In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d : Ma rc h 2 , 2 0 1 5

S 1 4 A1 8 2 4 . INDIA-AMERICAN CULTURAL AS S OCIATION, INC.

v . ILINK P ROF ES S IONALS

, INC.

HINES , P re sid in g Ju stic e

.

Th is is a n a p p e a l b y d e fe n d a n t In d ia -Am e ric a n Cu ltu ra l Asso c i a t i o n

(“ IACA” ) fro m th e g ra n t o f p la in tiff iLin k P r o fe ssio na ls, In c

. ’s (“ iLin k ” )

e m e rg e nc y m otio n fo r a n in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n in its su it a lle g in g , in te r a lia

,

th e in frin g e m e n t o f sta te re g iste re d se rv ic e m a rk s. F o r th e re a so n s wh ic h fo llo w,

we a ffirm

.

Th is d isp u te c o n c e rn s th e u se o f th e se rv ic e m a rk s , “ M i s s In d ia

Ge o rg ia ” a n d “ Miss Te e n In dia Ge org ia ,” (c o lle c tiv e ly “ Ma rk s” ). T h e M a r k s a r e

u se d in c o n n e c tio n with b e a uty p a g e an ts, in itia lly h o ste d in 1 98 7 by IACA, a

n o n pro fit o rg a

n iz a tio n fo c u se d o n su p p o rtin g In d ia n-Am e ric a n s a n d p re se rv in g

I n dia n c u ltu re

. IACA c o n d u c te d th e p a g e a n ts u n d e r th e Ma rk s fro m 1 9 8 7

th ro u g h 2 0 1 0

. In 2 0 1 1

, fa c in g b u dg e ta ry re stric tio ns, IACA d e c id e d n o t to h o ld

th e “Miss In d ia Ge o rg ia ” a n d “ M i ss Te e n In d ia Ge o rg ia ” p a g e a n ts. In 2 0 1 2

,iLin k

, a p ro m o te r of b e a u ty p a g e a n ts a n d wh o se pre sid e n t h a d b e e n in v o lv e d in

th e “ Miss In d ia

Ge o rg ia ” a n d “ Miss Te e n In d ia Ge o rg ia ” p a ge a nts in th e p a st,

p ro m ote d a n d h o ste d b o th pa g e a n ts, a n d IACA a p p e a re d in th e p a g e a n ts’

p ro g ra m a s a sp o n so r. Af t e r iLin k a n n ou nc e d its in te n tio n to ho st th e 2 0 1 3

p a g e a nts, a n d i t s s ch e d u le d d a te of Ju ly 2 0

, 20 13

, IACA a n n o u n c e d th a t it

wo u ld ho ld th e “ Miss In dia -Ge o rg ia ” a n d “ Miss T e e n In d ia -Ge o rg ia ” p a g e a n ts

th e we ek b e f

o r e , on Ju ly 1 3

, 2 0 1 3

. Bo th p a rtie s p ro m o te d th e ir e ve n ts a n d

so u g h t sp o n so rsh ip s.

On Ap ril 1 2

, 2 0 1 3

, i Lin k file d

, with th e Offic e o f th e S e c re ta ry o f S ta te

o f Ge o rg ia

, t h e m a rk “ Miss In d ia Ge o rg ia ,” and th e n o n Ap ril 1 6

, 20 13

, file d

with th a t o ffic e th e m a rk

, “ Miss Te e n In d ia G e o r g i a .” iLin k a lso a c q u ire d a n

in te rn e t d o m a in n a m e a n d u se d th a t we b site to a d ve rtise its p a g e a n t b u sin e ss.

iLin k se n t IACA a le tte r da te d Ma y 2 0

, 2 0 1 3

, d e m a n din g th a t IACA c e a se use

o f “ M iss In d ia Ge o rg ia ” a nd “ M i s s Te e n In d ia Ge o rg ia .” On Ma y 3 1, 2 0 1 3

,

IACA se n t iLin k

a le tte r d e m a n d in g th a t it c e a se its u se o f th e Ma rk s. Ne ith e r

p a rty a c c e d e d

.

