`
`
`
`Maglula, Ltd.,
` 13 Gad Feinstein Street, Suite 236
` Rehovot 76385, Israel,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`Amazon.com, Inc.,
` 410 Terry Avenue North
` Seattle, WA 98109,
`
`and
`
`Amazon.com Services, Inc.,
` 410 Terry Avenue North
` Seattle, WA 98109,
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
`Richmond Division
`
`
`
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`Defendants. )
`
`
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`
`
`
`CIVIL ACTION NO.
`
`COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK
`COUNTERFEITING, TRADEMARK
`INFRINGEMENT, COPYRIGHT
`INFRINGEMENT, PATENT
`INFRINGEMENT, AND UNFAIR
`COMPETITION
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`
`
`
`
`As its Complaint in this action, Plaintiff Maglula, Ltd. (“Maglula”), by its undersigned
`
`attorneys, alleges as follows, upon actual knowledge with respect to itself and its own acts, and
`
`upon information and belief as to all other matters.
`
`NATURE OF THE CASE
`
`1.
`
`This is an action for trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, copyright
`
`infringement, and unfair competition under federal, state, and/or common law arising from
`
`Defendants Amazon.com, Inc.’s and Amazon.com Services, Inc.’s (collectively, “Amazon”)
`
`unauthorized use of Maglula’s trademarks and copyrights in connection with the advertising,
`
`distributing, displaying, offering for sale, and/or selling of unlicensed, infringing, and/or
`
`
`
`1
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 2 of 76 PageID# 2
`
`
`
`counterfeits of Maglula’s innovative loaders and unloaders (the “Accused Products”). Maglula
`
`also asserts U.S. Patent No. 7,503,138 (“the ’138 patent”) and U.S. Patent No. 7,637,048 (“the
`
`’048 patent”) (collectively, “the Asserted Patents”) against Amazon for the unauthorized offering
`
`to sell, selling, and/or importing of the Accused Products covered by at least one claim of each of
`
`the Asserted Patents.
`
`2.
`
`Amazon has become so overrun with counterfeit products—and its meager efforts
`
`to address this problem have been so ineffective—that counterfeit products are now leaving
`
`Amazon warehouses all over the United States at an alarming rate. Amazon knowingly sells
`
`such products, leaving U.S. consumers and intellectual property (“IP”) owners to suffer while
`
`Amazon profits handsomely, adding to its multibillion-dollar annual revenue and reported
`
`trillion-dollar valuation. Amazon’s ineffective processes to stop the sale of knock-off products
`
`do not apply to unregistered IP, such as trademarks protected by common law, and are easily
`
`circumvented by Amazon’s business partners. Making matters worse, IP owners who try to
`
`defend themselves and their valued customers utilizing Amazon’s procedures face lip service,
`
`long delays, growing frustration, and significant expense—all to virtually no avail.
`
`3.
`
`Amazon’s proliferation of counterfeit products hurts more than just IP owners. It
`
`hurts customers duped out of their hard-earned money and exposes them to poor-quality and/or
`
`potentially dangerous knock-off products. Amazon’s conduct also hurts those retailers
`
`committed to selling genuine products—many of whom struggle to compete with Amazon’s size,
`
`scale, and pricing. Counterfeiting is a prolific problem with a widespread negative impact.
`
`Amazon, as the largest online seller, contributes immensely to this problem and must be part of
`
`the solution, for the sake of the IP owners, its customers, and the public at large.
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 3 of 76 PageID# 3
`
`4.
`
`Since 2016, Amazon has and continues to:
`
`a.
`
`Sell knock-off products (invoiced as “Sold by: Amazon.com Services
`
`Inc.”) that infringe Maglula’s patents, copyrights, and trademarks detailed below;
`
`b.
`
`Sell knock-off products that infringe Maglula’s patents, copyrights, and
`
`trademarks via Amazon Renewed;
`
`c.
`
`Sell knock-off products that infringe Maglula’s patents, copyrights, and
`
`trademarks via Amazon Warehouse Deals;
`
`d.
