International Mulch Company, Inc. (Mulch) filed a complaint requesting declaratory judgment against Novel Ideas, Inc. (Novel) in the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division on March 11, 2014 (4-14-cv-00446).
In the complaint, Mulch requested a Declaratory Judgment of patent non-infringement and invalidity of two design patents owned by Novel, US D640,268 (’268) and US D654,191 (’191), both directed to flexible landscape edging.
Mulch stated that it began selling a lawn edging product to Lowe’s, and that Novel allegedly took the position that Mulch’s lawn edging product infringed the ’268 and ’191 patents. Mulch further stated it had informed Novel that its product did not infringe Novel’s patents, and argued the ornamental design of their product differed from Novel’s patented design due to the product having an “appearance of variable sized cobblestones,” “a squared-off top,” “three holes for stakes,” and a “rounded inside corner.”
Figure 1 of the ‘268 patent is reproduced below:
In the complaint, Mulch stated Novel had allegedly “on information and belief, communicated directly to Lowe’s, taking the position that the [Mulch] lawn edging product being sold by Lowe’s infringe[d] the 268 Patent and the 191 Patent.” Mulch declared “apprehension that Novel will commence litigation” against Mulch and/or Lowe’s.
Mulch argued non-infringement of both the ’268 and ’191 patents, and stated that the alleged allegations of patent infringement “have placed a cloud over [Mulch’s] business, … are likely to cause [Mulch] to lose revenues and business opportunities, … and will likely cause irreparable injury to [Mulch].” Mulch further argued invalidity of both the ’268 and ’191 patents “due to functionality.”
In its prayer for relief, Mulch requested that Novel be prevented from “interfer[ing] in any way with [Mulch’s] manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale of [Mulch’s] lawn edging product. A trial by jury was requested.
This case is ongoing.
In the complaint, Mulch requested a Declaratory Judgment of patent non-infringement and invalidity of two design patents owned by Novel, US D640,268 (’268) and US D654,191 (’191), both directed to flexible landscape edging.
Mulch stated that it began selling a lawn edging product to Lowe’s, and that Novel allegedly took the position that Mulch’s lawn edging product infringed the ’268 and ’191 patents. Mulch further stated it had informed Novel that its product did not infringe Novel’s patents, and argued the ornamental design of their product differed from Novel’s patented design due to the product having an “appearance of variable sized cobblestones,” “a squared-off top,” “three holes for stakes,” and a “rounded inside corner.”
Figure 1 of the ‘268 patent is reproduced below:
In the complaint, Mulch stated Novel had allegedly “on information and belief, communicated directly to Lowe’s, taking the position that the [Mulch] lawn edging product being sold by Lowe’s infringe[d] the 268 Patent and the 191 Patent.” Mulch declared “apprehension that Novel will commence litigation” against Mulch and/or Lowe’s.
Mulch argued non-infringement of both the ’268 and ’191 patents, and stated that the alleged allegations of patent infringement “have placed a cloud over [Mulch’s] business, … are likely to cause [Mulch] to lose revenues and business opportunities, … and will likely cause irreparable injury to [Mulch].” Mulch further argued invalidity of both the ’268 and ’191 patents “due to functionality.”
In its prayer for relief, Mulch requested that Novel be prevented from “interfer[ing] in any way with [Mulch’s] manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale of [Mulch’s] lawn edging product. A trial by jury was requested.
This case is ongoing.
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