Cree v. Milwaukee Wholesale - Complaint
Cree v. Milwaukee Wholesale - Complaint
Cree v. Milwaukee Wholesale - Complaint
CREE, INC.
Plaintiff,
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Cree, Inc. (“Cree”), for its Complaint against Defendants Milwaukee Wholesale
LLC and Smart Technology LLC (referred collectively herein as “Defendants”), states and
alleges as follows:
PARTIES
1. Plaintiff Cree is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
North Carolina with a principal place of business at 4600 Silicon Drive, Durham, North Carolina,
27703. Cree also has facilities located in Wisconsin at 9201 Washington Avenue, Racine,
Wisconsin 53406 (formerly the headquarters of Ruud Lighting, Inc. (“Ruud Lighting”), which
as LED King and/or LEDKING.US, is a privately held company organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Wisconsin with a principal place of business at 400 W. Marquette Ave., Oak
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Creek, WI 53154. Milwaukee Wholesale LLC’s registered agent for service of process in the
state of Wisconsin is Naseer A. Nasir, 400 W. Marquette Ave., Oak Creek, WI 53154.
LED King and/or LEDKING.US, is a privately held company organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Wisconsin. Smart Technology LLC’s registered agent for service of process
in the state of Wisconsin is Bashir Ahmad, 9770 S. 54th Street, Franklin, WI 53132.
4. Defendants make, use, sell, offer to sell in, and/or import into the United States
6. This is a civil action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the
United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1 et seq, including without limitation 35 U.S.C. §§ 271 and 281. This
Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
7. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants under Wis. Stat. §
801.05(1)(d), among other provisions. Defendants regularly and deliberately engage in and
continue to engage in activities that result in using, selling, offering for sale, and/or importing
infringing products in and/or into the State of Wisconsin and this judicial district. This Court has
personal jurisdiction over the Defendants because, among other things, Defendants conduct
business in the State of Wisconsin and in this judicial district and thus enjoy the privileges and
8. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391 and 1400(b) because each
of the Defendants is subject to personal jurisdiction in this district, resides in this district, has
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committed acts of infringement in this district, and has a regular and established place of business
in this district.
BACKGROUND
9. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of the foregoing
10. Cree is a market-leading innovator engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of
lighting products including light emitting diode (“LED”) products as well as devices and
an outdoor LED light that helps increase location visibility and incoming traffic at service
stations, convenience stores, drive-thru restaurants, parking garages or banking locations. Two
12. Cree devoted substantial time, effort, and resources to the development and
promotion of the CPY250® luminaire. As a result, the public has come to recognize and rely
upon the CPY250® luminaire as an indication of the high quality associated with Cree.
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13. The distinctive design of the CPY250® LED luminaire has become well known in
the industry. The CPY250® LED luminaire designs have a thin profile constructed of rugged cast
aluminum with a distinctive capital “I” shaped design through the center. The luminaires also
contain unique ribbing down the length of the fixtures. Cree has two design patents claiming
ornamental designs for light fixtures, as described below, relating to its CPY250® luminaire.
Wholesale LLC and Smart Technology LLC, began selling a knock-off “Canopy Light Modern
Design” product, the LED Canopy 130W 5700K, through a website called LED King
(ledking.us). The depiction below is from the LEDKING.US website, as compared to the
http://www.ledking.us/hikashop-menu-for-categories-listing/product/69-canopylight130w5700k,
accessed on December 20, 2017. The depiction below is from the LEDKING.US website, as
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http://www.ledking.us/hikashop-menu-for-categories-listing/product/69-canopylight130w5700k,
15. Defendants’ LED Canopy 100W and 130W 5700K luminaire products, and
substantially similar luminaires sold through LED King, ledking.us, Amazon, eBay or otherwise
16. Upon information and belief, Defendants Smart Technology LLC and/or
Milwaukee Wholesale LLC are selling LED King knock-off canopy luminaires on eBay under the
username “ledking*us.” LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are being offered on eBay using
the same picture as in paragraph 14 above, for example as the “130Watt LED Gas Station Canopy
Warehouse-Highbay-5700K-UL-DLC-130-W-
/121974668198?epid=1562731115&hash=item1c6641bba6:g:S2UAAOSwoydWlo8W, accessed
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17. Upon information and belief, Defendants Smart Technology LLC and/or
Milwaukee Wholesale LLC are selling LED King knock-off canopy luminaires on eBay under the
username “ourledhouse.” The LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are being offered for sale
through the “ourledhouse” username using the same pictures as described in paragraph 14 above,
for example as the “130Watt LED Gas Station Canopy LED light” at
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canopy-130W-LED-Light-Drop-Lens-Gas-Station-Warehouse-
Highbay-5700K-UL-DLC-10yr/162072931194?hash=item25bc4cab7a:g:ZJcAAOSwZetXOdiH,
18. Upon information and belief, Defendants Smart Technology LLC and/or
Milwaukee Wholesale LLC are also selling LED King knock-off canopy luminaires in 100 watts
on eBay under the username “ledking*us.” LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are being
offered on eBay using a near-identical picture as in paragraph 14 above, for example as the
LED-Light-Drop-Lens-Gas-Station-Warehouse-Highbay-5700K-UL-DLC-
10yrs/121991001150?epid=1562731115&hash=item1c673af43e:g:LtwAAOSwiYFXJ3OG,
19. Upon information and belief, Defendants Smart Technology LLC and/or
Milwaukee Wholesale LLC are also selling LED King knock-off canopy luminaires on Amazon.
LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are being offered on Amazon using the same picture as in
paragraph 14 above, for example as the “130Watt LED Gas Station Canopy LED Light” at
https://www.amazon.com/LED-Station-Warehouse-130W-
5700K/dp/B01FL6AV8I/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1513806176&sr=8-
8&keywords=LED+king+canopy.
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20. Upon information and belief, Defendants Smart Technology LLC and/or
Milwaukee Wholesale LLC have knowledge of the ’844 and ’084 patents and/or have willfully
21. Defendants’ LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are copies of Cree’s
CPY250® luminaire design. Defendants’ sales of LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are
damaging to the goodwill associated with Cree’s product and Cree’s reputation.
22. Cree repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of the foregoing paragraphs
23. Cree is the owner of United States Design Patent No. 721,844 (“the ’844 Patent”)
titled “Light Fixture.” The ’844 Patent was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office on January 27, 2015. A true and correct copy of the ’844 Patent is attached
as Exhibit A.
24. Cree has practiced the ’844 patent in connection with the commercialization of its
CPY250® product. Cree marks its CPY250® products with the ’844 patent.
25. As the owner of the ’844 Patent, Cree is authorized and has standing to bring legal
26. Defendants have infringed, and will continue to infringe, in violation of 35 U.S.C.
§ 271, by making, using, selling, offering, to sell in, and/or importing into the United States LED
King knock-off canopy luminaires. Milwaukee Wholesale LLC and Smart Technology LLC offer
the LED King knock-off canopy luminaires for sale through a website called LED King, which
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27. Defendants infringe the ’844 Patent because, inter alia, in the eye of an ordinary
observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, the design of the ’844 Patent and the
designs of Defendants’ LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are substantially the same, the
resemblance being such as to deceive such an ordinary observer, inducing them to purchase one
28. Upon information and belief, Defendants have actual knowledge of the ’844 Patent
and actual knowledge that its activities constitute direct infringement of the ’844 Patent, or has
willfully blinded itself to the infringing nature of its activities, and yet continues its infringing
activities.
29. Defendants’ infringement of the ’844 Patent has been and will continue to be
30. As a result of Defendants’ infringement of the ’844 Patent, Cree has suffered and
will continue to suffer irreparable and monetary damages in an amount to be determined at trial,
but in no event less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by the
Court.
31. Cree repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of the foregoing paragraphs
32. Cree is the owner of United States Design Patent No. 743,084 (“the ’084 Patent”)
titled “Light Fixture.” The ’084 Patent was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office on November 10, 2015. A true and correct copy of the ’084 Patent is
attached as Exhibit B.
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33. Cree has practiced the ’084 patent in connection with the commercialization of its
CPY250® product. Cree marks its CPY250® products with the ’084 patent.
34. As the owner of the ’084 Patent, Cree is authorized and has standing to bring legal
35. Defendants have infringed, and will continue to infringe, in violation of 35 U.S.C.
§ 271, by making, using, selling, offering, to sell in, and/or importing into the United States LED
King knock-off canopy luminaires. Milwaukee Wholesale LLC and Smart Technology LLC offer
the LED King knock-off canopy luminaires for sale through a website called LED King, which
36. Defendants infringe the ’084 Patent because, inter alia, in the eye of an ordinary
observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, the design of the ’084 Patent and the
design of Defendants’ LED King knock-off canopy luminaires are substantially the same, the
resemblance being such as to deceive such an ordinary observer, inducing them to purchase one
37. Upon information and belief, Defendants have actual knowledge of the ’084 Patent
and actual knowledge that its activities constitute direct infringement of the ’084 Patent, or has
willfully blinded itself to the infringing nature of its activities, and yet continues its infringing
activities.