`
`Sell knock-off products that infringe Maglula’s patents, copyrights, and
`
`trademarks via Amazon pallet liquidation;
`
`e.
`
`Deceive customers as to the origin of Maglula’s products by selling
`
`Chinese-made knock-offs as “Made in Israel”;
`
`f.
`
`Sell knock-off products with Amazon labels reading “Made In China”
`
`(Amazon knows that genuine products are made in Israel);
`
`g.
`
`Fail to provide Maglula information needed to stop others from
`
`contributing to Amazon’s sales of knock-off products that infringe Maglula’s patents,
`
`copyrights, and trademarks;
`
`h.
`
`Ignore Maglula’s repeated requests to acknowledge its U.S. registered
`
`utility patents and common-law trademark rights to delist knock-offs;
`
`i.
`
`Ignore Maglula’s industry-known common law trademarks “Maglula” and
`
`“UpLULA”, when Maglula attempted to join Amazon’s “Brand Registry” and use this
`
`process to stop the sale of knock-off products that infringe Maglula’s patents, copyrights,
`
`and trademarks;
`
`3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 4 of 76 PageID# 4
`
`
`
`j.
`
`Ignore that genuine Maglula UpLULA® products come in distinctive
`
`packaging easily distinguishable from an array of different packaging used for various
`
`knock-offs; and
`
`k.
`
`Ill-treat repeated IP infringement complaints by Maglula for three years.
`
`5.
`
`To demonstrate just how ineffective Amazon is at stopping its sale of counterfeits,
`
`Amazon even sold a counterfeit of the Maglula UpLULA® product—clearly marked as
`
`“COUNTERFEIT”—and wrapped in an Amazon-branded plastic bag:
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 5 of 76 PageID# 5
`
`
`
`
`
`6.
`
`Since September 2016, Maglula has identified and collected eleven knock-off
`
`versions of its best-selling UpLULA® product—the genuine version of which is manufactured
`
`only in Israel. These knock-offs infringe Maglula’s IP in various ways. Five versions
`
`completely copy Maglula’s trademarks, copyrights, and patents (top row in the following photo).
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 6 of 76 PageID# 6
`
`
`
`
`
`These knock-off versions of Maglula’s genuine UpLULA® product are molded with
`
`“UpLULA™,” “maglula.com,” “Made in Israel,” and Maglula’s patent numbers. Each also
`
`contains a copy of Maglula’s product insert cards, including the text, UPC barcode, “Made in
`
`Israel,” and instructional photos (showing the hands of Maglula’s inventor as depicted in genuine
`
`materials). Each is also packed in a copy of Maglula’s blister packaging. In the middle row of
`
`the photo above are two knock-off versions that have confusingly similar product names
`
`“UpLood” and “MagLoad” and infringe Maglula’s trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Two
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 7 of 76 PageID# 7
`
`
`
`additional clones “Castellan” and “QBloader” and two “unnamed” clones in that row infringe
`
`Maglula’s copyrights and patents. Two other Maglula products have been counterfeited as well,
`
`the BabyUpLULA® product and 1911AI® product, including Maglula’s product insert cards
`
`with “Made in Israel,” and blister packaging (see the bottom row of the photo above).
`
`7.
`
`Despite extensive and repeated requests from Maglula over the course of three
`
`years (including meetings with Amazon’s in-house counsel), Amazon failed to take reasonable
`
`steps to stop the extensive and persistent infringement of Maglula’s IP. Over the years, Maglula:
`
`a.
`
`Sent Amazon many letters reporting instances of its sale of knock-off
`
`products infringing Maglula’s IP, including cease-and-desist letters (examples attached as
`
`Exhibits 1A-1C);1
`
`b.
`
`Provided Amazon with memos (1) detailing its continued sale of knock-
`
`off products infringing Maglula’s IP and (2) educating Amazon on how to differentiate
`
`between Maglula’s genuine IP-protected products and knock-offs;
`
`c.
`
`Had at least twelve telephone conferences with Amazon and its officers,
`
`including its in-house attorneys, regarding its continued sale of knock-off products
`
`infringing Maglula’s IP;
`
`d.
