Cartier Creation Studio v. Lugano Diamonds, 8-15-CV-00838 (C.D. Cal.) (Complaint, Filed May 28, 2015)

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Cartier is suing Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry Inc. for copyright and design patent infringement related to jewelry designs.

Cartier alleges that Defendants unlawfully promote, distribute, and sell jewelry products that are imitations of Cartier's designs protected under copyright and design patent laws.

Cartier alleges that Defendants infringed Cartier's copyrights under the Copyright Act and design patents under the Patent Act.

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 1 of 15 Page ID #:1

1 Stephen Youngerman (SBN 98784)


David A. Robinson (SBN 161103)
2
[email protected]; [email protected]
3 YOUNGERMAN & McNUTT LLP
11150 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 900
4
Los Angeles, CA 90064
5 Tel: (310) 478-3780; Fax: (310) 478-3831
6
7
8
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12

John P. Margiotta (pro hac vice application forthcoming)


Jennifer Insley-Pruitt (pro hac vice application forthcoming)
[email protected]; [email protected]
FROSS ZELNICK LEHRMAN & ZISSU, P.C.
866 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 813-5900; Fax: (212) 813-5900
Attorneys for Plaintiff CARTIER CREATION STUDIO S.A.

13

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN DIVISION

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16 CARTIER CREATION STUDIO S.A.,

Civil Case No: 8:15-cv-00838

17

COMPLAINT FOR:

18
19

Plaintiff,
v.

(1) Federal Copyright Infringement,


17 U.S.C. 501;

20 LUGANO DIAMONDS & JEWELRY


INC. and DOES 1-10, inclusive
21
22

(2) Federal Design Patent


Infringement, 35 U.S.C. 271.

Defendants.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 2 of 15 Page ID #:2

Plaintiff Cartier Creation Studio S.A. (Cartier or Plaintiff), for its

2 Complaint against Defendants Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry Inc. (Lugano) and
3 Does 1-10 (together with Lugano, Defendants), alleges as follows:
4

Nature of the Action

1.

All of the claims asserted herein arise out of and are based on

6 Defendants willful infringement of Cartiers intellectual property rights, which


7 Defendants are well aware of but choose to blatantly disregard. Defendants
8 unlawfully promote, distribute, and sell jewelry products that are imitations of
9 Cartiers jewelry designs, which are protected under copyright and design patent
10 laws.
11

2.

To protect its exclusive rights, Cartier brings claims for copyright

12 infringement under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. 101, et seq. and design
13 patent infringement under Section 271 of the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. 271.
14
15

Jurisdiction and Venue


3.

This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

16 1331 and 1338.


17

4.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because, upon

18 information and belief, Luganos place of incorporation and principal place of


19 business is in California and the other Defendants are located in California.
20

5.

Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) of the United States Code in

21 that Defendants reside in this District and a substantial part of the events giving rise
22 to the claims occurred in and are directed from this District.
23
24

The Parties
6.

Plaintiff Cartier Creation Studio S.A. is a corporation organized and

25 existing under the laws of Switzerland, having a principal place of business at 8


26 Boulevard James-Fazy, 1201 Genve, Switzerland.
27

7.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry

28 Inc. is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of California,
CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 3 of 15 Page ID #:3

1 having a principal place of business at 620 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach,
2 California 92660.
3

8.

Upon information and belief, Defendants Does 1-10 are as-yet

4 unidentified entities involved in the creation, advertising, promotion, offering for


5 sale, and sale of jewelry products that are unauthorized imitations of Cartiers
6 jewelry designs.
7

Facts Common to All Claims

8 A.

The CARTIER Brand and Business

9.

Cartier is a world famous designer of fine jewelry and luxury watches

10 sold under the CARTIER brand name.


11

10.

Founded in 1847 by Louis-Franois Cartier, Cartier has built a

12 reputation for fine craftsmanship in the jewelry field. Through over 160 years of
13 use, Cartier has built its CARTIER name and mark to be synonymous with high14 quality, well-crafted jewelry. Cartiers commitment to innovation in form and
15 function, as well as its use of only the finest materials, has brought it renown as a
16 leading designer of luxury goods.
17

11.