On Ju n e 1 9

, 20 1 3

, iLin k file d in su p e rio r c o u rt a “Ve rifie d Co m pla in t fo r

In frin g e m e n t o f Re g iste re d S e rv ic e Ma rk s, fo r Te m p ora ry a n d P e rm a n e n t

2In

ju n c tiv e Re lie f, a nd fo r Oth e r Re m e d ie s,” a g a in st IACA a lle g in g th e

in frin g e m e n t of re g iste re d se rv ic e m a rk s p ursu a n t to O CGA § 10 -1 -4 4 0 e t se q .;

se rv ic e m a rk in frin g e m e nt a s a fra u d fo r wh ic h e q u ity will g ra n t re lie f; v io la tio n

o f Ge o rg ia ’s Un ifo rm De c e p tiv e Tra d e P ra c tic e s A c t, OCGA § 1 0 -1 -3 7 0 e t se q .;

c o n v e rsio n ; a n d to rtio us in te rfe re n c e with c o n tra c t a nd b u sin es s r e la tio n s.

iLin k a sk e d fo r, in te r a lia

, a te m p o ra ry re stra in in g o r d e r an d p e rm a n e n t

in ju n c tio n e n

jo in in g IACA fro m in frin g in g up on th e re g iste re d m a rk s a n d

c o m p e tin g u n fa irly a g a in st iLin k

, ju d gm e n t a g a i n st IACA in a n a m o un t to b e

p ro v e d a t tria l, in te re st, a tto rn e y fe e s, litig a tio n e x p e n se s, a n d p u n itiv e d a m a g e s.

On J u n e 2 6

, 2 0 1 3

, th e su p e rio r c o u rt h e ld a h e a rin g o n iLin k ’s e m e rg e n c y

m o tio n fo r a n in te rlo c u to ry in ju nc tio n, a n d fo l l o win g su c h he a rin g , o n Ju ly 1

,

2 0 1 3, issu e d th e n o w c on te ste d in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n, e n

jo in in g IACA fro m

“ u s i n g , d isp la y in g , a d v e rtisin g o r se llin g th e se rv ic e m a rk s “ Miss I n d i a G e o r g i a ”

a n d “ M iss Te e n In d ia Ge o rg ia ,” w i th o r with o u t h y p h e ns o r in a n y o th e r

su b sta n tia lly sim ila r o r c on fu sin g ly sim ila r f o r m, a n d sp e c ific a lly d oin g a n y

su c h th in g s in c o n n e c tio n with IACA’s Ju ly 2 0 1 3 p a g e a nt o r c o m p e titio n

. 1

1 As the superior court commented at the hearing in t h e matter and a s its order reflects, the interlocutory injunction did not prohibit I ACA from h olding the pag eants, but o nly that the pag eants not proceed under the subject names.

3In d e c id in g w h e th e r to g ra n t a n in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n , a tria l c o u rt ha s

b ro a d disc re tio n , k e e p in g in m in d th e p u rp o se o f a n in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n

wh ic h is to p re se rv e th e sta tu s q u o p e n d in g a fin a l a dju d ic a tio n o f th e m e rits o f

th e c a se

. OCGA § 9

– 5

– 8 ; H o lto n v

. Ph

y sic ia n On c o lo g

y S e rv ic e s, L P

, 2 9 2 Ga

.

8 6 4

, 8 6 6 (2 ) (7 4 2 S E2 d 7 0 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ). In g e n e ra l, fa c to rs fo r th e tria l c o u rt ’s

c o n sid e ra tio n a re wh e th e r th e re is a su b sta n tia l th re a t th a t th e m o v in g p a rty will

su ffe r irre p a ra

b le in ju ry if th e in

ju n c tio n d oe s no t issu e , wh e th e r th e th re a te n e d

in ju ry to th e m o v a n t o u twe ig h s th e th re a te n e d h a rm p ossib le to th e p a rty b e in g

e n jo in e d , wh e th e r th e re is a su b sta n tia l lik e lih o o d th a t th e m ov an t will p re v a il

a t tria l, a n d w h e th e r th e g ra n t o f th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n will no t d is s e rv e

th e pu b lic in te re st. Ho lto n v

. Ph y sic ia n On c o lo g

y S e rv ic e s, L P

, a t 86 6 (2 ). Th is

Co u rt will n o t ov e rtu rn a tria l c o u rt’ s d e c isio n to g ra n t a n in te rlo c u to ry

in ju n c tio n u n le ss a n e rro r o f la w b y th e tria l c o u rt c o n trib u te d to t h e d e c isio n ,

o r t h e re wa s n o e vid e nc e on a n e le m e n t e sse n tia l to re lie f, o r th e tri a l c o u r t

m a n ife stly a

b use d its b ro a d d isc re tio n . Id . a t 8 6 7 (2 ).