`
`Emailed Amazon officers, including its in-house attorneys, multiple times
`
`regarding its continued sale of knock-off products infringing Maglula’s IP;
`
`e.
`
`Submitted over one hundred infringement complaints through Amazon’s
`
`official reporting systems;
`
`
`1 Maglula’s letters sometimes included detailed comparisons between genuine and knock-off
`products. These comparisons have been redacted from public filing to prevent counterfeiters
`from exploiting the information.
`
`
`
`7
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 8 of 76 PageID# 8
`
`
`
`f.
`
`Emailed jeff@amazon.com and Amazon officers over fifty times clearly
`
`detailing the infringement problem, including providing comparison pictures of some
`
`knock-off products infringing Maglula’s IP, copies of Maglula’s various IP, patent claim
`
`charts, names, links, and Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (“ASIN”) for knock-
`
`off products infringing Maglula’s IP;
`
`g.
`
`Offered to provide Amazon employees with in-person instruction on how
`
`to distinguish between Maglula’s IP-protected products and knock-offs;
`
`h.
`
`Ordered from Amazon ten knock-off products that infringe Maglula’s IP
`
`addressing them directly to Amazon’s headquarters (including five to Amazon’s
`
`Copyright Agent in its legal department office in Seattle) to further illustrate and
`
`materialize the problem;
`
`i.
`
`Monitored Amazon on a daily basis, often twice a day, looking for knock-
`
`offs, and filing complaints if found;
`
`j.
`
`Hired a specialized third-party service (BrandShield.com) at considerable
`
`expense to monitor Amazon daily and report infringements, in parallel with Maglula’s
`
`internal scans—an arrangement that is still ongoing; and
`
`k.
`
`Filed two U.S. lawsuits against Chinese entities, believed to be in
`
`partnership with Amazon, selling knock-off products infringing Maglula’s IP.
`
`8.
`
`Despite repetitive and extensive efforts undertaken at great expense to Maglula,
`
`Amazon seldom made useful efforts and ultimately failed to enact effective measures to stop its
`
`sale of infringing products. Amazon demonstrated a lack of care, failing to timely and
`
`effectively stop its sale of infringing products and hurting Maglula’s business. Maglula has done
`
`everything possible to avoid filing this Complaint.
`
`
`
`8
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 9 of 76 PageID# 9
`
`
`
`9.
`
`Amazon’s refusal to take meaningful steps to stop its sale of products infringing
`
`the IP rights of others, like Maglula’s, forces Maglula and other IP owners to shoulder the burden
`
`of doing Amazon’s job for it. Despite being the largest online seller with vast resources,
`
`Amazon’s “efforts” to stop its counterfeit sales have been shockingly poor and ineffective.
`
`10. Maglula seeks to enjoin Amazon’s infringement of Maglula’s IP. Maglula also
`
`seeks actual and statutory damages, Defendants’ profits, and other relief, including attorneys’
`
`fees and costs. Maglula further seeks compensation for the time and expenses dedicated to
`
`monitoring Amazon’s sales and submitting infringement reports to Amazon, and all other
`
`relevant expenses.
`
`11. Maglula also seeks a recall of all knock-off Maglula products sold by Amazon,
`
`along with distribution of a notice to all effected customers that they received a knock-off
`
`Maglula product. Maglula seeks this relief because Amazon should (1) be held accountable for
`
`defrauding unsuspecting customers and (2) repair the damage it caused to Maglula’s recognized
`
`brands and associated goodwill/reputation by disseminating low-quality knock-offs.
`
`12. Maglula also brings this action to address Amazon’s abysmal handling of IP
`
`infringement reports and direct sales of knock-offs, all of which, in one form or another, hurt
`
`hard-working IP owners and manufacturers, like Maglula, and their authorized distributors and
`
`dealers, both locally and worldwide.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`13. Maglula, Ltd. is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Israel,
`
`having a principal place of business at 13 Gad Feinstein Street, Suite 236, Rehovot 76385, Israel.