Among Cartiers most important assets is the intellectual property

18 associated with the CARTIER brand. Among other protection, Cartier owns U.S.
19 copyright registrations covering many of its innovative jewelry and watch designs.
20 Cartier is also the owner of design patents covering certain of its unique jewelry and
21 watch designs.
22

1.

Cartiers Parrot Necklace and Related Intellectual Property Rights

23

12.

One of Cartiers distinctive items is its Parrot Necklace, which, as

24 shown in the example below, consists of a parrot featuring diamonds as feathers, an


25 emerald as the eye, and blue or green colored beads finished with a contrasting pearl
26 end-stone as plumage:
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 4 of 15 Page ID #:4

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9

13.

Plaintiff Cartier Creation Studio, S.A. owns a U.S. copyright in the

10 Parrot Necklace, U.S. Copyright Registration No. VA 1-948-843 (the Parrot


11 Necklace Copyright). A true and correct copy of U.S. Copyright Registration No.
12 VA 1-948-843 is attached as Exhibit A.
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2.

Cartiers PANTHRE DE CARTIER Line and Related Intellectual


Property Rights

14.

One of Cartiers most well-known and sought-after product ranges is

the PANTHRE range, which has long been part of Cartiers collection, beginning
in 1914 with a panther-motif ladies wristwatch. Over the ensuing decades, the
PANTHRE range has included numerous items designed and produced by Cartier
and its affiliates, including iconic panther-head jewelry designs as well as broaches,
watches, handbags, pens, sunglasses, and more.
15.

One of Cartiers PANTHRE designs is a set of earrings in the shape

of a panthers head (the PANTHRE Earrings). As shown below, the


PANTHRE Earrings feature a diamond panther head, jeweled eyes, and protruding
oval-shaped ears:

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 5 of 15 Page ID #:5

16.

Another related item in the renowned PANTHRE line is a diamond

2 and emerald ring with a two-headed panther design (the PANTHRE Ring). As
3 shown below, the PANTHRE Ring also features a fully-paved diamond panther
4 head, jeweled eyes, and protruding oval-shaped ears:
5
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12

17.

The ornamental features of the PANTHRE Earrings and the

13 PANTHRE Ring (together, the PANTHRE Design) are the subject of U.S.
14 Design Patent Number D680,024 S, issued April 16, 2013 (the PANTHRE
15 Patent). A true and correct copy of the PANTHRE Patent is attached hereto as
16 Exhibit B.
17

18.

Cartier owns all right, title, and interest in and to the PANTHRE

18 Patent through a duly recorded assignment from the inventor identified in the
19 PANTHRE Patent.
20

19.

The PANTHRE Patent is subsisting and presumed to be valid and

21 enforceable.
22 B.

Defendants Wrongful Conduct

23

20.

On information and belief, Defendants are jewelry designers and

24 retailers offering collection and custom jewelry to clients in the United States and
25 around the world. Defendants operate a retail outlet and showroom in Newport
26 Beach, California, and also display jewelry products through their website, which is
27 located at www.luganodiamonds.com.
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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 6 of 15 Page ID #:6

21.

Upon information and belief, through their retail outlets, Defendants

2 have manufactured, advertised, offered for sale, sold, distributed, imported, and/or
3 exported jewelry pieces that are substantially similar to Cartiers copyrighted Parrot
4 Necklace and patented PANTHRE Design.
5

22.

Upon information and belief, such activities are being done willfully,

6 with the knowledge that such jewelry is copied from Cartiers Parrot Necklace and
7 PANTHRE Design.
8

23.

Defendants are not related to or affiliated with Cartier in any way.

9 Defendants have not sought or received a license or authorization from Cartier for
10 any purpose whatsoever, including for the acts described herein.
11

24.

Cartier observed an imitation parrot necklace (the Parrot Infringing

12 Necklace) being advertised by Defendants through Defendants Facebook page. A


13 screenshot of the Parrot Infringing Necklace as advertised by Defendants is shown
14 below:
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 7 of 15 Page ID #:7

25.

On April 7, 2015, Cartiers agent visited Defendants showroom at 620

2 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. Cartiers agent spoke to
3 several salespeople at Defendants showroom, including an individual who
4 identified himself as a sales manager named James Bishop.
5

26.

