Levi Strauss v. Vineyard Vines - Complaint
Levi Strauss v. Vineyard Vines - Complaint
Levi Strauss v. Vineyard Vines - Complaint
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20 Plaintiff Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) complains against Defendant Vineyard Vines, LLC
23 1. Plaintiff LS&Co.s first, second, and third claims arise under the Trademark Act
24 of 1946 (the Lanham Act), as amended by the Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C.
25 1051, et seq.). This Court has jurisdiction over such claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1338(a) and
26 1338(b) (trademark and unfair competition), 28 U.S.C. 1331 (federal question), and 15 U.S.C.
27 1121 (Lanham Act). This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims
1 2. LS&Co. is informed and believes that venue is proper in this Court under 28 U.S.C.
2 1391(b) because Vineyard Vines transacts affairs in this district and because a substantial part of the
3 events giving rise to the claims asserted arose in this district.
4 3. Intra-district assignment to any division of the Northern District is proper under Local
5 Rule 3-2(c) and the Assignment Plan of this Court as an Intellectual Property Action.
6 PARTIES
7 4. LS&Co. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at Levis Plaza,
8 1155 Battery Street, San Francisco, California 94111. Operating since approximately the 1850s,
9 LS&Co. is one of the oldest and best known apparel companies in the world. It manufactures,
10 markets, and sells a variety of apparel, including its traditional LEVIS brand products.
11 5. LS&Co. is informed and believes that defendant Vineyard Vines is a Connecticut
12 limited liability company with its principal place of business at 181 Harbor Drive, Stamford,
13 Connecticut 06902. LS&Co. is informed and believes that Vineyard Vines manufactures, distributes,
14 and/or sells, or has manufactured, distributed, and/or sold, jeans and pants under the brand name
15 Vineyard Vines, which are offered for sale and sold throughout the United States, including in this
16 judicial district. LS&Co. is further informed and believes that Vineyard Vines has authorized,
17 directed, and/or actively participated in the wrongful conduct alleged herein.
18 FACTS AND ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS
19 LS&Co.s Tab Trademark
20 6. LS&Co. marks its LEVIS brand products with a set of trademarks that are famous
21 around the world. For many years prior to the events giving rise to this Complaint and continuing
22 to the present, LS&Co. annually has spent great amounts of time, money, and effort advertising and
23 promoting the products on which its trademarks are used and has sold many millions of these products
24 all over the world, including throughout the United States and in California. Through these invest-
25 ments and large sales, LS&Co. has created considerable goodwill and a reputation for quality
26 products. LS&Co. continuously has used these trademarks, some for well over a century, to
27 distinguish its products.
28 / / /
1 7. Most of LS&Co.s trademarks are federally registered; all are in full force and effect,
2 valid and protectable, and exclusively owned by LS&Co. LS&Co. continuously has used each of its
3 trademarks, from the registration date or earlier, until the present and during all time periods relevant
4 to LS&Co.s claims.
5 8. Among its marks, LS&Co. owns the famous Tab Device Trademark (the Tab trade-
6 mark), which consists of a textile marker or other material sewn into one of the regular structural
7 seams of the garment. LS&Co. uses the Tab trademark on LEVIS jeans and pants, and a variety
8 of other clothing products.
9 9. LS&Co. began to display the Tab trademark on the rear pocket of its pants in 1936
10 when its then National Sales Manager, Leo Christopher Lucier, proposed placing a folded cloth ribbon
11 in the structural seams of the rear pocket. The purpose of this tab was to provide sight identifica-
12 tion of LS&Co.s products. Given the distinctiveness of the Tab trademark, Mr. Lucier asserted that
13 no other maker of overalls can have any other purpose in putting a colored tab on an outside patch
14 pocket, unless for the express and sole purpose of copying our mark, and confusing the customer.
15 10. LS&Co. owns, among others, the following United States Registrations for its Tab
16 trademark, attached as Exhibit A. These registrations have become incontestable under the provisions
17 of 15 U.S.C. 1065.
18 a. Registration No. 356,701 (first used as early as September 1, 1936;
19 registered May 10, 1938);
20 b. Registration No. 516,561 (first used as early as September 1, 1936;
21 registered October 18, 1949);
22 c. Registration No. 577,490 (first used as early as September 1, 1936;
23 registered July 21, 1953);
24 d. Registration No. 774,625 (first used as early as May 22, 1963; registered
25 August 4, 1964);
26 e. Registration No. 775,412 (first used as early as October 9, 1957;
27 registered August 18, 1964); and
28 / / /
1 SECOND CLAIM
FEDERAL UNFAIR COMPETITION
2 (False Designation of Origin and False Description)
(15 U.S.C. 1125(a); Lanham Act 43(a))
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4 24. LS&Co. realleges and incorporates by reference each of the allegations contained in
5 paragraphs 1 through 23 of this Complaint.
