://www.internetretailer.com/2016/01/28/amazon-sales-climb-22-q4-and-20-2015 (last visited Dec 2, 2016).
2
Ari Levy, How Amazon Counterfeits Put This Mans Business on Brink of Collapse, CNBC (2016),
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/24/how-amazon-counterfeits-put-this-mans-business-on-brink-of-collapse.html (last
visited Dec. 2, 2016).
the Amazon Website. The following is a screenshot of an example listing taken from the
Amazon Website for an ASOTV Product that is designated as, Ships from and sold by
Amazon.com:
28.
the Amazon Website, Amazon also offers a marketplace platform for over two million
(2,000,000) manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, as well as other third-party sellers
worldwide to import, export, advertise, distribute, offer for sale, sell and ship their wholesale and
retail products (3P Seller(s) and 3P Product(s), respectively) to consumers, which accounts
for over 40% of the total units sold on the Amazon Website.3
29.
3P Sellers list each of their 3P Products, and Amazon itself lists each of its Private
Label Products and 1P Products, on or in connection with a product detail page (PDP). A PDP
is the page where customers read details about a product offered for sale on the Amazon
Website. The PDP includes a product image, price, description, customer reviews, ordering
options, and the link to view offers from all sellers of the product. Once a PDP is created, it
becomes part of the Amazon catalog, available at any point in the future to buyers and other
sellers. Screenshots of a representative sample of the PDPs for the Example ASOTV Products
3
Sarah Perez, Amazons Third-Party Sellers Ship Record-Breaking 2 Billion Items In 2014, But Merchant Numbers
Stay Flat, TECH CRUNCH (2015), https://techcrunch.com/2015/01/05/amazon-third-party-sellers-2014/ (last visited
Dec. 2, 2016).
are attached hereto as Exhibit D and incorporated herein by reference; see a printout of
Amazons Creating a Product Detail Page help page from the Amazon Website, attached hereto
as Exhibit E and incorporated herein by reference.
30.
Number (or ASIN), which is a unique ten (10) character alphanumeric product identifier that is
assigned by Amazon and is used to reference Amazon catalog data, track inventory for products,
and index catalog pages for searching and browsing on the Amazon Website. For books, the
ASIN is the same as the ISBN number, but for all other products a new ASIN is created when the
item is uploaded to the Amazon catalog.
Creation Policy and Locating Product Identifiers help pages from the Amazon Website are
attached hereto as Exhibit F and incorporated herein by reference.
31.
While the ASIN is one form of product identification, the creation of an accurate
PDP requires product identifiers in addition to the ASIN designated by Amazon. Amazon also
requires the identification of industry-standard product identifiers, commonly called GTINs, or
Global Trade Item Numbers (i.e., Universal Product Codes (UPCs), International Standard Book
Numbers (ISBNs), European Article Numbers (EANs), and Japanese Article Number (JAN))
(see Exhibit F).
32.
Sellers and 3P Sellers, can offer products for sale under the same PDP. If more than one seller
lists a product for sale under a particular PDP, the sellers may compete for the Buy Box for
that product. The Buy Box refers to the box on the PDP where customers add items to their
shopping cart. The seller with the highest performance metrics and most experience usually
wins the Buy Box, meaning that the seller is the default seller of the product. A printout of
Amazons How the Buy Box Works help page from the Amazon Website is attached hereto as
Exhibit G and incorporated herein by reference.
33.
Amazon (FBA) service, which it touts as one of the most advanced fulfillment networks in the
world, and includes services such as: allowing 3P Sellers to store 3P Products in Amazon's
fulfillment centers (Fulfillment Center(s)); and picking, packing, shipping, and customer
services for such 3P Products by Amazon. The 3P Products that are distributed through FBA are
designated as Sold by [name of respective FBA Seller or brand name] and Fulfilled by
Amazon in the product listings on the Amazon Website. 3P Sellers using the FBA service are
herein after referred to as FBA Sellers. Printouts from the Amazon Website describing the
FBA program and its features and services are attached hereto as Exhibit H and incorporated
herein by reference. The following is a screenshot of an example listing taken from the Amazon
Website for an ASOTV Product that is Sold by [name of respective FBA Seller or brand
name] and Fulfilled by Amazon:
10
34.
Upon information and belief, as of September 2016, Amazon owns and operates
FBA Sellers must choose to either have Amazon identify and track their 3P
Products using a GTIN (Manufacturer Barcode(s)) or an Amazon barcode (i.e., an FNSKU and
MSKU) (Amazon Barcode(s)). A printout of Amazons FBA Product Barcode Requirements
help page from the Amazon Website is attached hereto as Exhibit I and incorporated herein by
reference.
36.
By default, every FBA Seller account is set to use the Manufacturer Barcode(s) to
track 3P Products through FBA. A printout of Amazons Use the Manufacturer Barcode to
Track Inventory help page from the Amazon Website is attached hereto as Exhibit J and
incorporated herein by reference.
37.
When the Manufacturer Barcode(s) are used to track 3P Products through FBA,
those 3P Products are automatically commingled with inventory of the same products from other
sellers at the Fulfillment Centers, including Private Label Products and 1P Products from
Amazon itself, and other FBA Sellers who also use Manufacturer Barcodes for those items
(Commingled Inventory).6 A printout of Amazons Stickerless, Commingled Inventory help
Lisa Eadicicco and Josh Raab, Look Inside Amazons New York City Warehouse, TIME (2015),
http://time.com/4159225/amazon-warehouse-gifs/ (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Jillian DOnfro, Here are All of
Amazons Warehouses in the US, BUSINESS INSIDER (2015), http://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-fulfillmentcenters-does-amazon-have-in-the-us-2015-3 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
5
Greg Bensinger and Laura Stevens, Amazons Newest Ambition: Competing Directly with UPS and FedEx, THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL (2016), http://www.wsj.com/articles/amazons-newest-ambitioncompeting-directly-withups-and-fedex-1474994758 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
6
Mary Weinstein, The Pros and Cons of Commingling for Amazon Merchants, INTERNET RETAILER (2014),
https://www.internetretailer.com/commentary/2014/07/01/pros-and-cons-commingling-amazon-merchants
(last
visited Dec. 2, 2016); Serena NG and Greg Bensinger, Do You Know Whats Going in Your Amazon Shopping
Cart?, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (2014), http://www.wsj.com/articles/on-amazon-pooled-merchandise-opensdoor-to-knockoffs-1399852852 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
11
page from the Amazon Website is attached hereto as Exhibit K and incorporated herein by
reference; see also Exhibit I.
38.
While Commingled Inventory is labeled with the same Manufacturer Barcode and
pooled together for purposes of FBA, Amazon is able to identify the original seller, source and
owner of the products (see Exhibit I).
39.
Amazon Barcodes are required to be used for all products that are not tracked
using Manufacturer Barcodes, products that are expiration-dated, as well as consumable and
topical products such as skin creams, shampoos, and cosmetics. If a FBA Seller chooses to label
its 3P Product(s) using the Amazon Barcode, it must print and label each of its 3P Products with
the Amazon Barcode. A printout of Amazons Use an Amazon Barcode to Track Inventory help
page from the Amazon Website is attached hereto as Exhibit L and incorporated herein by
reference.
