Romanian Chamber of Commerce

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    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTSOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORKROMANIAN-AMERICAN CHAMBEROF COMMERCE, INC. (a New YorkCorporation),

    Plaintiff,-against-

    ROMANIAN-AMERICAN CHAMBEROF COMMERCE, INC. (a Floridacorporation) and ROMANIA - USA :CHAMBER OF COMMERCE :OF FLORIDA, INC., :

    Defendants. .

    COMPLAINT FORTRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT

    :Civi~kc No g~JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

    Plaintiff, Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. ("RACC NY" or "Plaintiff),by its attorneys, Herzfeld & Rubin, P.C., as and for its complaint against defendantsAmerican Chamber of Commerce, Inc. ( RACC FL ) and RomamaCommerce of Florida, Inc. ("RUSACC") (collectively, "Defendants"), alleges

    .Parties1. Plaintiff RACC NY is a not for profit corporation organized and existing undel

    the laws of the State of New York, having a place of business at 125 Broad Street, New York,New York 10004.

    2. Defendant RACC FL, upon reformation and behe, is a not fo~/ profit corporationor other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida, and has a place of

    2business at 1581 NW 132 Ave Pembroke P~nes, Florida 330 8.3. Defendant RUSACC, upon information and belief, is an entity related to

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    defendant RACC FL.

    Jurisdiction4, This Court has original jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 28 U,S.C.

    1338(a) because this action arises under the trademark laws of the United States. (15 U.S.C, 1121, ct ~.). This Court also has original jurisdiction over the claim for unfair competitionpursuant to 28 U,S,C, 1338(b). This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants becausethe unlawful acts complained of resulted in injuries to persons or property within New York stateand Defendants regularly conduct and solicit business within New York State and/or expect orshould reasonably expect the unlawful acts complained of to have consequences in New YorkState and derive substantial revenue from interstate or international commerce,

    V e n u _ _ _ _ _ e e5. Venue in this Judicial District is proper pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. 1391,

    because Defendants or their agents regularly transact and solicit business in New York andaccept memberships from New York and the claim arises from substantial infringement activitiesand unfair competition occurring and/or causing injury within this Judicial District.

    FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF(Trademark Infringement)

    6. Plaintiff is an organization the purpose of which is to promote trade andinvestment between the United States and Romama through the provision of, among othethings, business, trade and networking informational services, and related activities.

    7. Plaintiff is, and at all times relevant hereto has been, the owner of the followingtrademarks:

    2

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    a. United States Trademark R egistration No. 2521779, registered Decem ber 21,2001 for the sarviee mark "Rom anian-Ameriean Chamber of Com merce";

    b. United S tates Trademark Registration N o. 3912829, registered February 1,2011for the design service mark "Rom anian Am ariean Chamber of Com m erce - s ince1990" claiming the colors blue and red as feature of the mark.

    e. United States Tradema rk Registration N o. 4022675, registered Septemb er 6, 2011for the service mark "RA CC".

    A co py of the certificates of such registrations by the Tradem ark Electronic SearchSystem of the United States Patent and Tradem ark office is attached as Exhibit A and suchregistrations are valid and subsisting, unrevoked and uneancelled.

    8. Plaintiff has had substantial sales, advertising and p rom otion of the services usingthe aforemen tioned tradem arks (the "Marks") continuously since 1990. Plaintiff has investedsubstantial sums in prom oting its services under the M arks and aneh M arks have acquiredsecondary meaning.

    9. Defendant RA CC FL, upon information and belief, registered the dom ain namehttp:/ /raecflofida.com /through which i t and/or R US AC C o perate a website using the M arks orconfusing variations thereof, in com bination with the red and blue colors, in connection w ithDefendants services, which use am ounts to infringem ent of Plaintiffs Marks and a violation o f15 U.S.C. 1125, among other protective statutes and rules of common law.

    10. On information and belief , Defend ants infr ingem ent has been wil lful .Defendants are intentionally trying to take advantage of Plaintiff s nam e and M arks by using aconfusingly similar nam e in a similar business providing similar services, having the samelimited market and the same limited group of potential clients.