6 25. Vineyard Vines use of the Vineyard Vines Tab tends falsely to describe its products
7 within the meaning of 15 U.S.C. 1125(a)(1). Vineyard Vines conduct is likely to cause confusion,
8 mistake, or deception by or in the public as to the affiliation, connection, association, origin, sponsor-
9 ship, or approval of Vineyard Vines products to the detriment of LS&Co. and in violation of
10 15 U.S.C. 1125(a)(1).
11 26. As a direct and proximate result of Vineyard Vines infringing activities, LS&Co.
12 is entitled to recover Vineyard Vines unlawful profits and LS&Co.s substantial damages under
13 15 U.S.C. 1117(a).
14 27. Vineyard Vines infringement of LS&Co.s Tab trademark is an exceptional case and
15 was intentional, entitling LS&Co. to treble the amount of its damages and Vineyard Vines profits,
16 and to an award of attorneys fees under 15 U.S.C. 1117(a).
17 28. LS&Co. is entitled to injunctive relief pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1116(a).
18 THIRD CLAIM
FEDERAL DILUTION OF FAMOUS MARKS
19 (Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006)
(15 U.S.C. 1125(c); Lanham Act 43(c))
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21 29. LS&Co. realleges and incorporates by reference each of the allegations contained in
22 paragraphs 1 through 28 of this Complaint.
23 30. LS&Co.s Tab trademark is distinctive and famous within the meaning of the
24 Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006, 15 U.S.C. 1125(c), and was distinctive and famous
25 prior to Vineyard Vines conduct as alleged in this Complaint.
26 31. Vineyard Vines conduct is likely to cause dilution of LS&Co.s Tab trademark by
27 diminishing its distinctiveness in violation of the Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006, 15 U.S.C.
28 1125(c).
1 32. LS&Co. is entitled to injunctive relief pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1116(a) and 1125(c).
2 FOURTH CLAIM
CALIFORNIA TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND DILUTION
3 (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 14245, 14247, 14250)
4 33. LS&Co. realleges and incorporates by reference each of the allegations contained in
5 paragraphs 1 through 32 of this Complaint.
6 34. Vineyard Vines infringement of LS&Co.s Tab trademark is likely to cause consumer
7 confusion and dilution of LS&Co.s marks in violation of California Business & Professions Code
8 sections 14245 and 14247.
9 35. Vineyard Vines infringed and diluted LS&Co.s Tab trademark with knowledge and
10 intent to cause confusion, mistake, or deception.
11 36. Vineyard Vines conduct is aggravated by that kind of willfulness, wantonness, malice,
12 and conscious indifference to the rights and welfare of LS&Co. for which California law allows the
13 imposition of exemplary damages.
14 37. Pursuant to California Business & Professions Code sections 14247 and 14250,
15 LS&Co. is entitled to injunctive relief and damages in the amount of three times Vineyard Vines
16 profits and three times all damages suffered by LS&Co. by reason of Vineyard Vines manufacture,
17 use, display, or sale of infringing goods.
18 FIFTH CLAIM
CALIFORNIA UNFAIR COMPETITION
19 (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17200)
20 38. LS&Co. realleges and incorporates by reference each of the allegations contained in
21 paragraphs 1 through 37 of this Complaint.
22 39. Vineyard Vines conduct as alleged in this Complaint constitutes unlawful, unfair or
23 fraudulent business act[s] or practice[s] and unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising within
24 the meaning of California Business & Professions Code section 17200.
25 40. As a consequence of Vineyard Vines actions, LS&Co. is entitled to injunctive relief
26 preventing the conduct alleged in this Complaint.
27 / / /
28 / / /
1 11. Order an accounting of and impose a constructive trust on all of Vineyard Vines funds
2 and assets that arise out of its infringing activities;
3 12. Adjudge that LS&Co. be awarded its costs and disbursements incurred in connection
4 with this action, including LS&Co.s reasonable attorneys fees and investigative expenses; and
5 13. Adjudge that all such other relief be awarded to LS&Co. as this Court deems just and
6 proper.