38. Defendants’ infringement of the ’084 Patent has been and will continue to be
39. As a result of Defendants’ infringement of the ’084 Patent, Cree has suffered and
will continue to suffer irreparable and monetary damages in an amount to be determined at trial,
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but in no event less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by the
Court.
40. Cree repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of the foregoing paragraphs
U.S.C. § 1125. The protectable trade dress of Cree’s CPY250® luminaire are nonfunctional
42. Defendants unauthorized distribution and sale of the LED King knock-off canopy
43. On information and belief, Defendants have used in connection with sales of LED
King knock-off canopy luminaires, false designations of origin and false and misleading
descriptions and representations, which misrepresent the nature, characteristics and qualities of
those goods and falsely describe the origin, sponsorship, approval, or association of Defendants’
products.
44. Defendants’ sales of LED King knock-off canopy luminaires, which make use of
Cree’s CPY250® luminaire’s trade dress, falsely and misleadingly describe and suggest that the
product they are selling and offering for sale emanates from Cree, cause confusion and mistake,
deceive and mislead the purchasing public, trade upon Cree’s high quality reputation, and
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46. Upon information and belief, Defendants have actual knowledge that the sales of
LED King knock-off canopy luminaires, which make use of Cree’s CPY250® luminaire’s trade
dress, willfully, falsely, and misleadingly describe and suggest that the products they are selling
and offering for sale emanates from Cree; willfully causes confusion and mistake; willfully
deceive and mislead the purchasing public; willfully trade upon Cree’s high quality reputation,
and willfully and improperly appropriate to Defendants the valuable rights of Cree.
47. Defendants’ wrongful acts have and will continue to cause irreparable injury to
Cree and infringe upon Cree’s trade dress in the future unless and until they are enjoined by this
Court. Cree has no adequate remedy at law and is thus damaged in an amount that is yet to be
determined.
48. Cree repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of the foregoing paragraphs
49. Wis. Stat. § 100.18 provides that no “firm, corporation or association … with
indirectly, to the public for sale … shall make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the
public … in this state, in a … label … or in any other way similar or dissimilar to the foregoing,
misleading.”
deceptive and unlawful marketing in violation of Wisconsin law, by misrepresenting to the public,
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such as potential customers viewing the products on LEDKing.us, that they are selling Cree
products, when they do not have such authorization or consent from Cree.
51. Cree has suffered damages as a direct and proximate result of Defendants’
WHEREFORE, Cree prays for entry of judgment against each Defendant (and its
subsidiaries, successors, parents, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, servants, and employees)
as follows:
A. An entry of judgment in favor of Cree and against Defendants of all claims alleged
herein;
permanent injunction from directly or indirectly making, having made, using, selling
C. An award of all profits incurred by Defendants due to the unfair competition and
unauthorized sale or use of the products infringing the ’844 and the ’084 Patents, or in
D. An award for all damages suffered by Cree and profits earned by Defendants from
E. An award for all damages, including costs and reasonable attorney fees, suffered by
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providing reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and interests on those fees and costs in
favor of Cree;
amount sufficient to deter and punish Defendants for their willful and wrongful acts;
I. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
JURY DEMAND
Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Cree demands a trial by jury
By s/ Christopher G. Hanewicz
Christopher G. Hanewicz
[email protected]
Michelle M. Umberger
[email protected]
Autumn N. Nero
[email protected]
1 East Main Street, Suite 201
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-7460 (Phone)
(608) 663-7499 (Facsimile)
Attorneys for Plaintiff,
Cree, Inc.
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JS 44 (Rev. 06/17) CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
Place an “X” in the appropriate box (required): Green Bay Division Milwaukee Division
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Christopher G. Hanewicz, Michelle M. Umberger, Autumn N. Nero
Perkins Coie LLP, 1 E. Main St., Ste. 201, Madison WI 53703
II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
1 U.S. Government 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State 1 1 Incorporated or Principal Place 4 4
of Business In This State
2 U.S. Government 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State 2 2 Incorporated and Principal Place 5 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replaces nor supplements the filings and service of pleading or other papers as
required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is
required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. Consequently, a civil cover sheet is submitted to the Clerk of
Court for each civil complaint filed. The attorney filing a case should complete the form as follows:
I.(a) Plaintiffs-Defendants. Enter names (last, first, middle initial) of plaintiff and defendant. If the plaintiff or defendant is a government agency, use
(b) County of Residence. For each civil case filed, except U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county where the first listed plaintiff resides at the
(c) Attorneys. Enter the firm name, address, telephone number, and attorney of record. If there are several attorneys, list them on an attachment, noting
in this section "(see attachment)".
