SAN DIEGO — A clothing manufacturer has filed suit against another company for alleged trademark infringement on two brands of running shorts.
AAF Nation LLC filed a complaint on Aug. 12 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against M.J. Soffe LLC, alleging that the Maryland company intentionally committed acts of unfair competition.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on March 13, 2015, AAF Nation LLC had filed for a trademark for its two brands of men’s versatile running shorts known as Semper Silkies and Ranger Panties, but the defendant purportedly opposed the Ranger Marks and competed with the plaintiff by using the plaintiff's Ranger marks for its own products. As a direct result of the defendant’s alleged trademark infringement, the plaintiff claims to have suffered substantial profit losses and irreparable injury to its business reputation and goodwill. The plaintiff holds M.J. Soffe LLC responsible because the defendant allegedly caused confusion among buyers and obtained profit and benefits instead of the plaintiff.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks a permanent injunction to stop the use of the trademark by the defendant, judgment against the defendant, damages, interest, opposition Nos. 91225613 and 91225278 to be dismissed and registrations for the plaintiff's Ranger marks to be allowed to proceed to registration, restitution and further relief as the court may deem appropriate. It is represented by Andrew D. Skale and Natalie A. Prescott of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California Case number 3:16-cv-02048