40.
Amazon also offers its FBA Label Service for 3P Products requiring Amazon
Barcodes only, through which FBA Sellers can elect to have Amazon print and apply the
Amazon Barcodes upon arrival at the Fulfilment Centers for a per-item fee. A printout of
Amazons FBA Label Service help page from the Amazon Website is attached hereto as Exhibit
M and incorporated herein by reference.
41.
FBA Sellers are required to follow certain prep, packaging and labeling
requirements when shipping their 3P Products to Fulfilment Centers for distribution. A printout
of Amazons How Amazon Receives and Stores Your Inventory help page from the Amazon
Website is attached hereto as Exhibit N and incorporated herein by reference.
42.
FBA Sellers may elect to use the FBA Prep Service for certain products, where
Amazon prepares the packaging of each 3P Product before distribution to consumers for a per-
12
unit fee. A printout of Amazons FBA Prep Services help page from the Amazon Website is
attached hereto as Exhibit O and incorporated herein by reference.
43.
Centers, the FBA Seller creates a shipping plan via its seller account on the Amazon Website. A
printout of Amazons Shipping Products to Amazon help page from the Amazon Website is
attached hereto as Exhibit P and incorporated herein by reference.
44.
Fulfillment Center by Amazon. Amazon may, at its own discretion, split the FBA Sellers
inventory into multiple shipments destined for multiple different Fulfilment Centers. Even once
the FBA Sellers inventory is in one Fulfillment Center, Amazon may unilaterally choose to
transfer part or the entire inventory to another Fulfilment Center (see Exhibit P).
45.
Within three (3) business days of being received at a Fulfillment Center, the FBA
Sellers inventory is generally scanned and made available for sale (Receiving Process).7
46.
During the Receiving Process, the Manufacturer Barcode or Amazon Barcode for
each 3P Product in the FBA Sellers inventory is individually scanned and entered into the FBA
tracking system, and the dimensions and weight of each 3P Product is captured for storage and
fulfillment purposes (see Exhibit N).
47.
shipping label to confirm that shipment is in the FBA tracking system and is at the correct
Fulfillment Center. Next, an Amazon associate opens each and every shipment and verifies that
each of the individual units contained within a shipment have a single, scannable barcode (i.e.,
either the Manufacturer Barcode or the Amazon Barcode). An Amazon associate then evaluates
7
See FulfillmentbyAmazon, How Amazon Receive Your Inventory, YOUTUBE (Dec. 23, 2013),
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXdeqcHBp4&feature=youtu.be (A true and complete copy of the transcript
for the video found at this link is attached hereto as Exhibit Q and incorporated by reference).
13
each product to determine if it needs additional prep to ensure that the items are not damaged
during the outbound shipment to the final consumers. Afterward, an Amazon associate performs
a six-sided check of each product. Finally, before packing each item for delivery to the
consumer, an Amazon associate will perform a title verification to confirm that the title and the
product are the same. An individual product is considered received once these steps have been
performed.8
48.
Amazon also offers Multi-Channel FBA, which is a service that enables FBA
Sellers to fulfill orders from sales channels other than the Amazon Website (such as FBA
Sellers own independent websites or other e-commerce platforms) using the inventory that is
stored in the Fulfillment Centers. Printouts of Amazons Multi-Channel Fulfillment help and
services pages from the Amazon Website are attached hereto as Exhibit R and incorporated
herein by reference.
49.
Additionally, Amazons FBA Export Program enables FBA Sellers to sell eligible
3P Products to consumers in more than sixty (60) countries using FBA. Printouts of Amazons
FBA Export help pages from the Amazon Website are attached hereto as Exhibit S and
incorporated herein by reference.
50.
Starting in October 2014, Amazon began allowing direct importation and drop
shipping from Chinese factories and wholesalers, which previously had to count on middlemen,
brands and private labels, to facilitate FBA Sellers delivery of 3P Products to Fulfillment
Centers and to extend the reach of 3P Sellers to global consumers through the Amazon Website.9
8
14
A printout of Amazons Drop Shipping Policy help page from the Amazon Website is attached
hereto as Exhibit T and incorporated herein by reference.
51.
Moreover, even with the knowledge that China is notorious for the wide-spread
sale of counterfeit and/or infringing products, in January 2016, Amazons Chinese subsidiary,
Beijing Century Joyo Courier Service Co Ltd, with the trade names Amazon China, Amazon.CN
and Amazon Global Logistics China, registered as an ocean freight forwarder with the U.S.
Federal Maritime Commission, a move that will give Amazon even more control over shipping
products from Chinese factories directly to U.S. Fulfillment Centers and U.S. consumers.10
52.
sophisticated product inventory tracking and management systems, which, coupled with
Amazons rigorous FBA policies (see Exhibit H), are designed to enable Amazon to identify
products and FBA Sellers and 3P Sellers with specificity and control and monitor the FBA
Sellers listings11 and the inventory running through the Fulfillment Centers.
ASOTV Products on the Amazon Website
53.
Products using Plaintiffs Marks and/or Plaintiffs Works on the Amazon Website.
54.
For example, as of November 30, 2016, a search for Allstars Snuggie returns
7,464 listings, a search for Ontels Magic Tracks returns 551 listings, and a search for
Ideavillages Finishing Touch returns 148,030 listings. Attached as Exhibit U, and incorporated
retail/#49eada0970bd (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Frank Tong, How a Chinese Startup Became a Top Seller on
Amazon.com, INTERNET RETAILER (2015), https://www.internetretailer.com/2015/10/02/how-chinese-startupbecame-top-seller-amazoncom (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
10
Mari Saito, Amazon Expands Logistics Reach with Move into Ocean Shipping, REUTERS (2016),
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-freight-idUSKCN0US2YW (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); see also
supra, fn. 9.
11
See a printout of Amazons Creating a Listing help page from the Amazon Website indicating that Amazon places
certain restrictions on editing a listing is attached hereto as Exhibit V and incorporated herein by reference.
15
by reference, is a true and correct copy of the search results printed out from the Amazon
Website.
55.
Amazon has VCAs with Allstar to sell the following brands of ASOTV Products
as 1P Products on the Amazon Website: Bacon Boss, Clever Cutter, Dr. Hart's Power Floss, EggTastic, Hot Designs, Hot Stampz, Kitty Shack, Knot Out Dog Brush, Orbitrim, Press 2 Paste,
Purrfect Arch, Purse Pouch, Roto Clipper, Secret Color, Secret Extensions, Simple Step, Simply
Fit, Snuggie Tails, Table Mate, True Touch and Wobble Wag Giggle.
56.
Amazon has VCAs with Ontel to sell the following brands of ASOTV Products as
1P Products on the Amazon Website: Bowl Light, Everbrite, Gopher, Hot Hands, Iron Gym,
Magic Tracks, Miracle Aloes, Miracle Grill Mat, Miracle Socks, Pink Armor, Potato Express,
Seat Solution, Simply Straight, Sleep Easy, Speed Out, Side Sleeper PRO, Strutz, Veggetti, and
5 Second Fix, among others.
57.