II. Jurisdiction. The basis of jurisdiction is set forth under Rule 8(a), F.R.Cv.P., which requires that jurisdictions be shown in pleadings. Place an "X"
United States plaintiff. (1) Jurisdiction based on 28 U.S.C. 1345 and 1348. Suits by agencies and officers of the United States are included here.
United States defendant. (2) When the plaintiff is suing the United States, its officers or agencies, place an "X" in this box.
Federal question. (3) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1331, where jurisdiction arises under the Constitution of the United States, an amendment
Diversity of citizenship. (4) This refers to suits under 28 U.S.C. 1332, where parties are citizens of different states. When Box 4 is checked, the
citizenship of the different parties must be checked. (See Section III below; NOTE: federal question actions take precedence over diversity
cases.)
III. Residence (citizenship) of Principal Parties. This section of the JS 44 is to be completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated above. Mark this
section for each principal party.
IV. Nature of Suit. Place an "X" in the appropriate box. If there are multiple nature of suit codes associated with the case, pick the nature of suit code
that is most applicable. Click here for: Nature of Suit Code Descriptions.
VI. Cause of Action. Report the civil statute directly related to the cause of action and give a brief description of the cause. Do not cite jurisdictional
statutes unless diversity. Example: U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC 553 Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service
VII. Requested in Complaint. Class Action. Place an "X" in this box if you are filing a class action under Rule 23, F.R.Cv.P.
Demand. In this space enter the actual dollar amount being demanded or indicate other demand, such as a preliminary injunction.
Jury Demand. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether or not a jury is being demanded.
VIII. Related Cases. This section of the JS 44 is used to reference related pending cases, if any. If there are related pending cases, insert the docket
numbers and the corresponding judge names for such cases.
Date and Attorney Signature. Date and sign the civil cover sheet.
FG 2
FG. 3
(56) References Cited 8,529,085 B2* 9, 2013 Josefowicz ............. F21S 8,086
362,158
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS D721,844 S * 1/2015 Lay ................................ D26/71
2009, OO86472 A1* 4/2009 Kinnune ................. F21V 15.01
7,798,670 B2 9, 2010 Kinnune 362,157
D627,093 S * 11, 2010 Shiau ............................. D26/71 2009,0296403 A1 12, 2009 Zhang et al.
D630,790 S * 1, 2011 Josefowicz .................... D26/71 2012,0087118 A1* 4, 2012 Bailey ..................... F2V 29.75
D668,370 S * 10, 2012 Guercio ......................... D26/71 362,235
D673,720 S * 1, 2013 Bailey ...... D26, 138 2014/O247590 A1* 9, 2014 Wilcox ................... F21V 29.74
D676, 177 S * 2, 2013 Akinrele ........................ D26/71 362,231
8.430,532 B2* 4, 2013 Lee ....................... F21V 29/004
362,294 * cited by examiner
FG. 2
FIG 3
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)
)
)
CREE, INC. )
Plaintiff )
v. ) Civil Action No.
MILWAUKEE WHOLESALE LLC d/ )
b/a LED King and/or LEDKING.US and )
SMART TECHNOLOGY LLC d/b/a )
LED King and/or LEDKING.US, )
Defendants )
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you receive it) – or 60 days if you are
the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12(a)(2) or (3) – you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney,
whose name and address are:
Christopher G. Hanewicz
Perkins Coie LLP
1 East Main Street, Suite 201
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-7460
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in
the complaint. You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
STEPHEN C. DRIES, CLERK OF COURT
Date:
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk
PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(l))
This summons and the attached complaint for (name of individual and title, if any):
☐ I personally served the summons and the attached complaint on the individual at (place):
on (date) ; or
☐ I left the summons and the attached complaint at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)
☐ Other (specify):
My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ 0.00
Date:
Server’s signature
Server’s address
)
)
)
CREE, INC. )
Plaintiff )
v. ) Civil Action No.
MILWAUKEE WHOLESALE LLC d/ )
b/a LED King and/or LEDKING.US and )
SMART TECHNOLOGY LLC d/b/a )
LED King and/or LEDKING.US, )
Defendants )
Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you receive it) – or 60 days if you are
the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12(a)(2) or (3) – you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney,
whose name and address are:
Christopher G. Hanewicz
Perkins Coie LLP
1 East Main Street, Suite 201
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 663-7460
If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the
complaint. You also must file your answer or motion with the court.
Date:
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk
PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(l))
This summons and the attached complaint for (name of individual and title, if any):
☐ I personally served the summons and the attached complaint on the individual at (place):
on (date) ; or
☐ I left the summons and the attached complaint at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)
☐ Other (specify):
My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ 0.00
Date:
Server’s signature
Server’s address