`
`14.
`
`Defendant Amazon.com, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with an address at 410
`
`Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109.
`
`
`
`9
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 10 of 76 PageID# 10
`
`
`
`15.
`
`Defendant Amazon.com Services, Inc. is a Delaware corporation with an address
`
`at 410 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`16.
`
`This action arises under the federal Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051 et seq.; the
`
`related law of the commonwealth of Virginia; the federal Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101 et
`
`seq.; and the patent laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. This Court has jurisdiction
`
`over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1121; 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a)
`
`and (b), 2201, and 2202; and 17 U.S.C. §§ 501 et seq.
`
`17.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because Defendants have
`
`established minimum contacts with the forum such that the exercise of personal jurisdiction over
`
`Defendants will not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
`
`18.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants, and venue is proper in this
`
`District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b), 1391(c), and 1400(b) because Maglula is being
`
`harmed in this District; Defendants are doing business in this District, including through facilities
`
`located in Petersburg, Virginia, Chester, Virginia, and Ashland, Virginia; Defendants have
`
`regularly and purposefully availed themselves of the privilege of conducting business activities
`
`within Virginia and this District; Defendants are using Maglula’s IP in connection with products
`
`shipped from and/or into this District and carried by Defendants within this District; the
`
`infringing activity has occurred and continues to occur in this District; and this action arises from
`
`activities Defendants directed towards Virginia.
`
`MAGLULA’S INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
`
`19.
`
`Founded in 2003, Maglula is a privately held company employing a modest ten
`
`employees in Israel. Maglula is a pioneer in the field of magazine loaders and manufactures
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 11 of 76 PageID# 11
`
`
`
`professional military-grade tools for loading and unloading magazines. Its products save
`
`valuable time when loading/unloading magazines, prevent pain associated with
`
`loading/unloading magazines, prevent magazine damage, and reduce jams. Among its customers
`
`are leading manufacturers like Sturm Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Heckler & Koch, and around
`
`twenty leading sporting-goods distributors in the United States. Maglula’s products are sold in
`
`Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, and
`
`in thousands of independent brick-and-mortar shops across the United States. Users include
`
`private individuals, police officers, federal agents, and military personnel.
`
`20. Maglula offers a variety of loader and unloader products under the marks
`
`UpLULA®, 22UpLULA®, BabyUpLULA®, LULA®, StripLULA®, BenchLoader®, and
`
`1911AI®.
`
`21.
`
`The UpLULA® loader (shown below) is a hand-held device that assists users in
`
`loading and unloading magazines. It is Maglula’s top-selling product (on the market since
`
`January 2007), offered in multiple colors, and used by millions in the United States. See
`
`https://www.maglula.com/product/uplula-9mm-to-45acp.
`
`
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 12 of 76 PageID# 12
`
`
`
`22. Maglula takes great pride in the quality and safety of its loaders/unloaders.
`
`Maglula undertakes extensive quality-control standards throughout the manufacturing process,
`
`leading to minimal returns or complaints. Maglula manufactures all UpLULA® products in
`
`Israel, and each is inspected and tested post manufacturing in Israel.
`
`23. Maglula’s UpLULA® product is well known as the premier loader/unloader due
`
`to its innovative technology, high-quality craftsmanship, and effectiveness in assisting users of
`
`all ages and levels of experience in loading and unloading magazines.
`
`24. Maglula has received awards and accolades for its products, including the
`
`American Rifleman Golden Bullseye “Accessory of the Year” Award in 2018. The UpLULA®
`
`product has been independently reviewed by magazines in the field and is the subject of
`
`hundreds of online videos from experts in the field. As of December 10, 2019, the UpLULA®
`
`product has over 13,992 five-star verified customer reviews on Amazon (92% of total reviews)
`
`and many equally positive reviews in the printed press and other online venues. Review ratings
`
`on Amazon have been negatively impacted by disappointed customers who received knock-offs
`
`that infringe Maglula’s IP instead of a genuine UpLULA® product.
