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COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC (Pride), for its Complaint for
Declaratory Judgement against Defendant Evolve Golf, Inc. (Evolve Golf), alleges as follows:
Nature of the Action
1.
invalidity of a United States design patent, a United States registered trademark, and other
federal, state, and common law claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition. It is
brought pursuant to the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. 2201-02, the patent laws of the
United States, 35 U.S.C. 1 et seq., and the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., and for such
further and other relief as the Court deems just and proper.
The Parties
2.
corporation with a principal place of business at 15 Court 5 NW Dr., Carolina Shores, NC,
28467.
In a letter dated July 21, 2015 to Mr. Joe Zeller (the July 21 Letter), Sara
Bauer, self-identified counsel for Evolve Golf, asserted that Evolve Golf owned design patent
U.S. Patent No. D502,972 (the 972 Patent) and U.S. Trademark Registration No. 3280419
(the 419 Mark) for EVOLVEGOLF. A true and correct copy of the 972 Patent is attached as
Exhibit A. A true and correct copy of the 419 Mark is attached as Exhibit B.
5.
6.
The July 21 Letter stated that Pride was selling and marketing nearly
identical composite golf tees under the mark EVOLUTION . . . . Like Evolves tees, your
EVOLUTION-branded tees are a composite tee which feature four raised posts that hold the ball
to reduce friction. Like Evolves tees, your EVOLUTION-branded tees feature colored stripes
on the shaft to indicate the perfect tee height. As such, your product appears virtually identical
to Evolves golf tees.
7.
The July 21 Letter further states that [t]he striking similarities between the
marks EVOLUTION and EVOLVE, together with the similarities in the design of these
products, is causing customer confusion.
8.
intellectual property.
intentional trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal, state and
common law.
9.
immediately [c]ease any and all use of the mark EVOLUTION and [c]ease use of the fourpost golf tee design currently used.
-2-
10.
Evolve Golf followed up on the July 21 Letter with another letter from Sara
Bauer to Ira Edell, counsel for Pride, dated October 23, 2015. This letter maintained Evolve
Golfs demands upon Pride.
11.
Pride has not infringed and does not infringe any valid claims of the 972
12.
Pride has not infringed and does not infringe the 419 Mark.
13.
Pride has not and does not violate any federal, state, or common law
Patent.
Evolve Golfs July 21 Letter and included assertions, along with the October
23, 2015 follow up letter, provide a substantial controversy between parties having adverse legal
interests, of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of a declaratory judgment.
Jurisdiction and Venue
15.
1338(a), 2201, and 2202, the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 1, et seq., and the
Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051, et seq. Evolve Golf purports to be the owner of all rights to the
972 Patent, the 419 Mark and other federal, state, and common law trademarks. Pride has not
infringed, and does not infringe, any valid and enforceable claim of the 972 Patent, the 419
Mark, or any other trademark owned by Evolve Golf. A substantial controversy exists between
the parties which is of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant declaratory relief.
16.
This Court has personal jurisdiction over Evolve Golf in this action as
Evolve Golf is a corporation organized under and subject to the laws of Delaware.
17.
This Court also has personal jurisdiction over Evolve Golf as Evolve Golf
has contacts with this forum sufficient to satisfy specific or general jurisdiction under the
Delaware Long-Arm Statute (10 Del. C. 3104(c)) and the Due Process Clause. In addition to
-3-
being incorporated in Delaware, Evolve Golf does substantial business in Delaware and, on
information and belief, sells substantial products through retailers in Delaware such as Golfsmith
at 60 Goeffrey Drive, Newark, DE 19713; Dicks Sporting Goods, 1000 Brandywine Parkway,
Wilmington, DE 19803; Golf Galaxy, 1295 New Churchmans Road, Newark DE 19713; and
Dicks Sporting Goods, 100 Center Drive Christiana Center, Newark, DE 19702.
18.
Count One
Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement of the 972 Patent
19.
Pride has not infringed and does not infringe any valid and enforceable
substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of declaratory
judgment.
