Here We Go Again--Forest River Sues Heartland Over Copywrite
Mon Jan 11, 2010
Author: Greg Gerber
Source: RV Industry
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- In a federal lawsuit filed Jan. 7 by Forest River is accusing Heartland Recreation Vehicles of violating their copyright in creating a travel trailer floorplan last year that was too similar to the company's RP-176 floorplan.
It is the third time Forest River has filed suit against Heartland since October 2008.
"Heartland became aware of the RP-176 floorplan in 2009 and obtained a copy of that floorplan," the complaint charges. "Afterward, Heartland copied the RP-176 floorplan into its advertisements for competing travel trailers. Heartland created derivative floorplans based on the RP-176 floorplan and made travel trailers derived from the copied floorplan."
Forest River said Heartland then attempted to solicit business from Forest River dealers and others in attempting to market the MPG floorplan at last year's National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky.
"Heartland distributed the advertisement (of the MPG product) to potential customers at the RVIA trade show together with other advertisements of its MPG product which were intended to confuse and/or deceive customers into thinking about some connection between Forest River and Heartland," the complaint read.
Despite being made aware of the copyright infringement in December, Forest River said Heartland continues to infringe on their copyrighted RP-176 floorplan.
Forest River is demanding a jury trial in the case, and the company is asking the court to permanently enjoin Heartland from infringing upon its copyrights. Forest River would like Heartland to provide an accounting of all revenue it received by using the RP-176 floorplan. In addition, Forest River is seeking the seizure and destruction of all infringing products "wherever located in the stream of commerce."
SOURCE: U.S. District Court for Northern District of Indiana case filing.
I'm betting Heartland's money will run out before Warren Buffet's Forest River does! This is interesting, because you don't see RV manufacturers sue each other much very often. Lee
