Indiana § 24-2-1-13.5 - Fanciful marks; famous marks; injunctive relief; remedies; attorney's fees

§ 24-2-1-13.5. Fanciful marks; famous marks; injunctive relief; remedies; attorney's fees

Sec. 13.5. (a) This section applies only to fanciful marks, except in cases where the other person's use tarnishes the reputation of the famous mark.

(b) An owner of a mark that is famous in Indiana is entitled, subject to the principles of equity and terms a court considers reasonable, to an injunction against another person's commercial use of the mark or trade name if the other person's use begins after the mark has become famous and the other person's use causes dilution of the distinctive quality of the mark, and to other relief provided in this section. In determining whether a mark is distinctive and famous, a court may consider factors such as:

(1) the degree of inherent or acquired distinctiveness of the mark in Indiana;

(2) the duration and extent of use of the mark in connection with the goods or services with which the mark is used;

(3) the duration and extent of advertising and publicity of the mark in Indiana;

(4) the geographical extent of the trading area in which the mark is used;

(5) the channels of trade for the goods or services with which the mark is used;

(6) the degree of recognition of the mark in the trading areas and channels of trade in Indiana as it relates to the use of the mark by the:

(A) mark's owner; and

(B) person against whom the injunction is sought;

(7) the nature and extent of use of the same or a similar mark by a third party; and

(8) whether the mark is the subject of a:

(A) registration in Indiana;

(B) federal registration under the Act of March 3, 1881;

(C) federal registration under the Act of February 20, 1905; or

(D) registration on the principal register.

(c) In an action brought under this section, the owner of a famous mark is entitled only to injunctive relief unless the person against whom the injunctive relief is sought willfully intended to trade on the owner's reputation or to cause dilution of the famous mark. If willful intent is proven, the owner of the famous mark is entitled to the other remedies set forth in this section, subject to the discretion of the court and the principles of equity.

(d) A court may require a defendant to pay to the owner of a mark all profits derived from and damages suffered by reason of the use of the mark in violation of this section and, in exceptional cases, may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party.

(e) The following are not actionable under this section:

(1) Fair use of a famous mark by another person in comparative commercial advertising or promotion to identify the competing goods or services of the owner of the famous mark.

(2) Noncommercial use of the mark.

(3) All forms of news reporting and news commentary.

As added by P.L.135-2006, SEC.16.