Defendants representatives informed Cartiers agent that Defendants

6 had recently offered for sale and sold a Parrot Infringing Necklace for $68,000.00.
7

27.

As depicted in the below photos provided of the product by

8 Defendants representative, the Parrot Infringing Necklace sold by Defendants is an


9 identical copy of the Parrot Necklace, including the same unusual posture, scale and
10 proportions, the same orientation of the birds crest and of the diamond-encrusted
11 hanging loop, and the same portrayal of the birds feathers with diamonds, the eye
12 with an emerald, and the plumage with blue or green colored beads that are finished
13 with a contrasting pearl end-stone:
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Defendants Parrot Infringing Necklace

28.

Cartiers Parrot Necklace

Defendants representative further informed Cartiers agent that

24 Defendants could have another Parrot Infringing Necklace made for Cartiers agent
25 upon request. Defendants representative stated that Defendants could make
26 additional copies of other Cartier products for cheaper prices than those offered by
27 Cartier.
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 8 of 15 Page ID #:8

29.

Upon information and belief, Defendants also advertise, promote, offer

2 for sale, and sell infringing copies of Cartiers patented PANTHRE Design.
3

30.

Cartiers agent observed an infringing copy of Cartiers PANTHRE

4 Earrings offered for sale at Defendants showroom. As shown below, Defendants


5 infringing earrings (the PANTHRE Infringing Earrings) copy numerous
6 elements of the PANTHRE Earrings protected by the PANTHRE Patent,
7 including a fully paved diamond panther head with a single ring of diamonds that
8 forms the neck, set off by a collar-like ring of single diamonds bordered in white
9 gold that sits flush against the earlobe, round, jeweled eyes, protruding oval-shaped
10 ears, white-gold eye socket outlines, a subtle, white-gold cheek line that curves from
11 the eye outline toward the nose, and an angular nose with flat, non-jeweled,
12 rectangular, white-gold sides and an onyx tip:
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Defendants PANTHRE Infringing


Earrings

Cartiers PANTHRE Earrings

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31.

Cartiers agent also observed an infringing copy of Cartiers

24 PANTHRE Ring (the PANTHRE Infringing Ring, and together with the
25 PANTHRE Infringing Earrings, the PANTHRE Infringements) featuring the
26 patented PANTHRE Design listed for sale on Defendants Facebook page. As
27 shown below, Defendants infringing copy incorporates numerous elements of the
28 PANTHRE Ring protected by the PANTHRE Patent, including a paved-diamond
CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 9 of 15 Page ID #:9

1 panther head, jeweled eyes, protruding oval-shaped ears, white-gold eye socket
2 outlines and an onyx nose:
3
4
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6
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Defendants PANTHRE Infringing


Ring

Cartiers PANTHRE Ring

11
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32.

Upon information and belief, Defendants know, and at all relevant

13 times knew, that the products they are selling are substantially similar to Cartiers
14 protected jewelry products, and they advertise them as such.
15

33.

Indeed, Defendants have actual knowledge of Cartiers rights. On or

16 about May 8, 2015, Cartiers counsel sent a letter to Lugano concerning Defendants
17 infringement, and requested that Defendants immediately cease their unlawful
18 activities.
19

34.

Notwithstanding the fact that Defendants are on actual notice of

20 Cartiers exclusive rights, Defendants have, upon information and belief, continued
21 to advertise their Parrot Infringing Necklace on their Facebook page.
22

35.

Upon information and belief, Defendants activity described herein is

23 intentionally fraudulent, malicious, willful, and wanton.


24

36.

Upon information and belief, Defendants infringement of Cartiers

25 intellectual property rights is serial and ongoing and goes far beyond that described
26 herein.
27

37.

Upon information and belief, Defendants sale of infringing products is

28 unjustly enriching Defendants.


CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 10 of 15 Page ID #:10

38.

Defendants unauthorized acts as described herein have caused and will

2 continue to cause irreparable damage to Cartier and its business unless restrained by
3 this Court.
4

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF:

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IN VIOLATION OF 17 U.S.C. 501

39.