IACA c o n te nd s th a t th e su p e rio r c o urt d id in d e e d a b u se its d isc re tio n in

g ra n tin g th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n be c a

u se it tre a te d th e sta te tra d e m a rk

re g istra tio ns a s m a n d a to ry fo r e sta b lish in g pro te c ta ble tra d e m a rk rig h ts ra th e r

4th a n a s p e rm issiv e , th a t IACA o wn e d p rio r rig h ts in th e Ma rk s b y v i rtu e o f

d e c a d e s o f u s e, a n d t h a t b e c a u se o f its sta tu s a s “se nio r u se r” o f th e Ma rk s, in

o rd e r to issu e th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n , th e su p e rio r c o u rt m u st h a v e

wro ng fu lly fo u n d th a t IACA e it h e r a b a n do ne d its rig h ts in th e Ma rk s o r

a ssig ne d th e m

to iLin k . Bu t, IACA’s a rg u m e n ts a re u na v a ilin g

. 2

Ag a in

, th e pu rp o se o f a n in te rlo c uto ry in ju n c tio n is to m a in ta in th e sta tu s

q u o u n til th e la w su it c a n b e th o ro ug h ly a d ju d ic a te d

. It is a sto p -g a

p m e a su re to

p re v e n t irre pa ra b l e in

ju ry o r h a rm to th o se in v o lv e d in th e litig a tio n. Th u s, a

d e te rm in a tio n o f th e sta tu s qu o is e sse n tia l. C e rta in ly

, it c a n b e a rg u e d th a t

in a sm uc h a s iLin k wa s th e la st e n tity

, w i t h o u t c o n tro v e rsy , to h o ld th e n a m e d

p a g e a nts p rio r to th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n h e a rin g , re g a rd le ss of a n y issu e s

o f re g istra tio n of se rv ic e ma r k s by iLin k o r a b a n d o n m e n t o r a ssig n m e n t b y

IACA, th e sta tu s q u o wa s iLin k b e in g th e h o st o f th e e v e nt s u s i n g t h e Ma rk s.

Bu t, th is sim

p listic a p p ro a c h d o e s n o t ta k e in to a cc o u n t th e to ta lity o f th e

e v id e n c e b e fo re th e su p e rio r c o u rt a t th e tim e o f th e i n te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n

2 I ACA’s contentions of error and arg u ments in support thereof focus on the propriety of the interlocutory injunction in reg ard to iL ink ’ s c l a i m of infring ement of service marks reg istered
pursuant to state statutes; therefore, the issuance of injunctive relief based upon iL ink’s additional claims is not at issue in this appeal.

5h e a rin g in re g a rd to issu e s o f a

b a n d o n m e n t o r a ssig n m e n t of th e Ma rk s. At th a t

tim e , th e su p e rio r c ou rt h a d b e fo re it e x h ib its a p pe n d e d to iLin k ’s un an swe re d

v e rifie d c o m

p la in t, 3 wh ic h e x h ib its we re e x p re ssly a d m itte d in to e v i d e n c e b y t h e

su p e rio r c o u rt a t th e h e a r i n g

. T h e se e x hib its in c lu d e d c o p ie s o f th e sta te

re g istra tio ns o f th e M a rk s a n d a d v e rtise m e n ts p ro m o tin g iLin k ’ s p r e s e n ta tio n

o f th e pa g e a n ts u n d e r su c h Ma rk s. Th e v e rifie d c o m p l ain t a lso c o n ta in e d th e

e x p re ss “a ffid a v it” b y iLin k ’s p re sid e n t, S a lm a n Mo lu

, swe a rin g to th e a c c u ra c y

a n d tru th fu ln e ss o f th e fa c tu a l r e p r e s e n ta tio n s m a in ta in e d in th e c o m p la in t,

wh ic h in c lu d e d in p e rtin e n t p a rt th a t iLin k le a rn e d th a t IACA h a d d isc o n tin u e d

its a tte m p ts to c o n d u c t p a g e a n ts; th a t o n o r a b ou t No v e m

be r , 2 0 1 1

, Mo lu

c o n ta c te d IACA to c o n firm th a t IACA ha d n o in te n tio n o f c o n d u c tin g a p a g e a n t

in 2 0 1 2 ; th a t Mo lu wa s in fo rm e d b y re p re se n ta tiv e s o f IACA, Rin a Gup ta a n d

La k sh m i Ve da la

, th a t th is wa s tru e ; th a t IACA ha d n o o bje c tio n to iLin k h o stin g

th e p a g e a n ts un d e r th e n a m e s a t is s u e b e c a u se IACA h a d n o p la n s to c o n d u c t

a n y p a g e a nts, a n d th e re fo re , IACA h a d a b a n d o n e d a n y c la im to th e Ma rk s; th a t

IACA wa s o n e o f th e a d v e rtisin g sp o nso rs o f th e 2 0 1 2 pa g e a n ts a nd th a t su c h

3 As noted, the hearing took place on J une 26, 2013; I ACA filed i t s “ a nswer, affirmative defenses, and counterclaims” on J uly 19, 2013.