Amazon has VCAs with Ideavillage to sell the following brands of ASOTV
Products as 1P Products on the Amazon Website: Copper Fit, Finishing Touch, MicroTouch,
Hamper Hoops, Magic Pens, Rocket Copters, Swerve Ball, Go Belt, Miss Belt, Naked Nails,
Hover Hockey, Hover Ball and Airbrush Magic.
58.
The ASOTV Products sold as 1P Products on the Amazon Website, including but
not limited to those products identified in Paragraphs 55-57 herein, are collectively hereinafter
referred to as ASOTV 1P Products.
59.
Under its VCAs with Plaintiffs (collectively, Plaintiffs VCA(s)), Allstar has
sold approximately 240,000 units of ASOTV 1P Products, Ontel has sold approximately 196,000
units of ASOTV 1P Products, and Ideavillage has sold approximately 350,000 units of ASOTV
1P Products to Amazon for resale or distribution on the Amazon Website and Amazon itself has
16
offered for sale and sold hundreds of thousands of ASOTV 1P Products on the Amazon Website.
Thus, Amazon has actual knowledge of Plaintiffs use of and rights in and to Plaintiffs Marks
and/or Plaintiffs Works pertaining to, at the very least, the ASOTV 1P Products.
60.
Upon information and belief, Amazon also has VCAs with other 1P Sellers to
purchase and sell 1P Products, including, upon information and belief, ASOTV 1P Products.12
61.
In addition, there are numerous 3P Sellers and FBA Sellers importing, exporting,
advertising, distributing, offering for sale, selling and shipping 3P Products, including Plaintiffs
ASOTV Products and 3P Products using Plaintiffs Marks and/or Plaintiffs Works through the
Amazon Website.
Amazons Wrongful and Infringing Conduct
62.
the federal lawsuits filed against Amazon14 and/or its 1P Sellers15, as well as lawsuits filed by
Amazon itself against 3P Sellers16, an astronomical number of counterfeit and infringing
products are offered for sale and sold on the Amazon Website at a rampant rate.
12
See Daimler AG v. Amazon.com, Inc., Case No. 2:16-cv-00518-JCC, Dkt. 1 (Apr. 11, 2016); Apple Inc. v. Mobile
Star LLC, Case No. 3:16-cv-06001-WHO, Dkt. 1 (Oct. 17, 2016).
13
See e.g., Serena NG and Greg Bensinger, Do You Know Whats Going in Your Amazon Shopping Cart?, THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL (2014), http://www.wsj.com/articles/on-amazon-pooled-merchandise-opens-door-toknockoffs-1399852852 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Ari Levy, Amazons Chinese Counterfeit Problem is Getting
Worse,
CNBC
(2016),
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/amazons-chinese-counterfeit-problem-is-gettingworse.html (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Ari Levy, Amazon Counterfeiters Wreak Havoc on Artists and Small
Businesses, CNBC (2016), http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/25/amazon-counterfeiters-wreak-havoc-on-artists-andsmall-businesses.html (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Eugene Kim, Hundreds of Frustrated Sellers Grilled an Amazon
Exec Over Chinese Counterfeit Products, BUSINESS INSIDER (2016); http://www.businessinsider.com/amazonchinese-counterfeit-problem-2016-7 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Ari Levy, How Amazon Counterfeits Put This Mans
Business on Brink of Collapse, CNBC (2016), http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/24/how-amazon-counterfeits-put-thismans-business-on-brink-of-collapse.html (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
14
Todd Bishop, Daimler AG Sues Amazon Over Replica Mercedes Wheels, in New Test of Liability for Knockoff
Goods, GEEKWIRE (2016), http://www.geekwire.com/2016/daimler-ag-sues-amazon-knockoff-mercedes-wheelsnew-test-e-commerce-giants-liability-counterfeit-goods/ (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
15
Amit Chowdhry, Apple: Nearly 90% Of 'Genuine' iPhone Chargers On Amazon Are Counterfeit, FORBES (2016),
http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/10/23/apple-nearly-90-of-genuine-iphone-chargers-on-amazonare-fake/#cdf56ea23f6a (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
16
Lena Rao, Amazon Sues Merchants Over Selling Counterfeit Items, FORTUNE (2016),
http://fortune.com/2016/11/14/amazon-counterfeit-items-lawsuit/ (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
17
63.
the Amazon Website, brand owners such as: NFL, Wsthof, Johnson & Johnson, Este Lauder
and Birkenstock, among several others, have completely banned the sale of their products on the
Amazon Website.17
64.
In light of Plaintiffs success with its popular ASOTV Products, Plaintiffs and
their ASOTV Products have become targets for unscrupulous individuals and entities who wish
to take a free ride on the goodwill, reputation and fame Plaintiffs have amassed in Plaintiffs
ASOTV Products, Plaintiffs Marks and the works embodied in Plaintiffs Works.
65.
17
Ina Steiner, can the NFL Ban on Marketplace Sales Succeed?, ECOMMERCE BYTES (2016),
http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y16/m04/i12/s01 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Jack Ellis, Birkenstock
Leaves Amazon to Counterfeiters, Fake Suppliers and Unauthorized Sellers as IP Concern Mounts, WOLRD
TRADEMARK REVIEW (2016), http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/blog/detail.aspx?g=df3a393b-6bbe-45bd8032-0668f7c9ca20 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016); Ari Levy, Birkenstock Quits Amazon in US After Counterfeit Surge,
CNBC (2016), http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/birkenstock-quits-amazon-in-us-after-counterfeit-surge.html (last
visited Dec. 2, 2016); Serena NG and Greg Bensinger, Do You Know Whats Going in Your Amazon Shopping
Cart?, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (2014), http://www.wsj.com/articles/on-amazon-pooled-merchandise-opensdoor-to-knockoffs-1399852852 (last visited Dec. 2, 2016).
18
Product(s)) to U.S. consumers (including those located in the state of New York) by Amazon
itself as well as by numerous FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers on the Amazon Website.
66.
For example, Amazon and/or one of its Fulfillment Centers is often identified as
the importer of record for shipments of 3P Products destined for Fulfilment Centers imported
from outside of the U.S. As a result of seizure notices identifying Amazon as the importer of
record issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to Amazon and Plaintiffs
pursuant to 19 C.F.R. 133.21(b)(2)(i) and 19 C.F.R. 151.16(c), Amazon has been notified of
Infringing Products seized by CBP after CBP determined such products were in fact counterfeit
and/or infringing (Seizure Notices). Attached hereto as Exhibit W is a representative sample
of the Seizure Notices identifying Amazon or an Amazon Fulfillment Center as the importer of
record of Infringing Products.
67.
Counterfeit Products offered for sale and sold by numerous FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers on
the Amazon Website.
representatives both from Fulfillment Centers located throughout the World, including, most
notably, the United States and China, and also drop-shipped directly from 3P Sellers located in
China, Japan, Thailand and other foreign countries.18
incorporated herein by reference are example listings, invoices and/or photographs evidencing
listings for Counterfeit Products Sold by [name of respective FBA Seller or brand
name] and Fulfilled by Amazon and attached hereto as Exhibit Y and incorporated herein by
reference are example listings, invoices and/or photographs evidencing listings for Counterfeit
Products Shipped and sold by [name of respective 3P Seller or brand name] and drop-shipped
18
Noah Herschman, The Taobao Sellers Journey onto the Amazon Platform, LINKIEDIN (2016),
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/taobao-sellers-journey-onto-amazon-platform-noah-herschman (last visited Dec. 2,
2016).