22.
The 972 Patent is invalid for failure to meet the conditions of patentability
or otherwise comply with the provisions of one or more of 35 U.S.C. 100 et seq.
-4-
25.
substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of declaratory
judgment.
26.
29.
substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of declaratory
judgment.
30. A judicial declaration is necessary and appropriate so that Pride may
ascertain its rights with respect to the 419 Mark.
Count Four
Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement of Any Federal, State, or Common Law
Trademark Rights and No Unfair Competition with EVOLVEGOLF and EVOLVE
31.
Pride has not infringed any Federal, State or Common Law Trademark
substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of declaratory
judgment.
-5-
34.
ascertain its rights with respect to the asserted federal, state, and common law rights to
EVOLVEGOLF and EVOLVE.
Prayer for Relief
WHEREFOR, Pride prays for judgment as follows:
A. a declaration that Pride has not infringed and does not infringe any claim of
the 972 Patent;
B. a declaration that the claim of the 972 Patent is invalid;
C. a declaration that Pride has not infringed and does not infringe the 419 Mark;
D. a declaration that the 419 mark is unenforceable
E. a declaration that Pride has not infringed and does not infringe any federal,
state, or common law trademark right and has not competed unfairly with EVOLVEGOLF and
EVOLVE.
F. a finding that this case is an exceptional case, and award Pride its attorneys
fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 285;
G. an award of Pride its costs and expenses; and
H. such further and other relief as this Court deems just and equitable.
Demand for Jury Trial
Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Pride hereby
demands a trial by jury for all issues so triable.
-6-
-7-
EXHIBIT A
(54)
GOLF TEE
638,920 A
702,078 A
D67,255 S
1,638,527 A
8/1927 Clausing ..
1,645,001 A
1,670,627 A
*
2,011,203 A
473/402
8/2000 Haggarty
6,139,449 A
6,231,970 B1
10/2000 Cardarelli
5/2001 Andersen et al.
6,280,350 B1
8/2001 Chung
6,319,156 B1
11/2001 Alexsen
6,344,003 B1
2/2002 Choung
6,454,669 B1
9/2002 James
D485,318 S
* cited by examiner
Sajovec
CLAIM
design;
3,203,700
8/1965
3,954,263 A
8/1978
11/1988
2/1992
10/1992
7/1995
11/1996
11/1997
11/1997
*
8/1935 Seiki
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
1/2004
5/1928 Lowell
2,455,705 A
D161,602 S
D393,301 S
1/2000 Pan-Chung
6,053,822 A
6,062,990 A
DESCRIPTION
5/1925
4,103,888
4,783,077
5,085,438
5,154,417
5,431,392
5,571,054
5,683,313
5,690,563
6,010,413 A
1/1925 Pryde
*
1,681,391 A
6/1998 SrocZynski
12/1998 KakiZaWa
6/1999 Terado et al.
12/1899 Grant
6/1902 Stockder, Jr.
1,522,544 A
5,759,118 A
(57)
5,844,066 A
5,914,381 A
6,110,059 A
(56)
US 0502,972 s
4/1998
Antonious
......
. . . ..
473/257
Ricketts
Lemon
Takeno
Kohli
Carson et al.
Chantal
Disco et al.
Gammon
Koskela ................... .. D21/718
U.S. Patent
Mar. 15,2005
Sheet 1 0f 7
US D502,972 S
U.S. Patent
Mar. 15,2005
Sheet 2 0f 7
FIG. 2
US D502,972 S
U.S. Patent
Mar. 15,2005
Sheet 3 0f 7
H6. 3
US D502,972 S
U.S. Patent
Mar. 15,2005
Sheet 4 0f 7
FIG. 4
US D502,972 S
U.S. Patent
Mar. 15,2005
Sheet 5 0f 7
US D502,972 S
U.S. Patent
Mar. 15,2005
Sheet 7 0f 7
FIG. 7
US D502,972 S
EXHIBIT B
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