    3

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    11. Plaintiff has notified Defendants in writing of the infringement and has requestedthat Defendants cease and desist from infringing on Plaintiffs Marks. Defendants have refusedto discontinue their infringing use despite the written demand by Plaintiff.

    12. The infringement complained of herein has damaged Plaintiff and is causingconfusion to the public and to the clients and potential clients of Plaintiff.

    SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF(Unfair Competition)

    13. Repeats and realleges paragraphs 1 through 1O above as if fully set forth herein.14. Plalntiffhas conthmously invested substantial effort, industry and funds in

    building recognition of its Marks and services in the Romanian-American community and inrelated groups doing business with similar groups and with Romauian interests.

    15. Defendants, by intentionally seeking to confuse the public, and the prospectiveand actual clients, contacts and customers of plaintiff, are seeking to unfairly trade on Plaintiffsestablished name, reputation and good will.

    16. Defendants have engaged in deceptive and unfair trade practices by, among otherthings, using a trade name which is similar and confusing to plaintiffs and maldng false andmisleading statements on Defendants website concerning, among other things, Defendantsexisting activities and services.

    17. Defendants acts have resulted in actual confusion by actual and prospectiveclients of Plaintiff, to Plaintiffs detriment.

    18. The acts of Defendants eoustitute unfair competition and unfair business practicesas against Plaintiff, and have damaged Plaintiffs business, reputations and good will.

    19. Defendants will continue to damage and unfairly compete with Plaintiff unless4

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    enjoined, and Plaintiffis without an adequate remedy at law.WHEREFORE, Plaintiff RACC requests judgment against Defendants as follows:A. Declaring that Plaintiffs United States Trademark Registrations Ntmabers

    2521779, 4022675 and 3912829 are valid and have bean infringed by Defandants;B. Permanently enjoining Defendants from any further infringement, and speeifieally

    enjoining Defendants from using any name or mark or symbol, in print or in electronic media orotherwise containing the words "American" and "Romanian, in eonjmaetion with the phrase"Chamber of Commerce", or any other similar name or variation thereof confusingly similar toPlaintiffs Marks; and further enjoining Defendants from making or posting or publishing falseor misleading statements concerning Defendants activities or services, either on Defendantswebsite or by any other manner of publishing or communication in print or in electronic media orotherwise;

    C. Transferring ownership and or eontrol &the domain name http://raccflorida.com/to Plaintiff;

    D. Ordering an accounting and an award of damages to compensate Plaintiff forinfringement and unfair competition;

    Awarding increased damages for the willful infringement pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1117;

    F. Awarding Plainfiffthe amount ofitscosts ofthissuitanditsreasonableaRorneysfees pursuanttol5U.S.C. lll7;and

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    G. Awarding such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.Dated: New York, New York

    May 7, 2012Herzfeld & Rubin, P.C.Attorneys for PlaintiffRomanian-A~eraerican /~Chamber &qCommerce~/

    1~5 Broad S~etNew York, NY 10004(212) 471-8500

    6

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    X -

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    ~Inite~ ~t~te~ ~tent ~nb ~r~bem~rl~

    Reg. No. 3,912,829Registered Feb. 1, 2011Int. CI.: 35SERVICE MARKPRINCIPAL REGISTER

    MEYER, MAP, K (UNITED STATES INDIVIDUAL)C/O HERZFELD & RUB IN, PC, 40 WALL STREETNEW Y ORK, NY 10005FOR: BILATERAL BUSINESS NETWORKING AND INFORMATIONAL SERVICES, INCLASS 35 (U,S, CLS. 100, 101 AND 102).FIRST USE 2-0-1990; IN COMMERCE 2-0-1990.OWNER OF U.S. REG. NO. 2,521,779.TIlE COLOR(S) BLUE AND RED IS/ARE CLAIMED AS A FEATURE OF THE MARK .THE MAP, K CONSISTS OF THE WORDS "SINCE 1990* IN RED COLOR, "ROMAN]AN" INBLUE COLOR, "AMERICAN" IN RED COLORAND "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE" IN BLUECOLOR. A VERTICAL LINE IN BLUE SEPARATES TH E W ORDING "SINCE 1990" FROMnROMANIAN AMERICAN CHAMB ER OF COMMERCE".SEC. 2(~).SER. NO, 77-850,838, FILED 10-16-2009.NAAKW AMA Abrg2,AH, EXAMINING ATTORNEY