19
from China, Japan, Thailand and/or any other country prohibited from distributing ASOTV
Products directly to U.S. customers.
68.
Customers trust that they can always buy with confidence on Amazon.com. Products offered for
sale on Amazon.com must be authentic. The sale of counterfeit products, including any products
that have been illegally replicated, reproduced, or manufactured, is strictly prohibited, and
Amazons infringement reporting form and procedures, inviting rights holders to report
counterfeits and/or infringements found on the Amazon Website, which Amazon will consider
on a case-by-case basis, and may remove the counterfeit and/or infringing product, or a specific
listing therefore, from the Amazon Website (Amazon Reporting System), a growing number of
counterfeit and/or infringing products are still being imported, exported, advertised, marketed,
promoted, distributed, displayed, offered for sale, and/or sold by Amazon and/or otherwise
through the Amazon Website and/or using FBA. Printouts of Amazons Anti-Counterfeiting
Policy help page from the Amazon Website and its online Report Infringement form are attached
hereto as Exhibit Z and incorporated herein by reference.
69.
thousands of listings for Counterfeit Products being imported, exported, advertised, marketed,
promoted, distributed, displayed, offered for sale, and/or sold through the Amazon Website
and/or using FBA to Amazon using the Amazon Reporting System. For instance, Allstar has
reported approximately 2,114 since July 2016. See Exhibits X & Y including a representative
sample of e-mail confirmations and correspondence regarding the infringement reports submitted
for relevant listings for Counterfeit Products.
20
70.
Managers (which were assigned to Plaintiffs by Amazon pursuant to the VCAs) and have also, in
some cases, been informed by their respective Amazon Vendor Managers: (1) that certain
Counterfeit Products were being offered for sale through PDPs associated with Plaintiffs
ASOTV Products at impossibly low prices, in other words, that the PDPs were hijacked, and in
some cases the 3P Sellers selling the Counterfeit Products won the PDPs Buy Box, thereby
becoming the default sellers (see supra 30-33; see also infra 72-74) (see Exhibits AA and
BB); (2) that Plaintiffs do not permit any drop-shipping of Plaintiffs ASOTV Products from
outside the United States (see Exhibits CC FF); and (3) that bad reviews for Counterfeit
Products on Hijacked PDPs (as defined infra) were eroding the price of authentic ASOTV
Products and harming their ability to sell the same, as well as damaging their reputations (see
Exhibits GG II).
71.
PDPs have become vulnerable to hijackers, which have listed and/or are listing
unauthorized or counterfeit versions of the associated product at a lower price (Hijacked PDP
and PDP Hijacker, respectively).19 To consumers, the product appears authentic because it is
being listed under the same PDP as authentic versions of the product. A consumer is naturally
going to favor the cheaper product when deciding to purchase and is even more likely to
purchase from the PDP Hijacker, if he or she has won the Buy Box and is the default seller.
72.
will often leave bad reviews on the Hijacked PDP, thereby driving down sales of the authentic
19
Ari
Levy,
Amazons
Chinese
Counterfeit
Problem
is
Getting
Worse,
CNBC
(2016),
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/amazons-chinese-counterfeit-problem-is-getting-worse.html (last visited Dec. 2,
2016).
21
versions of the product even further, as well as affecting the performance standards for those
sellers listing authentic versions of the product under the Hijacked PDP.20
73.
Hijacked PDPs, and Amazon itself, often through its Vendor Managers, will send an automated
alert to Plaintiffs when they are losing the Buy Box. Attached hereto as Exhibit AA is a
representative sample of communications between Plaintiffs and Amazon Vendor Managers
concerning Hijacked PDPs and as Exhibit BB are examples of automated alerts from Amazon,
or its Vendor Managers, notifying Plaintiffs of lost Buy Boxes; see also Exhibit FF.
74.
Amazon has, either itself (see Exhibit W) and/or allowed FBA Sellers and 3P
Sellers to sell and drop-ship Infringing Products to Fulfillment Centers and directly to U.S.
customers.
75.
For example, on December 1, 2016, Allstar identified a 3P Seller offering for sale
a Counterfeit Product (a counterfeit True Touch product) on the Amazon Website, being dropshipped directly from China with an estimated delivery date of December 29, 2016 January
20, 2016, with a price of less than half of Allstars suggested retail price of $14.99. Attached
as Exhibit CC is a screenshot of the listing for the relevant Counterfeit Product.
76.
As another example, on October 21, 2016, Ontel identified a 3P Seller offering for
Id.
22
77.
Also, on September 20, 2016, Ideavillage identified a 3P Seller offering for sale a
Counterfeit Product (a counterfeit Copper Fit Pro Series product) on the Amazon Website, with a
price of close to five dollars ($5.00) less than Ideavillages suggested retail price of $19.99,
purchased the Counterfeit Product on the same date, which was delivered on October 6, 2016
with a return address in Shanghai, China. Attached as Exhibit EE are copies of the purchase
invoice and photographs of the relevant Counterfeit Product.
78.
Managers of FBA Sellers and/or other 3P Sellers drop-shipping Counterfeit Products from
China, Japan, Thailand and/or other countries prohibited from distributing ASOTV Products
directly to U.S. customers, and Amazon, through its Vendor Managers, has indicated that certain
solutions are available to stop, or at the very least diminish, the drop-shipment of such
Counterfeit Products in the U.S.; however, as of the date of this Complaint, no such solutions
have been instituted.
much less than the suggested retail price for Plaintiffs ASOTV Products, resulting in significant
damage to Plaintiffs through product cost erosion on Amazon and other wholesale and retail
marketplaces and outlets, including on Plaintiffs Websites, which is partially caused by
Amazons allowance of multiple sellers to sell their products under the same PDP, regardless of
whether such products are Counterfeit Products, and even with knowledge of both specific
23
listings as well as the types of listings that are for Counterfeit Products, and as a result of
Amazons pricing algorithms created and used by Amazon on the Amazon Website, which factor
in the low list prices of Counterfeit Products. Attached as Exhibit GG is correspondence
between Plaintiffs and Amazon, through its Vendor Managers, notifying Amazon of such
product cost erosion on Amazon and other ASOTV Channels. See Exhibits AA and FF.
80.
Consumers who have purchased Counterfeit Products from PDP Hijackers have
left bad reviews or comments on the Hijacked PDP, thereby driving down sales of Plaintiffs
ASOTV Product properly associated with the PDP, as well as affecting the performance
standards for all sellers, including 1P Sellers, listing Plaintiffs ASOTV Product under the
Hijacked PDP. Attached as Exhibit HH hereto is a representative sample of such bad reviews or
comments left by purchasers of Counterfeit Products from Hijacked PDPs.
81.
