Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01549/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01549-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1121 Trademark Infringement (jurisdiction)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PROFIL INSTITUT FUR

STOFFWECHSELFORSCHUNG GMBH,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 16cv1549-LAB (BLM)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION; AND

ORDER DENYING AS MOOT EX

PARTE MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME

vs.

PROSCIENTO, INC.,

Defendant.

On February 21, Defendant ProSciento, Inc. (then known as Profil Institute for Clinical

Research, Inc.) filed a motion for preliminary injunction along with a motion to shorten time. 

ProSciento asks the Court to enjoin Plaintiff's use of the American trademark "Profil" in

connection with upcoming trade shows.

A preliminary injunction is an “extraordinary and drastic remedy” that is not granted

unless the movant carries the burden of persuasion by a clear showing. Mazurek v.

Armstrong, 520 U.S. 968, 972 (1997). The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve

the status quo or prevent irreparable injury pending the resolution of the underlying claim.

Sierra On-line, Inc. v. Phoenix Software, Inc., 739 F.2d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1984). A plaintiff

seeking a preliminary injunction must establish (1) it is likely to succeed on the merits; (2)it

is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, (3) the balance of

16cv1549

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equities tips in its favor and (4) an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Natural Res.

Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20, (2008). Under the Ninth Circuit’s alternate test, a plaintiff

must, among other things, show at least “serious questions” going to the merits. See Lopez

v. Brewer, 680 F.3d 1068, 1072 (9th Cir. 2012).

ProSciento is solely a Defendant both in this case, and in the related case, 16cv2762,

Profil Institut v. ProSciento; it has not filed a complaint, claim, counterclaim, or the like in

either case. While Profil is bringing claims pertaining to the American “Profil” mark, Profil’s

failure to prove its claims would not entitle ProSciento to any relief. Thus, even if ProSciento

prevailed on all claims in both cases, it would not be entitled to any relief. 

Federal courts can issue preliminary injunctions only to the extent they pertain to

pending underlying claims — in other words, where the preliminary injunction would

temporarily grant the same kind of relief as the underlying claims, if successful, would

ultimately merit. See Pac. Radiation Oncology, LLC v. Queen's Med. Ctr., 810 F.3d 631,

636 (9th Cir. 2015) (citing De Beers Consol. Mines v. United States, 325 U.S. 212, 220

(1945)) (“A preliminary injunction is appropriate when it grants relief of the same nature as

that to be finally granted.”) Where, as here, the party is bringing no claims, there is no basis

for issuance of a preliminary injunction. And in fact, the Court lacks authority to do so. Id.

(quoting DeBeers, 325 U.S. at 220) (holding that, unless the preliminary injunction would

grant “relief of the same character as that which may be granted finally,” a district court lacks

authority to grant the requested relief).

Because the Court lacks authority to grant the preliminary injunction, ProSciento’s

motion is summarily DENIED. The motion to shorten time is DENIED AS MOOT. This order

does not prevent ProSciento from seeking a preliminary injunction in the future, in the event

it files a complaint or counterclaim.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 27, 2017

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

16cv1549

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