6a d v e rtise m e n t wa s p ro v id e d a t n o c h a rg e in c o n sid e ra tio n of IACA ’ s

a b a n d o n m e n t o f a n y c la im s it h a d to th e Ma rk s wh ic h h a d a lre a d y “ d isc o n tin u e d

a n d a b a n d o n e d ” ; a n d th a t be c a u se o f th e su c c e ss o f th e p ag e a n t s , IACA th e n

d e c id e d to r e n e g e o n its a g re e m e n t with iLin k a n d so u g h t to “ re c la im ” its

a b a n d o n e d p a g e a n ts a n d m a rk s. Mo lu wa s p re se n t a t th e in te rlo c u to ry

in ju n c tio n h e a

rin g to c o n firm wh a t wa s a lle g e d in th e v e rifie d c o m pla in t. 4

Th e mo r n in g o f th e h e a rin g , IACA file d two a ffid a v its in o p p o sitio n to

iLin k ’s m o tio n , 5 o n e fro m Ka u sh a l Trip a th i, th e p r e sid e n t of IACA, a n d th e

o th e r fro m R in a G u p ta

, th e v ic e -p re sid e n t o f IACA, wh ic h a lle g e d in re le v a n t

p a rt th a t th e re we re n o re p re se nta tio n s to M o lu re g a rd in g IACA’s in te n t to

o rg a niz e , sp o nso r, o r ho st th e p a g e a nts b e y o n d 2 0 12

, a n d th a t Gu p ta h a d n o

a u t h o rity to m a k e su c h d e c isio n s o n IACA’s b e h a lf; th a t IACA re m a in e d

c o m m itte d to c o n tin u in g th e p a ge a n ts o n c e it wa s a b le to o b ta in th e n e c e ssa ry

fu n d in g a n d id e n tify a

p p ro pria te p e rso n n e l “ to ta k e th e p a g e a n t fo rwa rd ” ; a n d

4 I t is plain from the transcript of the hearing

, that the superior court accepted Molu’s presence and represented willing

ness to confirm the alleg ations of the complaint as such confirmation.

5 I ACA complains that the superior court did not consider, for temporal reasons or otherwise,
the affidavits prior to its decision to issue the interlocutory injunction. However, the superior court’s
order is silent o n the matter, and inasmuch as the affidavits were filed with the superior court prior

to the hearing and the issuance of the interlocutory injunction five day s later, they will be deemed to have been considered by the superior court for the purpose of the present appeal.

7th a t a t n o tim e d id IACA d e c id e to “ a b a n d o n fo r a ll tim e ” th e pa g e a n ts o r its

tra d e m a rk

rig h ts in th e m

.

Th u s, th e e v id e n c e re g a rd in g a b a n d on m e n t o r a ssig n m e n t of th e Ma rk s,

wa s in d isp ute

. An d

, wh e re e v id e n c e is c o nflic tin g o n a n issu e re le v a nt to th e

issu a nc e o f th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n , a t r ia l c o u rt c a n n o t b e fo un d to h a v e

a b u se d its disc re tio n in e ith e r g ra ntin g o r d e n y in g su c h in ju n c tio n

.

J a n se n -Nic h o ls v

. Co lo n ia l Pip e lin e Co

. , 2 9 5 Ga

. 7 8 6

, 7 8 8 ( 7 6 4 S E2 d 3 6 1 )

(2 0 1 4 ).

F u r t h er , t h e j u d g me n t o f th e su p e rio r c o u rt m u st b e a ffirm e d fo r y e t

a n o th e r re a so n. It wa s u n d isp u te d th a t th e Ma rk s we re re g iste re d with th e Offic e

o f th e S e c re ta ry o f S ta te of Ge o rg ia a s o wn e d by iLin k

, p ursu a n t to OCGA § 1 0

-

1 -4 4 0

, e t se q

. A s su c h

, th e rig h ts a n d re m e die s p ro v id e d in th e sta tu to ry sc h e m e

a p p lie d

. T h e re le v a nt in q u i r y t h e n i s w h a t im p a c t d id su c h re g istra tio n h a v e ,

if a n y , with re g a rdto th e q u e stio n o f th e “ sta tu s q uo ” o f u se o f th e Ma rk s.