Cartier repeats and incorporates by reference the allegations of

7 paragraph 1 through 38 as set forth herein.


8

40.

The Parrot Necklace is an original and creative work of Cartier

9 Creation Studio S.A. Cartier Creation Studio S.A. is the owner of the Parrot
10 Necklace and the exclusive owner of the Parrot Necklace Copyright.
11

41.

Defendants, without Cartiers authorization or consent, have

12 manufactured, imported, displayed, advertised, reproduced, distributed, exported,


13 offered for sale, and/or sold jewelry products incorporating designs that were copied
14 from and are substantially similar in overall appearance to the Parrot Necklace.
15

42.

Defendants thereby have violated and, upon information and belief,

16 continue to violate, Cartiers exclusive rights in the Parrot Necklace and the Parrot
17 Necklace Copyright under Section 106 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 106, in
18 violation of Section 501 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 501.
19

43.

Upon information and belief, Defendants aforesaid conduct has been

20 undertaken knowingly, willfully, and in bad faith.


21

44.

Defendants infringement of Cartiers exclusive rights in its works has

22 caused Cartier damage, and has enabled Defendants to profit illegally therefrom.
23

45.

Defendants copyright infringement has caused, and unless enjoined by

24 this Court, will continue to cause, Cartier to sustain irreparable damage, loss, and
25 injury, for which Cartier has no adequate remedy at law.
26
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 11 of 15 Page ID #:11

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF:

DESIGN PATENT INFRINGEMENT IN VIOLATION OF 35 U.S.C. 271

46.

Cartier repeats and incorporates by reference the allegations of

4 paragraph 1 through 45 as set forth herein.


5

47.

Cartier owns U.S. Design Patent No. D680,024 S, which is valid and

6 subsisting.
7

48.

Defendants, without authorization from Cartier, have distributed,

8 advertised, promoted, offered for sale and sold jewelry that is a studied imitation of
9 and is substantially similar in overall appearance to the design set forth in U.S. Design
10 Patent No. D680,024 S and embodies the design protected by such patent.
11

49.

Defendants knock-offs of the PANTHRE Design appropriate the novel

12 ornamental features set forth in U.S. Design Patent No. D680,024 S such that an
13 ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, would find
14 Cartiers and Defendants designs to be substantially the same and would find the two
15 designs to resemble each other sufficiently to be deceived and to be induced to
16 purchase one supposing it to be the other.
17

50.

By the foregoing acts, Defendants have directly infringed, infringed

18 under the doctrine of equivalents, contributorily infringed, and/or induced


19 infringement of, and continues to so infringe, the PANTHRE Patent.
20

51.

Upon information and belief, Defendants foregoing acts of

21 infringement have been willful, intentional, in bad faith, and with knowledge of
22 Cartiers exclusive patent rights.
23

52.

Defendants conduct violates Section 271 of the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C.

24 271 and has caused and is causing substantial irreparable harm to Cartier. Cartier
25 has no adequate remedy at law.
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 12 of 15 Page ID #:12

1
2

PRAYER FOR RELIEF


WHEREFORE, Cartier respectfully requests judgment against Defendants as

3 follows:
4

1.

Declaring, adjudging, and decreeing that Defendants are liable to

5 Cartier for copyright infringement in violation of 17 U.S.C. 501;


6
2.
Declaring, adjudging, and decreeing that Defendants are liable to
7
Cartier for design patent infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271;
8
3.
Preliminarily and permanently enjoining Defendants, their officers,
9
10 agents, successors and assigns, servants, employees and attorneys, and any and all
11 persons in active concert or participation with any of whom receive notice of such
12 judgment directly or otherwise, from directly or indirectly infringing Cartiers rights
13 in the Parrot Necklace, the PANTHRE Design, and any other intellectual property
14 owned by Cartier, and specifically from:
15

(i)

infringing Cartiers Parrot Necklace Copyright, including

16 without limitation by manufacturing, importing, distributing, advertising, promoting


17 and/or selling the Parrot Infringing Necklace or any other materials embodying
18 copies of the Parrot Necklace or that are substantially similar to the Parrot Necklace;
19

(ii)

imitating, copying, or making unauthorized use of, or otherwise

20 infringing or inducing infringement of, the PANTHRE Patent;