Amazon has received notice from Plaintiffs of the bad reviews or comments made
by purchasers of Counterfeit Products from Hijacked PDPs, which has resulted in diminished
sales of Plaintiffs ASOTV Products, yet has taken no action to curtail the sale of such
Counterfeit Products and resulting price erosion, despite having the knowledge, opportunity and
means to do so. Attached as Exhibit II hereto are a representative sample of communications
between Plaintiffs and Amazon, through its Vendor Managers, concerning the bad reviews or
comments left by purchasers of Counterfeit Products from Hijacked PDPs.
82.
Such bad reviews or comments themselves, also serve as notice to Amazon that
Counterfeit Products are being sold through the Hijacked PDPs, either by confirming that the
Counterfeit Product was drop-shipped from a country that is not authorized to distribute directly
to customers in the U.S., such as China, or that the Counterfeit Product is otherwise
unquestionably counterfeit but, similarly, Amazon has taken no action to prevent the sale of such
24
Counterfeit Products despite having the knowledge, opportunity and means to do so. (see
Exhibit HH).21
83.
supra, incontrovertibly allows it to identify the specific FBA Seller(s) that shipped the
Counterfeit Products contained in any Seizure Notice identifying Amazon (or an Amazon
Fulfilment Center) as importer of record, whether correctly or incorrectly, and accordingly there
is no question that Amazon received notice of any Infringing Products identified in a Seizure
Notice, upon information and belief, Amazon has taken no action with respect to those FBA
Sellers, such as terminating their relationship with Amazon, among other available and
appropriate actions.
84.
herein including, without limitation, the importation of Counterfeit Products; the comingling of
1P Products and/or FBA Products with Counterfeit Products; and upon information and belief, its
advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution, display, offering for sale, and/or sale of
Counterfeit Products; among other activities alleged herein, Amazon also has knowledge of FBA
Sellers and 3P Sellers infringing and/or counterfeiting activities occurring on the Amazon
Website and using FBA through: notice from Plaintiffs and other brand owners regarding
specific infringements reported through the Amazon Reporting System and otherwise (e.g.
through reports to Amazon Vendor Managers); its thorough handling of every single 3P Product
(including Counterfeit Products) during the Receiving Process (e.g., the six-sided check); its
sophisticated product inventory tracking and management systems; allowing 1P Sellers and 3P
Sellers to offer for sale and sell Counterfeit Products obtained/dropped-shipped from countries
21
25
known for the wide-spread sale of Counterfeit Products, such as China, Japan and Thailand;
among other notice alleged herein.
CAUSES OF ACTION
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(Direct Trademark Counterfeiting Under Sections 32, 34, and 35 of the Lanham Act,
15 U.S.C. 1114(1)(b), 1116(d), and 1117(b)-(c)))
85.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
Plaintiffs are the exclusive owners and/or licensees of all right and title to
Plaintiffs Marks.
87.
least as early as the dates of first use reflected in the respective registrations and/or applications,
which are identified in the chart attached hereto as Exhibit A.
88.
known and prior rights in their Plaintiffs Marks and with knowledge that Defendants
Counterfeit Products bear counterfeit marks, Defendant intentionally reproduced, copied, and/or
colorably imitated Plaintiffs Marks and/or used spurious designations that are identical with, or
substantially indistinguishable, from one or more of Plaintiffs Marks on or in connection with
the import, export, advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution, display, offering for sale
and/or sale of Counterfeit Products, whether imported by Amazon, designated as Ships from
and sold by Amazon.com and/or Comingled Inventory.
89.
displayed, offered for sale and/or sold its Counterfeit Products to the purchasing public in direct
competition with Plaintiffs, in or affecting interstate commerce, and/or have acted with reckless
26
disregard of Plaintiffs rights in and to Plaintiffs Marks, through its participation in such
activities.
90.
Counterfeit Products was done with notice and full knowledge that such use was not authorized
or licensed by Plaintiffs or their authorized agents and with deliberate intent to unfairly benefit
from the incalculable goodwill inherent in Plaintiffs Marks.
92.
Defendant has caused substantial monetary loss and irreparable injury and damage to Plaintiffs,
their business, reputation and valuable rights in and to Plaintiffs Marks and the goodwill
associated therewith, in an amount as yet unknown, but to be determined at trial, for which
Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law, and unless immediately enjoined, Defendant will
27
continue to cause such substantial and irreparable injury, loss and damage to Plaintiffs and their
valuable Plaintiffs Marks.
94.
injunctive relief, damages for the irreparable harm that Plaintiffs have sustained, and will sustain,
as a result of Defendants unlawful and infringing actions alleged herein, and all gains, profits
and advantages obtained by Defendant as a result thereof, enhanced discretionary damages,
treble damages, and/or statutory damages of up to $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark per type of
goods sold, offered for sale, or distributed and reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
(Direct Infringement of Registered Trademarks)
[115 U.S.C. 1114/Lanham Act 32(a)]
95.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
least as early as the dates of first use reflected in the respective registrations and/or applications,
which are identified in the chart attached hereto as Exhibit A.
97.
Plaintiffs, as the owners and/or exclusive licensees of all right, title and interest in
and to Plaintiffs Marks, have standing to maintain an action for trademark infringement under
15 U.S.C. 1114.
98.
Defendant was, at the time it engaged in its infringing actions alleged herein,
actually aware that Plaintiffs are the owners and/or exclusive licensees of the federal trademark
registrations and/or applications for Plaintiffs Marks.
99.
Defendant did not seek, and failed to obtain consent or authorization from
Plaintiffs, as the registered trademark owners and/or exclusive licensees of Plaintiffs Marks, to
28
deal in and commercially import, export, advertise, market, promote, distribute, display, retail,
offer for sale, and/or sell Infringing Products.
100.
promoted, distributed, displayed, offered for sale and/or sold Infringing Products, whether
imported by Amazon, designated as Ships from and sold by Amazon.com and/or Comingled
Inventory, bearing and/or utilizing marks that are reproductions, counterfeits, copies and/or
colorable imitations of Plaintiffs Marks and/or which are identical or confusingly similar to
Plaintiffs Marks.
101.
imitated Plaintiffs Marks and applied such reproductions, copies, or colorable imitations to
packaging, wrappers, receptacles, online listings and/or advertisements used in commerce upon,
or in connection with, the importing, exporting, advertising, marketing, promoting, distributing,
displaying, offering for sale, and/or sale of Defendants Infringing Products.
102.
Defendant was, at the time it engaged in its illegal and infringing actions alleged
herein, actually aware that Plaintiffs are the owners and/or exclusive licensees of all rights in and
to Plaintiffs Marks.
103.
in connection with Defendants Infringing Products has caused, and is likely to continue to cause
actual confusion, to cause mistake and to deceive the general purchasing public as to the source
or origin of the Infringing Products, and is likely to deceive the public into believing that
Defendants Infringing Products are Plaintiffs ASOTV Products or are otherwise associated
with, or authorized by, Plaintiffs.
29
104.
knowledge of Plaintiffs rights and goodwill in Plaintiffs Marks, as well as with bad faith and
the intent to cause confusion, mistake and deception.
105.
alleged herein, Plaintiffs have suffered substantial monetary loss and irreparable injury, loss and
damage to their businesses and valuable rights in and to Plaintiffs Marks, and the goodwill
associated therewith, in an amount as yet unknown, but to be determined at trial, for which they
have no adequate remedy at law, and unless immediately enjoined, Defendant will continue to
cause such substantial and irreparable injury, loss and damage to Plaintiffs and their valuable
Plaintiffs Marks.