`
`Maglula’s Trademarks
`
`25. Maglula owns the following trademarks, which are the subject of federal
`
`registrations (individually and collectively, the “Maglula Trademarks”):
`
`Mark
`
`LULA
`
`22UpLULA
`
`Goods
`
`Loader and/or
`unloader for
`firearm magazines
`Firearm magazine
`loaders and
`unloaders
`
`App. No.
`Reg. No.
`78392639
`
`3001252
`87256370
`
`5269613
`
`First Use in
`Commerce
`1/30/2002
`
`Reg. Date
`
`9/27/2005
`
`1/9/2013
`
`8/22/2017
`
`
`
`12
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 13 of 76 PageID# 13
`
`
`
`Mark
`
`Goods
`
`Firearm magazine
`loaders
`
`Firearm magazine
`loaders and
`unloaders
`Aligning insert for
`firearm magazine
`loader
`Firearm magazine
`loaders and
`unloaders
`Firearm magazine
`loaders and
`unloaders
`Firearm magazine
`loaders and
`unloaders
`
`App. No.
`Reg. No.
`87256971
`
`5315117
`87256375
`
`5321129
`87466966
`
`5355180
`87258099
`
`5894011
`87258071
`
`5894010
`87258110
`
`5894012
`
`First Use in
`Commerce
`6/24/2008
`
`Reg. Date
`
`10/24/2017
`
`7/6/2011
`
`10/31/2017
`
`2/14/2013
`
`12/12/2017
`
`9/2/2008
`
`10/29/2019
`
`1/7/2003
`
`10/29/2019
`
`12/30/2006
`
`10/29/2019
`
`BenchLoader
`
`BabyUpLULA
`
`1911AI
`
`StripLULA2
`
`
`Maglula2
`
`UpLULA2
`
`
`
`26.
`
`The Maglula Trademarks appear on the UpLULA® product and its packaging
`
`insert card, as shown, for example, here:
`
`
`
`
`2 An individual from China filed fraudulent U.S. trademark applications for MAGLULA,
`MAGLULA LTD, and UpLULA a day before Maglula filed some of its applications. It took
`nearly three years for Maglula to resolve this issue with the USPTO and have these three
`trademarks registered.
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 14 of 76 PageID# 14
`
`
`
`
`
`[Genuine Maglula 2017 Insert Card - Front]
`
`
`
`14
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 15 of 76 PageID# 15
`
`
`
`
`
`[Genuine Maglula 2017 Insert Card- Rear]
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 16 of 76 PageID# 16
`
`
`
`Maglula’s Copyrights
`
`27. Maglula owns U.S. copyright registrations covering the various photographs
`
`depicted on the UpLULA® product packaging insert card shown above (U.S. Copyright
`
`Registration Nos. VA0002084097, registered July 31, 2017; VA0002084096, registered July 31,
`
`2017; VA0002084095, registered July 31, 2017; VA0002083361, registered July 31, 2017;
`
`VA0002084093, registered July 31, 2017; VA0002083359, registered July 31, 2017; and
`
`VA0002146376, registered April 11, 2019), as well as original design elements of the
`
`UpLULA® loader itself (U.S. Copyright Registration Nos. VA0002083626, VA0002083624,
`
`VA0002083628, VA0002083358, VA0002083627, VA0002083357, VA0002083625, and
`
`VA0002083356) (individually and collectively, the “Maglula Copyrights”).
`
`28.
`
`The Maglula Copyrights cover the following original design elements of the
`
`UpLULA® loader:
`
`Reg. No.
`Reg. Date
`VA0002083626
`July 24, 2017
`
`Deposit Material
`
`UpLULA® back view:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`16
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 17 of 76 PageID# 17
`
`Reg. No.
`Reg. Date
`VA0002083624
`July 24, 2017
`
`Deposit Material
`
`UpLULA® top view:
`
`
`VA0002083628
`July 24, 2017
`
`
`UpLULA® engraving:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VA0002083358
`July 24, 2017
`
`
`
`UpLULA® arch:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`17
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 18 of 76 PageID# 18
`
`Reg. No.