Tra d e n a m e s a re p ro te c te d in th is S ta te b y sta tu te a s we ll a s b y c o m m o n

la w. G ia n t Ma rt C

o rp

. v

. Gia n t Disc o un t Fo o d s, In c

. , 2 4 7 Ga

. 7 7 5 (2 7 9 S E2 d

6 8 3 ) ( 1 9 8 1 ). OCGA § 1 0 -1 -4 4 0

, e t se q

. , pro vid e s fo r th e p ro te c tio n o f

tra d e m a rk s, se rv ic e m a rk s, la b e ls a n d a d v e rtisin g b y v irtu e o f re g istra tio n with

8th e S e c re ta ry o f S ta te of G e o rg ia

. Gia n t M a rt C o rp

. v

. Gia n t Disc o u n t Fo o d s,

In c ., a t 7 7 5 -7 7 6. Th e p ro v i s i o n s o f OCGA § 1 0 -1 -4 4 0 e t se q ., re g a rd in g

re g istra tio n a re p e rm issiv e n o t m a nd a to ry , a n d re g istra tio n itse lf do e s n o t

o p e ra te to d e p r i v e a

n o th e r o f a p re v io u sly a c q u ire d tra d e n a m e

. W o mb le v

.

Pa rk e r , 2 08 G a

. 3 7 8

, 3 8 0 (4 ) (6 7 S E2 d 1 33 ) (1 9 5 1 ). No r d oe s re g istra tio n

u n d e r th e sta t u t ory sc h e m e “ a d v e rse ly a ffe c t th e e n fo rc e m e n t o f rig h ts in

tra d e m a rk s o r se rv ic e m a rk s a c q u ire d in g o o d fa ith a t a n y tim e in c om m o n la w.”

OCGA § 1 0 -1 -4 5 2

. Ho w e v e r, wh a t re gistra tio n o f a se rv ic e m ark o r tra d e m a rk

d o e s d o is p e rm it th e o w n e r o f th e re g iste re d m a rk to in v ok e th e re m e d y o f a

c iv il a c tio n fo r d a m a g e s pu rsu a n t to OCGA § 10 -1 -4 5 0

, 6 an d m o re sig n ific a n tly

6 OCGA § 10-1-450 provides:

Subject to Code Section 10-1-452, any person who shall:

(1) Use, without the consent of the reg istrant, a ny reproduction, c ounterfeit, copy , or colorable imitation of a trademark or service mark reg istered under this part in
connection w ith the sale, offering for sale, or advertising of any g oods or services on

or in connection w ith which such use is l ikely to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive as to the source of orig in of such g oods or services; or

(2) Reproduce, counterfeit, copy , or c olorably imitate any such trademark or service
mark and apply such r eproduction, counterfeit, copy , or c olorable imitation to labels, sig ns, prints, p ackag e s, wrappers, r eceptacles, or advertisements intended to be used

upon o r in connection with the sale or other distribution in this state of such g oods or services;

shall b e liable to a civil action by the owner of such reg istered trademark or service mark f or liquidated d amag es in the amount of $10,000.00, if such act h as been c ommitted with

9fo r th e p u rp o se o f th e p re se n t a p p e a l, to in v ok e in

ju nc tiv e re lie f p ursu a n t to th e

p ro v isio ns o f OCGA § 10 -1 -4 5 1

. 7 Th e re g istra tio n o f a “ lo g o ” o r tra d e n a m e a s

a se rv ic e m a rk o r tra de m a rk is a p re re qu isite to re lie f u n d e r OCGA§ § 1 0-1 -4 5 0 ;

1 0 -1
- 4 5 1

. Die d

ric h v

. Mille r & Me ie r & Asso c ia tes, Arc hite c ts a n d Pla n n e rs,

2 5 4 Ga

. 7 3 4

, 7 3 6 (2 ) ( 3 3 4 S E 2 d 3 0 8 ) (1 9 85 ). Bu t, on c e su c h re g istra tio n is

knowledg e that the trademark or service mark has been reg istered under this part and such

act has been c ommitted w ithout previously o btaining the consent o f the owner thereof, and
for any or all of the remedies provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 10-1-451, ex cept that actual damag es shall not b e r ecoverable when liquidated damag es are soug ht, a nd ex cept that under parag raph (2) of this Code section the reg istrant shall not b e e n t i t l e d t o r ecover profits o r d amag es unless the acts have b een committed w ith knowledg e that such trademark
or service mark is intended to be used to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive.

