Amini Sues Cosmos For Copyright And Design Patent Infringement

Amini Innovation Corporation filed suited on November 26, 2008 against Cosmos Furniture Ltd. and Does 1-10 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 08-cv-7855. In its complaint Amini alleges copyright and design patent infringement. Specifically, Amini alleges infringement of designs in its Cortina bedroom collection, Tresor bedroom collection, Tuscano dining room collection, Windsor Court bedroom and dining room collections, and Oppulente bedroom collection. Amini asserts 18 registered copyrights and 15 design patents. "Does 1-10" are alleged to be corporate employees and agents of Cosmos that facilitated and propagated the alleged infringement. An image from one of the design patents (D561,505) is shown below:

Chicago Furniture Company Also Selling Senate Seats

Chicago-area furniture store LeatherCreations ran an advertisement in the Chicago Tribune on Thursday mocking troubled Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who has been accused offering for sale president-elect Barack Obama's senate seat. The quarter-page ad proclaims "We sell more seats than the Governor! ... and our Senate seat only costs $1,999 (Plus this sofa lasts much longer than 6 years)"

Casana Sues Again Over Valencia Trade Dress

This time around, the Canadian furniture company formed from Palliser's casegoods division, Casana Furniture Co., Ltd., has asserted its alleged trade dress rights in its Valencia collection against Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.'s Kira Series. The complaint does not specify which items of furniture purportedly include trade dress that identifies the piece as emanating from Casana. The complaint, Case No. 08-cv-908, was filed December 16, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and alleges statutory and common law trade dress infringement as well as statutory and common law unfair and deceptive trade practices. Casana is represented by attorneys in Alston & Bird's Charlotte, North Carolina office. Ashely has not yet been served with the complaint and summons.

Casana previously asserted its trade dress rights in the Valencia collection against Coaster Company of America (previously reported on by this blog on Oct. 19, 2008). In that case, Coaster has moved to transfer the case to the Central District of California. The motion is currently pending, awaiting Coaster's reply brief. In that case, Casana also asserts infringement of a design patent.

Relief-Mart Sues On "Ventilated Mattress" Patent

On December 17, 2008, Relief-Mart, Inc. filed a patent infringement action against Fredman Bros. Furniture Co., Inc. and "Does 1-10" in United States District Court, Central District of California. Relief-Mart alleges that Fredman infringes U.S. Patent No. 7,334,280. The '280 Patent describes and claims a ventilated mattress having a top foam layer with a plurality of holes resting upon a bottom foam layer having a convoluted upward projecting surface.

AHFA Offers Webinar On Customs and Border Protection

American Home Furnishings Alliance is offering a webinar entitled "Customs and Border Protection (CBP) New '10+2' Importer Security Filing ('ISF') Rule: What Importers Need to Know" on January 21, 2009. The webinar will discuss the new CBP rule and the data elements that importers must now furnish to CBP for all ocean shipments. For more information and to sign up, click here.

Technical Furniture Group - Smartdesks Sues For Control Of Patents

Technical Furniture Group, LLC and Smartdesks, Inc., manufacturers of computer furniture products, fired another salvo at CBT Supply and Jeffrey Korber over ownership rights in a utility patent, two patent applications, and a design patent. The complaint also alleges that Korber is improperly listed as inventor on several patent applications and that Korber pulled the old "bait and switch" to convice a principal with plaintiffs to unwittingly sign an assignment of patent ownership rights. The dispute involves Smartdesks popular "FlipIt" design:

Plaintiffs seeks $20,000,000 in monetary damages. The action follows a state court action and several earlier actions filed in federal district court. The case was filed in United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Comfort Research Sues Over "Frameless Chair" Patent

On November 10, 2008, Comfort Research, LLC filed a patent infringement action against Markos & Widly, Inc. d/b/a American Furniture Alliance in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan Southern Division (1:06-cv-1054). Comfort Research alleges that American Furniture Alliance infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,732,391 B2 ("the '391 Patent") entitled "Frameless Chair." The '391 Patent covers a frameless chair comprising a gas permeable outer liner filled with polyurethane foam pieces. The '391 Patent apparently protects Comfort Research's popular "Fuf Chair" shown above. American Furniture Alliance has yet to be served as of the date of this posting. Comfort Research is represented by William Louis King, III of King & Partners PLC in Holland, MI.