107.
injunctive relief, damages for the irreparable harm that Plaintiffs have sustained, and will sustain,
as a result of Defendants unlawful and infringing actions alleged herein, and all gains, profits
and advantages obtained by Defendant as a result thereof, enhanced discretionary damages, as
well as other remedies provided by 15 U.S.C. 1116, 1117, and 1118, and reasonable
attorneys fees and costs.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
(Contributory Trademark Infringement and Counterfeiting Under the Lanham Act)
108.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
30
109.
applications or actual through the VCAs with Plaintiffs and/or through Plaintiffs complaints
submitted through the Amazon Reporting System) of Plaintiffs rights in Plaintiffs Marks and
the goodwill associated therewith, Defendant has encouraged, enabled, facilitated, participated in
and/or materially contributed to the FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers illegal, infringing and/or
counterfeiting activities by providing its Amazon Website and its FBA services, which include,
without limitation: import/export services, shipping, labeling, quality control, inventory control,
pricing control, warehousing, marketing, advertising, payment processing, distribution and other
fulfillment services, and has generated significant income directly from FBA Sellers and other
3P Sellers illegal, infringing and counterfeiting activities which include, without limitation, the
manufacture, import, export, advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution, display, offering
for sale and/or sale of Counterfeit Products.
31
112.
Defendant had, and currently has, actual knowledge of the FBA Sellers and other
3P Sellers illegal infringing and counterfeiting activities through, among other notice: Plaintiffs
numerous complaints submitted through the Amazon Reporting System, Plaintiffs
communications with their respective Amazon Vendor Managers, the wide-spread press
coverage of the rampant counterfeiting and infringing activities occurring on the Amazon
Website and actions taken by multiple brands to curtail the infringement and counterfeiting
occurring on the Amazon Website, which collectively put Defendant on notice of particular
Counterfeit Products and/or listings therefor and of Counterfeit Products and/or listings that will
infringe in the future, and/or Defendant was, and is, in the unique position of having sufficient
information to identify Counterfeit Products as well as the FBA Sellers, and many of the other
3P Sellers responsible therefor, with specificity, and to control and monitor FBA Sellers and
other 3P Sellers listings, based on Defendants state of the art sourcing, product identification
and tracking abilities and FBA services.
113.
Sellers illegal, infringing and counterfeiting activities, of particular Counterfeit Products and/or
listings therefor and of Counterfeit Products and/or listings that will infringe in the future, as well
as of its own encouragement, enabling, facilitation, participation in and/or material contribution
to the same, Defendant has deliberately or recklessly disregarded such notifications and/or such
illegal, infringing and counterfeiting activities, and/or has otherwise been willfully blind to
and/or consciously avoided learning about, the full extent of the such illegal, infringing and
counterfeiting activities occurring on the Amazon Website and/or using FBA services, and/or
declined to exercise its right and ability to stop the same.
32
114.
By providing its Amazon Website, FBA services and other critical and essential
facilitation and fulfillment services to FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers, Defendant supplied and
controlled the instrumentality for FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers infringing and
counterfeiting activities, including the manufacture, import, export, advertising, marketing,
promotion, distribution, display, offering for sale and/or sale of Counterfeit Products, and
Defendant received a direct financial benefit for providing such services.
115.
other 3P Sellers illegal, infringing and counterfeiting activities alleged herein has caused, and is
likely to continue to cause actual confusion, to cause mistake and to deceive the general
purchasing public as to the source, origin or sponsorship of the Counterfeit Products, and is
likely to deceive the public into believing that the Counterfeit Products sold by FBA Sellers and
other 3P Sellers on the Amazon Website and/or using FBA services and/or Defendants other
facilitation and fulfillment services are Plaintiffs ASOTV Products or are otherwise associated
with, or authorized by, Plaintiffs, all to the damage and detriment of Plaintiffs reputations,
goodwill and sales.
116.
counterfeiting of Plaintiffs Marks by FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers on the Amazon Website,
which have used, and are continuing to use, FBA services and/or Defendants other facilitation
and fulfillment services in connection with their manufacture, import, export, advertising,
marketing, promotion, distribution, display, offering for sale and/or sale of Counterfeit Products.
117.
Sellers and other 3P Sellers illegal, infringing and counterfeiting activities alleged herein
constitutes intentional infringement of the federally registered Plaintiffs Marks in violation of
33
32 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114 and willful counterfeiting of Plaintiffs Marks in
violation of 15 U.S.C. 1114(1)(a)-(b), 1116(d), and 1117(b)-(c).
118.
intentional counterfeiting, infringing and contributory actions alleged herein, Plaintiffs have
suffered substantial monetary loss and irreparable injury, loss and damage to their businesses and
valuable rights in and to Plaintiffs Marks and the goodwill associated therewith, in an amount as
yet unknown, but to be determined at trial, for which they have no adequate remedy at law, and
unless immediately enjoined, Defendant will continue to cause such substantial and irreparable
injury, loss and damage to Plaintiffs and their valuable Plaintiffs Marks.
119.
herein, Plaintiffs are entitled to injunctive relief, damages for the irreparable harm that Plaintiffs
have sustained, and will sustain, as a result of Defendants counterfeiting, infringing and
contributory actions alleged herein, and all gains, profits and advantages obtained by Defendant
as a result thereof, enhanced discretionary damages, as well as other remedies provided by 15
U.S.C. 1116, 1117, and 1118, and reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(False Designation of Origin, Passing Off & Unfair Competition)
[15 U.S.C. 1125(a)/Lanham Act 43(a)]
120.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
Plaintiffs, as the exclusive owners and/or licensees of all right, title and interest in
and to Plaintiffs Marks, have standing to maintain an action for false designation of origin and
unfair competition under the Federal Trademark Statute, Lanham Act 43(a) (15 U.S.C.
1125).
122.
123.
designs that are identical or confusingly or substantially similar to, and constitute reproductions
of Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works, and affixed, applied and used false designations of
origin and false and misleading descriptions and representations on or in connection with the
manufacturing, importing, exporting, advertising, marketing, promoting, distributing, displaying,
offering for sale, and/or sale of Infringing Products, with the intent to cause confusion, to cause
mistake and to deceive the purchasing public into believing, in error, that Defendants
substandard Infringing Products are Plaintiffs ASOTV Products or related products, and/or that
Defendants Infringing Products are authorized, sponsored, approved, endorsed or licensed by
Plaintiffs, and/or that Defendant is affiliated, connected or associated with Plaintiff, thereby
creating a likelihood of confusion by consumers as to the source of such Infringing Products, and
allowing Defendant to capitalize on the goodwill associated with, and the consumer recognition
of, Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works, to Defendants substantial profit in blatant disregard
of Plaintiffs rights.