`Reg. Date
`
`Deposit Material
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VA0002083627
`July 24, 2017
`
`
`UpLULA® lock:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`18
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 19 of 76 PageID# 19
`
`Reg. No.
`Reg. Date
`VA0002083357
`July 24, 2017
`
`Deposit Material
`
`UpLULA® ridged waterfall grip:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UpLULA® ridged waterfall grip (2013):
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`19
`
`VA0002083625
`July 24, 2017
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 20 of 76 PageID# 20
`
`
`
`Reg. No.
`Reg. Date
`VA0002083356
`July 24, 2017
`
`Deposit Material
`
`UpLULA® beak with reverse bevel:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Maglula’s Utility Patents
`
`29. Maglula’s expertise in the field has been recognized by the U.S. Patent and
`
`Trademark Office (“USPTO”) by numerous patent awards, including the following U.S. patents:
`
`Patent No.
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`Title
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`Issue Date
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`6,810,616
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`7,059,077
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`7,503,138
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`7,637,048
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`7,805,874
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`9,057,570
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`Magazine Loader and Unloader Accessory
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`11/2/2004
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`Heavy Duty Magazine Loader
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`6/13/2006
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`Magazine Aligner for Pistol Magazine Loaders
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`3/17/2009
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`Universal Pistol Magazine Loader
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`12/29/2009
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`Multi-Round Magazine Loader and Unloader
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`10/5/2010
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`Loader for Magazines with Projecting Side
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`6/16/2015
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`Button
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`9,212,859
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`Self-Raising Magazine Loader
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`12/15/2015
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`30.
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`U.S. Patent Nos. 7,503,138 and 7,637,048 are the Asserted Patents in this case.
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`20
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 21 of 76 PageID# 21
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`31.
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`The USPTO issued the ’138 patent on March 17, 2009. The ’138 patent bears the
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`title “Magazine Aligner for Pistol Magazine Loaders.” A true and accurate copy of the ’138
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`patent is attached as Exhibit 2.
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`32. Maglula is the owner and assignee of all rights, title, and interest in the ’138
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`patent, and holds the right to sue and recover damages for infringement thereof, including current
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`and past infringement.
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`33.
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`The USPTO issued the ’048 patent on December 29, 2009. The ’048 patent bears
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`the title “Universal Pistol Magazine Loader.” A true and accurate copy of the ’048 patent is
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`attached as Exhibit 3.
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`34. Maglula is the owner and assignee of all rights, title, and interest in the ’048
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`patent, and holds the right to sue and recover damages for infringement thereof, including current
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`and past infringement.
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`35. Maglula has marked and continues to mark its UpLULA® products with patent
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`notices, including the ‛138 and ‛048 patents, as shown, for example, on the product insert shown
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`above, as well as on the genuine UpLULA® product here:
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`21
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 22 of 76 PageID# 22
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`36. Maglula’s products, in association with the Maglula Trademarks, the Maglula
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`Copyrights, and the Asserted Patents, are promoted, offered, and sold nationwide in the United
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`States through national, regional, independent, and specialty dealers. Maglula’s products
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`marketed and sold in connection with the Maglula Trademarks, the Maglula Copyrights, and the
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`Asserted Patents have enjoyed commercial success throughout the United States. In addition to
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`its own advertising and promotional activities, Maglula and its marks and products receive
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`significant unsolicited media coverage, attention, and praise.
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` AMAZON AND ITS INFRINGING CONDUCT
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`37.
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`Amazon is reportedly the world’s largest Internet-based seller, with revenues of
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`over $232 billion in 2018, and employs over half a million people. Amazon sells a vast array of
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`products to its subscribers and consumers located throughout the United States and abroad.
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`However, the company continues to perform poorly in combating online counterfeiting—hurting
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`inventors and legitimate brands as well as consumers, who are left with increasingly fewer
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`options for online commerce.
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`38.