7
11 By:
/s/ Ryan Bricker
12 Ryan Bricker
13 Attorneys for Plaintiff
LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
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/s/ Ryan Bricker
8 Ryan Bricker
9 Attorneys for Plaintiff
LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
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EXHIBIT A
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-1 Filed 09/29/17 Page 2 of 7
Exhibit A-1
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Exhibit A-2
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Exhibit A-3
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Exhibit A-4
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Exhibit A-5
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-1 Filed 09/29/17 Page 7 of 7
Exhibit A-6
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 1 of 9
EXHIBIT B
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 2 of 9
Exhibit B-1
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 3 of 9
Exhibit B-2
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 4 of 9
Exhibit B-3
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 5 of 9
Exhibit B-4
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 6 of 9
Exhibit B-5
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 7 of 9
Exhibit B-6
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Exhibit B-7
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-2 Filed 09/29/17 Page 9 of 9
Exhibit B-8
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 1 of 9
EXHIBIT C
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 2 of 9
Exhibit C-1
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 3 of 9
Exhibit C-2
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 4 of 9
Exhibit C-3
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 5 of 9
Exhibit C-4
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 6 of 9
Exhibit C-5
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 7 of 9
Exhibit C-6
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 8 of 9
Exhibit C-7
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-3 Filed 09/29/17 Page 9 of 9
Exhibit C-8
Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-4 Filed 09/29/17 Page 1 of 2
CIVIL COVER SHEET
JS-CAND 44 (Rev. 06/17)
The JS-CAND 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 in its original form by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the Clerk of
Court to initiate the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS
LEVI STRAUSS & CO., a Delaware corporation VINEYARD VINES, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff San Francisco County County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
(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)
Gregory S. Gilchrist | Gia L. Cincone | Ryan Bricker | Calla E. Yee
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1900
San Francisco, California 94111 | Telephone: (415) 576-0200
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)
PTF DEF PTF DEF
1 U.S. Government Plaintiff 3 Federal Question Citizen of This State 1 1 Incorporated or Principal Place 4 4
(U.S. Government Not a Party)
of Business In This State
Citizen of Another State 2 2 Incorporated and Principal Place 5 5
2 U.S. Government Defendant 4 Diversity of Business In Another State
(Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III)
Citizen or Subject of a 3 3 Foreign Nation 6 6
Foreign Country
VI. CAUSE OF Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.
ACTION
Brief description of cause:
Trademark infringement, unfair competition, and dilution; injunctive relief sought.
VII. REQUESTED IN CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND $ CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint:
COMPLAINT: UNDER RULE 23, Fed. R. Civ. P. JURY DEMAND: Yes No
DATE September 29, 2017 SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD /s/ Ryan Bricker
JS-CAND 44 (rev. 07/16) Case 4:17-cv-05652-DMR Document 1-4 Filed 09/29/17 Page 2 of 2
Authority For Civil Cover Sheet. The JS-CAND 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 in its original form by the Judicial
Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the Clerk of Court to initiate 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 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), 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.
(1) United States plaintiff. Jurisdiction based on 28 USC 1345 and 1348. Suits by agencies and officers of the United States are included here.
(2) United States defendant. When the plaintiff is suing the United States, its officers or agencies, place an X in this box.
(3) Federal question. This refers to suits under 28 USC 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.
(4) Diversity of citizenship. This refers to suits under 28 USC 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-CAND 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.
V. Origin. Place an X in one of the six boxes.
(1) Original Proceedings. Cases originating in the United States district courts.
(2) Removed from State Court. Proceedings initiated in state courts may be removed to the district courts under Title 28 USC 1441. When the
petition for removal is granted, check this box.
(3) Remanded from Appellate Court. Check this box for cases remanded to the district court for further action. Use the date of remand as the filing
date.
(4) Reinstated or Reopened. Check this box for cases reinstated or reopened in the district court. Use the reopening date as the filing date.
(5) Transferred from Another District. For cases transferred under Title 28 USC 1404(a). Do not use this for within district transfers or
multidistrict litigation transfers.
(6) Multidistrict Litigation Transfer. Check this box when a multidistrict case is transferred into the district under authority of Title 28 USC
1407. When this box is checked, do not check (5) above.
(8) Multidistrict Litigation Direct File. Check this box when a multidistrict litigation case is filed in the same district as the Master MDL docket.
Please note that there is no Origin Code 7. Origin Code 7 was used for historical records and is no longer relevant due to changes in statute.
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 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23.
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-CAND 44 is used to identify related pending cases, if any. If there are related pending cases, insert the docket
numbers and the corresponding judge names for such cases.
IX. Divisional Assignment. If the Nature of Suit is under Property Rights or Prisoner Petitions or the matter is a Securities Class Action, leave this
section blank. For all other cases, identify the divisional venue according to Civil Local Rule 3-2: the county in which a substantial part of the
events or omissions which give rise to the claim occurred or in which a substantial part of the property that is the subject of the action is situated.
Date and Attorney Signature. Date and sign the civil cover sheet.