124.
displaying, offering for sale, selling and/or otherwise dealing in the Infringing Products, that are
identical to, confusingly similar to or which constitute colorable imitations of Plaintiffs ASOTV
Products using marks and/or artwork that is identical and/or confusingly or substantially similar
to, or which constitute colorable imitations of, Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works,
Defendant has traded off the extensive goodwill of Plaintiffs and their ASOTV Products, and did
in fact induce, and intends, and will continue to induce, customers to purchase Infringing
Products, thereby directly and unfairly competing with Plaintiffs. Such conduct has permitted
and will continue to permit Defendant to make substantial sales and profits based on the
35
goodwill and reputation of Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs Marks, which Plaintiffs have amassed
through their nationwide marketing, advertising, sales and consumer recognition.
125.
Defendant knew, or by the exercise of reasonable care, should have known, that
its adoption and commencement of, and continuing use in commerce, and/or that the FBA
Sellers and other 3P Sellers adoption and commencement of, and continuing use in commerce
of marks and artwork that are identical or confusingly or substantially similar to and constitute
reproductions of Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works would cause confusion, mistake, or
deception among purchasers, users and the public.
126.
been knowing, deliberate, willful, intended to cause confusion, to cause mistake and to deceive
the purchasing public, and with the intent to trade on the goodwill and reputation of Plaintiffs,
their ASOTV Products and Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works.
127.
Defendant has caused irreparable injury to Plaintiffs by depriving Plaintiffs of sales of their
ASOTV Products and by depriving Plaintiffs of the value of Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs
Works as commercial assets in an amount as yet unknown, but to be determined at trial, for
which they have no adequate remedy at law, and unless immediately restrained, Defendant will
continue to cause substantial and irreparable injury to Plaintiffs and the goodwill and reputation
associated with the value of Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works.
128.
as well as monetary damages and other remedies as provided by the Lanham Act, including
damages that Plaintiffs have sustained and will sustain as a result of Defendants actions alleged
36
herein, and all gains, profits and advantages obtained by Defendant as a result thereof, enhanced
discretionary damages and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Direct Federal Copyright Infringement)
[17 U.S.C. 501(a)]
129.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
131.
Defendant had actual notice of Plaintiffs exclusive rights in and to the Plaintiffs
132.
Defendant did not attempt and failed to obtain Plaintiffs consent or authorization
Works.
to use, reproduce, copy, display, prepare derivative works of, distribute, sell, transfer, rent,
perform, and/or market Plaintiffs Works on or in connection with Infringing Products.
133.
copyright infringement alleged herein, Plaintiffs have suffered substantial, immediate and
irreparable harm in an amount as yet unknown, but to be determined at trial, for which they have
no adequate remedy at law, and unless enjoined, Defendant will continue to cause such
substantial, immediate and irreparable harm, loss and damage to Plaintiffs.
37
136.
are entitled to injunctive relief 17 U.S.C. 502, Plaintiffs actual damages and Defendants
profits in an amount to be proven at trial infringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(b) or at
Plaintiffs election, statutory damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(c) and enhanced discretionary
damages for willful copyright infringement, and reasonable attorneys fees and costs pursuant to
17 U.S.C. 505.
SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Contributory Copyright Infringement)
137.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
3P Sellers have knowingly and intentionally reproduced, copied and displayed Plaintiffs Works
by manufacturing, importing, exporting, advertising, marketing, promoting, distributing,
displaying, offering for sale and/or selling Infringing Products, which bear Plaintiffs Works, or
artwork that is, at a minimum, substantially similar to Plaintiffs Works, on the Amazon Website
and/or using FBA services. As a result, such FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers are liable for
direct copyright infringement of Plaintiffs Works under 17 U.S.C. 501(a).
139.
applications or actual through the VCAs with Plaintiffs and/or through Plaintiffs complaints
submitted through the Amazon Reporting System), of Plaintiffs rights in Plaintiffs Works,
Defendant has induced, encouraged, enabled, facilitated, participated in and/or materially
contributed to the FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers unlawful and infringing activities by
providing its Amazon Website and its FBA services, which include, without limitation:
import/export services, shipping, labeling, quality control, inventory control, pricing control,
38
Defendant had, and currently has, actual and constructive knowledge of the FBA
Sellers and other 3P Sellers unlawful and infringing activities through, among other notice:
Plaintiffs numerous complaints submitted through the Amazon Reporting System, Plaintiffs
communications with their respective Amazon Vendor Managers, the wide-spread press
coverage of the rampant infringing activities occurring on the Amazon Website and actions taken
by multiple brands to curtail the infringement occurring on the Amazon Website, which
collectively put Defendant on notice of particular Infringing Products and/or listings therefor,
and of Infringing Products and/or listings that will infringe in the future, and/or Defendant was,
and is, in the unique position of having sufficient information to identify Infringing Products and
the FBA Sellers, and many of the other 3P Sellers responsible therefor, with specificity, and to
control and monitor FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers listings, based on Defendants state of the
art sourcing, product identification and tracking abilities and FBA services.
141.
Sellers illegal, infringing activities, as well as of its own inducement, encouragement, enabling,
facilitation, participation in and/or material contribution to the same, Defendant has deliberately
or recklessly disregarded such notifications and/or such illegal, infringing and counterfeiting
activities, and/or has otherwise been willfully blind to and/or consciously avoided learning about,
the full extent of the such illegal, infringing and counterfeiting activities occurring on the
Amazon Website and/or using FBA services, and/or declined to exercise its right and ability to
stop the same.
39
142.
By providing and encouraging and incentivizing the use of its Amazon Website,
FBA services and other critical facilitation and fulfillment services to FBA Sellers and other 3P
Sellers and by encouraging competition for winning the Buy Box, thereby, inadvertently
influencing all sellers to lower prices, Defendant induced, encouraged, enabled, facilitated,
participated in and/or materially contributed to FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers unlawful and
infringing activities, including the manufacture, import, export, advertising, marketing,
promotion, distribution, display, offering for sale and/or sale of Infringing Products, and
Defendant received a direct financial benefit for providing such services.
143.
infringement of Plaintiffs Works by FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers on the Amazon Website
that use FBA services and/or Defendants other facilitation and fulfillment services in connection
with their manufacture, import, export, advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution, display,
offering for sale and/or sale of Infringing Products.
144.
are entitled to injunctive relief 17 U.S.C. 502, Plaintiffs actual damages and Defendants
profits in an amount to be proven at trial infringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(b) or at
Plaintiffs election, statutory damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(c) and enhanced discretionary
40
damages for willful copyright infringement, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs pursuant to
17 U.S.C. 505.
SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Vicarious Copyright Infringement)
146.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
3P Sellers have knowingly and intentionally reproduced, copied and displayed Plaintiffs Works
by manufacturing, importing, exporting, advertising, marketing, promoting, distributing,
displaying, offering for sale and/or selling Infringing Products, which bear Plaintiffs Works, or
artwork that is, at a minimum, substantially similar to Plaintiffs Works, on the Amazon Website
and/or using FBA services. As a result, such FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers are liable for
direct copyright infringement of Plaintiffs Works under 17 U.S.C. 501(a)
148.
carrying out its FBA Services and/or Defendants other facilitation and fulfillment services,
Defendant had the legal right and ability to control and supervise FBA Sellers and other 3P
Sellers unlawful and infringing activities occurring on the Amazon Website and/or using FBA
services and Defendant was, and is, in the unique position of having sufficient information to
identify Infringing Products and the FBA Sellers, and many of the other 3P Sellers responsible
therefor, with specificity, and to control and monitor FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers listings,
based on Defendants state of the art sourcing, product identification and tracking abilities and
FBA services.