21

(iii)

transferring, consigning, destroying or selling any goods in

22 Defendants possession, custody or control infringing Cartiers Parrot Necklace


23 Copyright or bearing a design or other indicia substantially identical or similar to the
24 PANTHRE Design;
25

(iv)

disposing, destroying, altering, moving, removing, concealing,

26 tampering with, or in any manner secreting any business records (including


27 computer records) of any kind including invoices, correspondence, books of
28 account, receipts, or other documentation relating or referring in any manner to the
CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 13 of 15 Page ID #:13

1 manufacture, advertising, receiving, acquisition, importation, promotion, display,


2 purchase, sale, offer for sale or distribution of any merchandise infringing the Parrot
3 Necklace Copyright or the PANTHRE Patent;
4

(v)

engaging in any other activity constituting an infringement of the

5 Parrot Necklace Copyright or the PANTHRE Patent;


6

(vi)

instructing, assisting, or authorizing any third party to engage in

7 any of the actions prohibited by subparagraphs (i) through (v) above;


8

4.

Directing that Defendants make available to Cartier for review,

9 inspection and copying, all books, records (including all hard drives on computers
10 used for business purposes, including servers, as well as all computer discs and
11 backup discs) and other documents concerning all transactions relating to the
12 importation, promotion, advertising, display, offering for sale, or sale of any product
13 infringing of the Parrot Necklace Copyright, the PANTHRE Patent, and any other
14 intellectual property owned by Cartier, and provide Cartier the names, addresses and
15 all other contact information in their possession, including telephone and fax
16 numbers for (a) the source of such products including all manufacturers, distributors
17 and/or suppliers, and (b) all persons or entities to whom Defendants have sold,
18 distributed or supplied such products.
19

5.

That Defendants be ordered to deliver up to Cartiers attorneys for

20 destruction all materials in their possession or control infringing the Parrot Necklace
21 Copyright, the PANTHRE Patent, and any other intellectual property owned by
22 Cartier, as well as all means for manufacturing them;
23
6.
That Defendants, at their own expense, be directed to recall the Parrot
24
Infringing Necklace, the PANTHRE Infringements, and any other products
25
infringing intellectual property owned by Cartier from any distributors, retailers,
26
vendors or others to whom they have distributed such products, and that Defendants
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destroy or deliver up to Cartier for destruction all materials returned to them;
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 14 of 15 Page ID #:14

7.

That Defendants be directed to file with the Court and serve upon

2 Cartiers counsel within thirty (30) days after entry of judgment a report in writing
3 under oath, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied
4 with the above;
5

8.

That Cartier recover from Defendants all damages sustained by Cartier,

6 in consequence of Defendants copyright infringement and patent infringement


7 described above, and trebling such damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;
8
9
10
11
12

9.

That Defendants be ordered to account to Cartier and to pay Cartier for

all the gains, profits, savings, and advantages realized by Defendants from their acts
of copyright infringement and patent infringement described above;
10.

That, should Cartier so elect, it be awarded statutory damages within

13 the provisions of Section 504(c) of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 504(c), instead of
14 an award of actual damages or profits;
15

11.

That Cartier be awarded its full costs, including, as part of such costs,

16 reasonable attorneys fees pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505 and 35 U.S.C. 285;


17

12.

That Cartier be awarded interest, including pre-judgment interest on the

18 foregoing sums pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284; and


19
13.
That Cartier be granted such other and further relief as may be
20
equitable and just.
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COMPLAINT

Case 8:15-cv-00838-DOC-AGR Document 1 Filed 05/28/15 Page 15 of 15 Page ID #:15

1
2 Dated: May 28, 2015
3

Respectfully submitted,
YOUNGERMAN & McNUTT LLP
Stephen Youngerman
David A. Robinson

4
5
6

-and-

FROSS ZELNICK LEHRMAN & ZISSU, P.C.


John P. Margiotta
Jennifer Insley-Pruitt

8
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10

By: /Stephen Youngerman/


Stephen Youngerman

11
12

Attorneys for Plaintiff Cartier Creation Studio S.A.

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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838

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COMPLAINT

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