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`Amazon uses its website, www.amazon.com, to sell products directly to its
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`subscribers and customers. Products identified on Amazon’s website as “Ships from and sold by
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`22
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 23 of 76 PageID# 23
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`Amazon.com” (see below) are sold and shipped directly by and from Amazon. Amazon receives
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`payments from its subscribers and customers for the sale and delivery of these products. These
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`products include Amazon-branded products, such as the Kindle, Fire, Echo, and Alexa devices,
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`as well as products Amazon obtains from manufacturers, wholesalers, and other sources.
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`39.
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`Amazon also uses its website to sell “Amazon Renewed” products to its
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`subscribers and consumers. Amazon Renewed products are refurbished, pre-owned, or open-box
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`products. Amazon Renewed products “have been inspected and tested by qualified suppliers to
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`work and look like new, and come with the Amazon Renewed Guarantee.” Amazon’s testing
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`and inspection process purportedly includes “a full diagnostic test, replacement of any defective
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`parts, and a thorough cleaning process carried out by the supplier, or by Amazon.” See Exhibit
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`4.
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`40.
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`Amazon also uses its website to sell “Amazon Warehouse” products to its
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`subscribers and customers. Amazon explains that purchasers of Amazon Warehouse products
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`“[g]et deep discounts on open-box and used products.” Amazon also advertises that it
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`“inspect[s] and certif[ies] all items for sale on Amazon Warehouse based on physical and
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`functional condition . . . .” See Exhibit 5.
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`41.
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`Amazon also partners with third parties for Amazon to sell products to Amazon’s
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`subscribers and customers.
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`23
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 24 of 76 PageID# 24
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`42.
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`Amazon partners with online liquidators like DirectLiquidation.com,
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`Liquidation.com, and BIDRL.com, through which Amazon sells products such as customer
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`returns and unsold inventory. Amazon’s liquidated products can also be found at wholesale
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`liquidators like Xcess Limited (which has a web store on eBay) and at brick-and-mortar discount
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`stores like Gimme a $5, World Liquidators, and others. See Exhibit 1C.
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`43.
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`Amazon’s business practices have enabled counterfeiting to reach new heights.
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`Amazon’s own reports reveal that it receives an infringement notice for 1 out of every 100
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`customer page views. See Exhibit 6.
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`Amazon’s Sale of Knock-Off UpLULA® Products
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`“Sold by Amazon”
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`44.
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`Amazon has infringed and continues to infringe the Maglula Trademarks, the
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`Maglula Copyrights, and the Asserted Patents by selling the Accused Products, including the
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`knock-offs, fakes, and copies of the UpLULA® loaders/unloaders. On its website, Amazon
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`advertises and sells these products directly under the designation “Ships from and sold by
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`Amazon.com,” as shown in the example below:
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`24
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 25 of 76 PageID# 25
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`[NAME REDACTED]
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`45.
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`Customers who believed they were purchasing genuine UpLULA®
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`loaders/unloaders “[s]hip[ped] from and sold by Amazon.com” received from Amazon
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`counterfeits or infringing products such as the counterfeit product shown below. This product,
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`its insert card (also shown below), and its blister packaging are copies of Maglula’s genuine
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`UpLULA® product and, as such, infringe the Maglula Trademarks, Maglula Copyrights, and
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`Asserted Patents.
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`25
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 26 of 76 PageID# 26
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`
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`[Infringing copy of Maglula’s 2016 insert card - Front]
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`26
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 27 of 76 PageID# 27
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`[Infringing copy of Maglula’s 2016 insert card - Rear]
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`46. Maglula has collected over forty knock-offs of Maglula’s IP-protected
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`UpLULA® loader from customers who purchased directly from Amazon, were suspicious of the
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`loader received, and then directly contacted Maglula about it. Following Maglula’s instructions,
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`these customers signed or engraved their names on the counterfeits, photographed them signed,
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`and shipped them to Maglula (example shown below). Each customer invoice issued by
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`Amazon shows the product was sold by Amazon, i.e., “Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc.”
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`(example shown below). In addition, Maglula has received pictures and communications from
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`many other Amazon customers regarding knock-offs of Maglula’s IP-protected UpLULA®
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`product “[s]old by: Amazon.com Services, Inc.” (examples also shown below).