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    Int. CL: 35Prior U.S. Cls.: 100, 101 and 102United States Patent and Trademark Office

    SERVICE MARKPRI NCI PAL REGI S TER

    Reg. No. 2,521,779Registered Dec. 25, 2001

    ROMAN]AN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

    .M E Y E R , M A R K A . ( U N IT E D S T A T E S C ITIZ E N )C/O HERZFELD & RUBIN, P .C.40 WALL STREETN E W Y O R K , N Y 10 0 05FOR: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SERVICES,N A M E L Y , F O S T E R IN G A N D P R O M O T IN G T H EBUSINESS AND IND USTRIAL INTERESTS OF RO-M A N I A N A N D A M E R I C AN I N D M D U A L S A N DCOMMERCIAL ENTITIES TH ROUGH TH E PROVI-SION OF BUSINESS AND TRADE INFORMATION-AL SERV ICE~, IN ClaSS 35 CO.S. CLS, 100, 101 AND102),

    FIRST USE 2-0-1990; IN COMMERC E 2-0-1990.NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVERIGHT TO USE "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE",APART FROM TH E MARK AS SH OW N.S E C . 2 (~ .SER. NO, 75-915,~9, FILED 2-2-2000,

    ANNE ENDIEVERI, EXAMI2~ING ATI~OKNEY

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    RACCReg. No. 4,022,675Registered Sep. 6, 2011Int. CI.: 35SERVICE MARKPRINCIPAL REGISTER

    MEYER, MARK A. (HNITED STATES INDIVIDUAL)HERZFF, LD & RUBIN,125 BROAD STREETN E W Y O R K , N Y 1 0004FOR: CHAMBER OF COiVEvIERCE SERVICES, NAMELY , FOSTERING AND PROMOTINGTHE B USINESS A ND INDUSTR IA L INYER ESTS OF R OMA NIA N A ND A MER ICA N INDI-V I DUA LS A ND CO M ME RCI A L E NT H I E S T HRO UG H T H E P RO V I S I O N O F B US I NE S S ,TRADE NETW ORKING , AND INFORMATIONAL SERV ICES, IN CLASS 35 0A.S. CLS. 100,101 AND 102).FIRST USE 2-0-1990; IN COMMERCE 2-0-1990.THE MA R K CONSISTS OF STA NDA R D CHA R A CTERS W ITHOUT CL A IM TO A NY PA R -TICULAR FONT, STYLE, SIZE, OR COLOR.SER. N O. 85-240,917, FILED 2-12-2011.K1MBERLY FRY E, EXAMINING ATTOIGNEY

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    REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN YOUR FEDERALTRADEMARK REGISTRATIONWARNING: YOUR REGISTRATION WILL BE CANCELLED IF YOU DO NOT FILE THE

    DOCUMENTS BELOW DURING THE SPECIFIED TIME PERIODS.Requ irements in the First Ten Years*What and W hen to File:

    First Filing Deadline: Y ou must f i le a Declarat ion of Use (or Excusable Nonuse) between the5th and 6th years after the registration date. Se e 15 U.S.C. 1058, 114 lk. If the declaration isaccepted, the registration will continue in force for the remainder of the ten-year period, calculatedfrom the registrat ion date, unless cancelled by an order of the Comm issioner for Trademarks or afederal court.Second Filing Deadline: You must file a Declaration of Use (or Excusable Noanse) and an

    Application for Renewal between the 9th and 10th years after the registration date.*See 15 U.S.C. 1059.

    Requirements in Successive Ten-Year Periods*What and When to File:

    Y ou must f i le a Declaration of Use (or Excusable Nonuse) an d anAppilcation for Renewal betweenevery 9th and 10th-year period, calculated from the registration date.*Grace Period Filings*The abo ve docum ents will be accepted as t imely if f i led within six months after the deadlines l is ted abovewith the payment of an additional fee.

