Buy cheap website traffic

Atari Loses IP Suit Against Online Marketplace – Intellectual Property


United States:

Atari Loses IP Suit Against Online Marketplace


To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

On November 4, 2021, a California federal jury found that
Redbubble did not infringe any of videogame maker Atari’s
trademarks or copyrights, in a case that may affect future
infringement suits against online retailers that permit users to
sell products on their platforms. The case dates to 2018 when Atari
filed its complaint alleging that Redbubble knowingly infringed
upon Atari’s intellectual property rights by creating,
manufacturing, and distributing counterfeit Atari clothing and
printed materials. Redbubble hosts an online store platform where
artists can upload designs that are printed on apparel, homeware,
or other accessories, and sold through the artist’s Redbubble
storefront. Atari’s complaint included claims of trademark
infringement and counterfeiting, copyright infringement, trademark
dilution, contributory copyright and trademark infringement, and
vicarious copyright and trademark infringement, due to the sale of
t-shirts, and other apparel and merchandise, that featured the
iconic Atari logo and designs that featured famous Atari games such
as Pong and Asteroids.

In January 2021, on motions for summary judgment, Atari failed
to convince the court that there were sufficient facts to prove
that Redbubble had “sold” goods that infringed
Atari’s trademarks, or that Redbubble had instigated any
copying, storage, or distribution of images that infringed
Atari’s copyrights. Further, Atari’s claims of contributory
and vicarious copyright infringement were denied because Redbubble
had, at least until the lawsuit was filed, no knowledge or notice
of infringing material on its platform, and once it was notified by
Atari through the complaint, removed all the identified listings.
At trial, the jury was tasked with determining whether Redbubble
had directly infringed Atari’s trademarks and copyrights, and
whether it was liable for vicarious and contributory trademark
infringement. After less than a day’s deliberation, the jury
found it had not.  

In a blow for Atari, and possibly other mark owners who
experience trademark infringement on Redbubble, the jury found that
Redbubble did not, for the purpose of infringement, sell infringing
products, but rather it was the individual designers who were
selling the infringing items. Nor did the jury find that Redbubble
had sufficient knowledge or control of what third-parties are
selling on its platform for it to be liable for contributory or
vicarious trademark infringement. It remains to be seen if Atari
will appeal the verdict.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.

POPULAR ARTICLES ON: Intellectual Property from United States

Trademark Classification Changes For 2022

Klein Moynihan Turco LLP

On October 6, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ruled to incorporate the international trademark classification changes adopted by the Nice Agreement Concerning the …

Trademarks Comparative Guide

Obhan & Associates

Trademarks Comparative Guide for the jurisdiction of India, check out our comparative guides section to compare across multiple countries

Location, Location, Location

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

As in real estate, as in law. A recent ruling in the USDC for the District of Colorado demonstrates that procedural considerations of where to file may often have substantive consequences.

https://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/trademark/1129644/atari-loses-ip-suit-against-online-marketplace