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`27
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 28 of 76 PageID# 28
`Case 3:19—cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 28 of 76 PageID# 28
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`Shipped on September 21, 2018
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`
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`Price
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`Items Ordered
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`1 of: Magi'uia ltd. UpLuia Magazine Loader/Unioader, Fits 9mm—45 ACP, Brown UP6030
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`$22.37
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`Item(s) Subtotal: $22.37
`Shipping & Handling:
`$0.00
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`Condition: New
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`Shipping Address:
`w
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`28
`28
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 29 of 76 PageID# 29
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`Picture shows 32 of the collected counterfeits signed each by a customer of Amazon, invoices
`reading “Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc.”
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`29
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 30 of 76 PageID# 30
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`47.
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`Upon information and belief, Amazon has offered for sale and/or sold Accused
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`Products that infringe the Maglula Trademarks, the Maglula Copyrights, and the Asserted
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`Patents bearing labels showing an Amazon ASIN, Maglula’s Trademarks Maglula® and
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`UpLULA®, and the designation “Made In China” as shown for example below:
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`30
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 31 of 76 PageID# 31
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`48.
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`Upon information and belief Amazon has on occasion removed from its website
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`one or more of its webpage advertisements offering to sell Accused Products that infringe
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`Maglula’s IP after Maglula lodged complaints with Amazon about such advertisements but
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`rather than ceasing all advertisement of the Accused Products Amazon subsequently posted on
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`its website the same or a similar advertisement offering to sell the Accused Products and/or
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`offered for sale and sold such an Accused Product using a different sales channel such as through
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`pallet sales or liquidation.
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`“Amazon Renewed” and “Amazon Warehouse”
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`49.
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`Amazon also sells knock-offs of Maglula’s IP-protected UpLULA® product
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`using the “Amazon Renewed” designation, as shown in the example below. These “Renewed”
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`products are “[s]old by Amazon Warehouse and [f]ulfilled by Amazon.”
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`[NAME REDACTED]
`On July 26, 2019, a representative of Maglula did a test purchase of what Amazon
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`50.
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`advertised as a “Maglula Ltd. UpLULA Magazine Speed Loader 9mm, 0.45 ACP UP60B
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`(Renewed),” designated “Amazon Renewed.” As shown below, Amazon’s invoice listed the
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`product as “Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc.” As also shown below, the received product
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`31
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 32 of 76 PageID# 32
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`(delivered to an address in Reston, Virginia) and its packaging are copies of Maglula’s genuine
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`UpLULA® loader and, as such, infringe the Maglula Trademarks, Maglula Copyrights, and
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`Asserted Patents.
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`32
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`Case 3:19-cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 33 of 76 PageID# 33
`Case 3:19—cv-00922 Document 1 Filed 12/12/19 Page 33 of 76 Page|D# 33
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`T969019
`
`amazoncom
`
`Amazm com - Order 112—892?06fl—28DGBD-1
`
`Details for Order #112-8921064-2306604
`Pr'g; :hig Egg; {gr ygpr rgggrgg
`
`Order Placed: Jul-,1I 26, 2019
`Amazonmom order number: 112—8921064—2806604
`Order Total: $1 15.68
`
`Not Yet Shipped
`
`Items Ordered
`4 of: Maglula UpLULA Magazine Speed Loader 9mm. 0.45 ACP UPGD‘B (Renewed)
`50ch by: Amazon.com Sennces, Inc
`Condition: New
`Product Is tested and ceitified to work and look llke new, Include: all accessones. a 90—day wanantv. and has
`passed our rigorous 20-pomt Inspecflon.
`
`Price
`$2128
`
`{933mg fin: 91 ”n: | gamma: 1:} 1996-2019. Amazonmom, Inc. ul It: affiliates
`
`Address:
`
`United States
`
`Shipping Speed:
`filo—Rush Shlpping
`
`Item(s} Subtotal: $109.13
`Payment Method:
`— Shipping & Handling:
`
`Payment information
`
`Bllllnq address
`