149.
Despite having such a right and ability to control and supervise the FBA Sellers
and other 3P Sellers direct infringement of Plaintiffs Works occurring on the Amazon Website
41
and/or using FBA services, Defendant either refused and/or failed to exercise its right and ability
to stop or limit the FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers unlawful infringing activities, and as a
direct and proximate result of Defendants failure to do the same, the FBA Sellers and other 3P
Sellers are continuing to infringe Plaintiffs Works.
150.
Defendant has derived, and continues to derive, direct and substantial financial
benefits directly from FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers unlawful and infringing activities.
151.
of Plaintiffs Works by FBA Sellers and other 3P Sellers on the Amazon Website that use FBA
services and/or Defendants other facilitation and fulfillment services in connection with their
manufacture, import, export, advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution, display, offering
for sale and/or sale of Infringing Products.
152.
vicarious copyright infringement alleged herein, Plaintiffs have suffered substantial, immediate
and irreparable harm in an amount as yet unknown, but to be determined at trial, for which they
have no adequate remedy at law, and unless enjoined, Defendant will continue to cause such
substantial, immediate and irreparable harm, loss and damage to Plaintiffs.
153.
are entitled to injunctive relief 17 U.S.C. 502, Plaintiffs actual damages and Defendants
profits in an amount to be proven at trial infringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(b) or at
Plaintiffs election, statutory damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(c) and enhanced discretionary
damages for willful copyright infringement, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs pursuant to
17 U.S.C. 505.
42
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
Defendants aforementioned conduct was, and is, a willful and deliberate attempt
to mislead consumers, and constitutes the use of deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of
business, trade or commerce.
tendency to deceive and materially mislead the consuming public, and has injured, and will
continue to injure, Plaintiffs business, reputation and goodwill in violation of N.Y. Gen, Bus.
Law 349.
157.
will continue to suffer, irreparable harm for which they have no adequate remedy at law.
158.
Pursuant to N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law. 349(h), Plaintiffs are entitled to enjoin
43
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
and/or Plaintiffs Works and/or marks, and/or artwork and/or packaging designs that are identical
and/or confusingly or substantially similar to Plaintiffs Marks and/or Plaintiffs Works in
connection with the advertising, marketing, promoting, distributing, displaying, offering for sale,
selling and/or otherwise dealing in the Infringing Products, which are identical and/or
confusingly or substantially similar to Plaintiffs ASOTV Products, causing confusion, mistake
and deceiving consumers and the public as to the source, origin, sponsorship, or quality of the
Infringing Products.
161.
advertising in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce and has injured, and will continue
to injure, Plaintiffs businesses, reputations and goodwill in violation of N.Y. Gen, Bus. Law
350.
162.
will continue to suffer, irreparable harm for which they have no adequate remedy at law.
163.
Pursuant to N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law. 350(e), Plaintiffs are entitled to enjoin
44
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
displaying, offering for sale, selling and/or otherwise dealing in the Infringing Products,
Defendant has traded off the extensive goodwill of Plaintiffs and their ASOTV Products to
induce and did induce, and intends and will continue to induce customers to purchase the
Infringing Products, thereby directly competing with Plaintiffs. Such conduct has permitted, and
will continue to permit, Defendant to make substantial sales and profits based on the goodwill
and reputations of Plaintiffs, which they have amassed through nationwide marketing,
advertising, sales and consumer recognition.
166.
for sale, selling and/or otherwise dealing in the Infringing Products was and is in violation and
derogation of Plaintiffs rights and is likely to cause confusion, cause mistake and to deceive
consumers and the public as to the source, origin, sponsorship, or quality of the Infringing
Products.
167.
Defendant knew, or by the exercise of reasonable care should have known, that its
advertising, marketing, promoting, distributing, displaying, offering for sale, selling and/or
otherwise dealing in the Infringing Products and its continuing advertising, marketing,
promoting, distributing, displaying, offering for sale, selling and/or otherwise dealing in the
Infringing Products would cause confusion, cause mistake or deceive purchasers, users and the
public.
45
168.
been knowing, deliberate, willful, intended to cause confusion, to cause mistake and to deceive,
in blatant disregard of Plaintiffs rights, and for the wrongful purpose of injuring Plaintiffs and
their competitive positions while benefiting Defendant.
169.
Plaintiff has been, and will continue to be, deprived of substantial sales of Plaintiffs ASOTV
Products in an amount as yet unknown but to be determined at trial, for which Plaintiffs have no
adequate remedy at law, and Plaintiffs have been, and will continue to be, deprived of the value
of Plaintiffs Marks and Plaintiffs Works as commercial assets, in an amount as yet unknown
but to be determined at trial, for which Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law.
170.
injunctive relief, an order granting Plaintiffs damages and Defendants profits stemming from
their infringing activities, and exemplary or punitive damages for Defendants intentional
misconduct.
ELEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Unjust Enrichment)
[New York Common Law]
171.
Plaintiffs replead and incorporate by reference each and every allegation set forth
infringement, acts of deceit and otherwise would serve to unjustly enrich Defendant and would
be contrary to the interests of justice.
46
1117(a), enhanced discretionary damages under 15 U.S.C. 1117(a)(3), and treble damages in
the amount of a sum equal to three (3) times such profits or damages, whichever is greater,
pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117(b) for willfully and intentionally, directly or indirectly using a
mark or designation, knowing such mark or designation is a counterfeit mark in violation of 15
U.S.C. 1114(1)(a);
B.
discretionary damages and treble damages for the willful use of a counterfeit mark in connection
with the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of goods or services and/or for the willful
encouragement, enabling, facilitation, participation in and/or material contribution to such use,
for statutory damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117(c) in the amount of not more
than $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark per type of goods or services sold, offered for sale, or
distributed, as the court considers just, which Plaintiffs may elect prior to the rendering of final
judgment;
C.
proven at trial for willful trademark infringement and/or contributory trademark infringement of
its federally registered Plaintiffs Marks, and such other compensatory damages as the Court
determines to be fair and appropriate pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117(a);
D.
1117(a) in an amount to be proven at trial and such other compensatory damages as the Court
determines to be fair and appropriate pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117(a) for false designation of
47
For an award of damages in an amount to be proven at trial for deceptive acts and
For an award of damages to be proven at trial for common law unfair competition;
J.
K.
prohibiting Defendant, or its agents, and any employees, agents, servants, officers,
representatives, directors, attorneys, successors, affiliates, assigns, and entities owned or
controlled by Defendant, and all those in active concert or participation with Defendant, and each
of them who receives notice directly or otherwise of such injunction from:
i.
48
iii.
iv.
v.
exported,
advertised,
49
marketed,
promoted,
distributed,
exported,
advertised,
marketed,
promoted,
distributed,
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
L.
For an order of the Court requiring that Defendant destroy any and all Infringing
and/or Counterfeit Products and any and all packaging, labels, tags, advertising and promotional
materials and any other materials in Defendants possession, custody or control that infringe any
50
52