Cartier Creation Studio v. Lugano Diamonds, 8-15-CV-00838 (C.D. Cal.) (Complaint, Filed May 28, 2015)
Cartier Creation Studio v. Lugano Diamonds, 8-15-CV-00838 (C.D. Cal.) (Complaint, Filed May 28, 2015)
Cartier Creation Studio v. Lugano Diamonds, 8-15-CV-00838 (C.D. Cal.) (Complaint, Filed May 28, 2015)
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16 CARTIER CREATION STUDIO S.A.,
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COMPLAINT FOR:
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Plaintiff,
v.
Defendants.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT
2 Complaint against Defendants Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry Inc. (Lugano) and
3 Does 1-10 (together with Lugano, Defendants), alleges as follows:
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1.
All of the claims asserted herein arise out of and are based on
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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.
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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.
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The Parties
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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
1 having a principal place of business at 620 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach,
2 California 92660.
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8.
8 A.
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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.
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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.
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1.
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COMPLAINT
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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.
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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT
16.
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:
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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.
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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.
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21 enforceable.
22 B.
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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
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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.
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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.
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9 Defendants have not sought or received a license or authorization from Cartier for
10 any purpose whatsoever, including for the acts described herein.
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24.
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COMPLAINT
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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.
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6 had recently offered for sale and sold a Parrot Infringing Necklace for $68,000.00.
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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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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT
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2 for sale, and sell infringing copies of Cartiers patented PANTHRE Design.
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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
1 panther head, jeweled eyes, protruding oval-shaped ears, white-gold eye socket
2 outlines and an onyx nose:
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13 times knew, that the products they are selling are substantially similar to Cartiers
14 protected jewelry products, and they advertise them as such.
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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.
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20 Cartiers exclusive rights, Defendants have, upon information and belief, continued
21 to advertise their Parrot Infringing Necklace on their Facebook page.
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25 intellectual property rights is serial and ongoing and goes far beyond that described
26 herein.
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COMPLAINT
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2 continue to cause irreparable damage to Cartier and its business unless restrained by
3 this Court.
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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.
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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.
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22 caused Cartier damage, and has enabled Defendants to profit illegally therefrom.
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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.
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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT
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Cartier owns U.S. Design Patent No. D680,024 S, which is valid and
6 subsisting.
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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.
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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.
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21 infringement have been willful, intentional, in bad faith, and with knowledge of
22 Cartiers exclusive patent rights.
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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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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT
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3 follows:
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(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
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COMPLAINT
(v)
(vi)
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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.
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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;
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That Defendants, at their own expense, be directed to recall the Parrot
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Infringing Necklace, the PANTHRE Infringements, and any other products
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infringing intellectual property owned by Cartier from any distributors, retailers,
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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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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT
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;
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all the gains, profits, savings, and advantages realized by Defendants from their acts
of copyright infringement and patent infringement described above;
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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;
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That Cartier be awarded its full costs, including, as part of such costs,
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COMPLAINT
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2 Dated: May 28, 2015
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Respectfully submitted,
YOUNGERMAN & McNUTT LLP
Stephen Youngerman
David A. Robinson
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CIVIL CASE NO: 8:15-cv-00838
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COMPLAINT