    The U nited States Patent and Trademark Office (USP TO) will NOT send you any fl~tare notice orreminder of these filing requiremen ts,

    *ATTENT ION M ADRID PROTOCOL REG ISTRAN TS: The ho lder o f an in terna tiona l reg i st ra tion wi than extension of protection to the Un ited States undar the Madrid Protocol m nst t imely f i le the Declarat ionsof Use (or Excusable Nonnse) referenced above directly with the USPTO. The time periods for filing arebased on the U.S. registration date (not the international registration da~). The deadlines and grace periodsfor the Declarations of Use (or Excusable Nonuse) are identical to those for nalianaiiy issued registrations.See 15U.S.C. 1058, l141k. However, owners ofintemalionalregistrations do not filerenewalappficalionsat the USPTO. Instead, the holder must tile a renewal of the underlying international registration at theInternational Bureau of the W orld Intellectanl Property Organization, under Article 7 of the Madrid Protocol,before the expiration of each ten-year term of protection, calctdated ~om the date of the internationalregistration. SeeI5U.S.C.ll41j. Formoreinformationandrenewalformsfortheintematianairegistration,see http://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/.NOTE: Fees and rcqnircments for maintaining registrations are subject to chaage. Please check theUSPTO webaite for further information. With the exception of renewal applications for registeredextensions of protection, you can file the registration maintenance docum ents referenced above onlineat http://www.uspto.gov.

    Page: 2 / RN # 4,022,675

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    Int. CI.: 35Prior U.S. C ls.: 100, 101 and 102United States Patent and Trademark Office

    S E R V I C E M A R KPRINCIPAL REGISTER

    Reg. No. 2,521,779Registered Dee. 25, 2001

    R O M A N I A N -A M E R I C A N C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

    .M E Y E R , M A R K A . (U ~ IT E D S T A T E S C IT IZ E N )C/O HERZFELD & RUEIN, P .C,40 WALL STREETN E W Y O R K , N Y 10 0 05FOR: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SERVICES,N A M E L Y , F O S T E R IN G A N D P R O M O T IN G T H EBUSINESS AND IND USTRIAL INTERESTS OF RO-MANIAN AND AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS ANDCOMMERCIAL ENTITIES TH K OUGH TH E PROVI-SION OF BUSINESS AND TRADE INFORMATION-AL SERV ICES, 1N CLASS 35 (U.S, CLS. 100, 101 AND102).

    FIRST USE 2-0-1990; IN COMMERC E 2-0-1990.NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE

    RIGHT TO USE "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE",APART FROM TH E MARK AS SH OW N.SEC.SER. NO. 75-915,469, FILED 2-2-2000.

    ANNE ENDIEV ERI , EXAMINING ATIOIL NEY

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    Index No Year 20UNITED STATES.DISTRICT COURTSOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORKR O M A N I A N -A M E R IC A N C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E , IN C . ( a N e w Y o r k C o r p o ra tio n ),

    -against- Plaintiff .ROMANIAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. INC. (a Florida Corporation) and ROMANIA-USA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF FLORIDA INC. Defendants

    S UM M O N S A N D C O M P L A IN T F O R T R A D E N A R K IN F R IN G E M E N T

    HERZFELD & RUBIN. P.C,Attorneys for Plaintiffs

    Office and Post Office Address. Telephone, Facsimile125 BROAD STREET

    NEWYORK NY 10004TELEPHONE {~1~) 471-8500

    Attorney(s) for

    Certified Pursuant to Rule 130=1.1-a

    B y:Print name beneath

    Service of a copy of the withinDated.

    Attorney(s)

    is hereby admitted.

    Sir: Please take noucethat the within is a ~cert~fied) true copy of a 20duly entered in the office of the clerk of the within named court onthat an order of which the within is a true copy will be presented forsettlement to the HON. 20 at one of the judgesof the within named court, a~on M .Dated.

    HERZFELD &RUBIN P.C.Office and Post Office Address. Telephone Facsimile

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