7 OCGA § 10-1-451 provides in relevant part:

(a) Any owner of a trademark or service mar k r e gistered under this part may proceed by
action to enjoin the manufacture, use, display

, o r sale o f any counterfeits or imitations thereof; an d an y c o u r t of competent jurisdiction may g rant injunctions to r estrain such manufacture, use, display

, or sale as may be by the court d eemed just and reasonable and may require the def

e n d a n t s to pay to such owner all p rofits derived from such wrong ful manufacture, use, d i s p l a y , or sale, a nd all damag es suffered b y reason o f such wrong ful manufacture, u se, d isplay

, or sale, or both profits and damag e s. The enumeration of any rig ht

or remedy in this p art shall not affect a reg istrant' s r ig ht to prosecute under any p enal law of
this state.

(b) Every person, association, or union of working men adopting and using a trademark, trade

name, label, or form o f a d v e r t isement may p roceed b y action; and a ll c ourts having jurisdiction thereof shall g rant injunctions to enjoin subsequent use by another o f the same

or a n y s i m i l a r trademark, trade name, label, or form of advertisement if there ex ists a likelihood o f injury to business reputation or of dilution of t h e d i s t i n c tive quality of the trademark, trade n ame, label, or form of advertisement of the prior user, notwithstanding the
absence of competition between the parties or of confusion as to the source of g oods or services, ex cept that this Code section shall n ot deprive any party of any vested lawful rig hts acquired prior to March 4, 1955.

10a c c o m

p lish e d

, th e p la in la n g u a g e o f OCGA§ § 1 0 -1 -4 5 0 ; 1 0 -1
- 45 1 c o m p e ls th e

c o n c lu sio n th a t fo r th e lim ite d p u rp o se o f in v o k in g th e se sta tu to ry re m e die s, th e

re g istra n t is p re su m e d to b e th e “ o wn e r” o r “ p rio r u se r” o f th e m a rk

. In d e e d

, a

p rio r sta te re g istra tio n g iv e s rise to a re b u ttable p re su m ptio n o f v a lid ity

. Ky le

v

. Ge org ia L o tte ry Co rp

. , 3 0 4 Ga

. Ap p

. 6 3 5

, 63 7 (2 ) (6 9 8 S E2 d 1 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ),

q u o tin g Ha ro d v . S

a g e Pro d u c ts , 1 8 8 F . S u pp

. 2 d 1 3 6 9 , 1 3 7 5 (S .D.Ga .2 0 0 2 ).

An d

, wh ile IACA’ s o ffe re d a ffid a v its m a y h a v e re n d e re d in d isp u te iLin k ’s

c la im s o f a

b a n d o n m e n t o r a ssig n m e n t o f th e Ma rk s, th e su p e rio r c o u rt wa s n o t

re q u ire d to fin d th a t th e y h a d “ o v e rc o m e ” th e sta tu to ry p re su m p tio n o f v a lid ity

,

fo r th e p u rp ose o f th e g ra n t o f in te rim in ju n c tiv e re lie f. In d e e d

, th e sta t u t o ry

sc h e m e , sp e c ific a lly OCGA § 1 0 -1 -4 5 1

, no t o n ly p ro vid e s fo r th e p e rm issiv e

g ra n t o f in

ju n c tio n s b y a c o u rt o f c o m p e te n t ju risd ic tio n in su b se c tio n (a ), b u t

in su b se c tio n (b ) c o n ta in s th e m a n d a te th a t su c h a c o u rt “ sh a ll g ra n t in ju n c tio n s

t o e n jo in su b se q u e n t u se b y a n o th e r o f th e sa m e [m a rk ]

. . . if th e re e x i s t s a

lik e lih o o d o f in

ju ry to b u sin e ss re p uta tio n . . . .”

Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e re is n o b a sis to o v e rtu r n th e su p e rio r c o u rt’s g ra n t o f

in te rlo c u to ry in

ju n c tiv e re lie f to iLin k

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

11S 1 4A1 8 2 4 . INDIA-AMERICAN CULTURAL AS S OCIATION, INC.

v . ILINK P ROF ES S IONALS

, INC.

MELTON, Ju stic e , c on c u rrin g

.

I write se p a ra te ly to p o in t o u t th a t, wh ile th e g e n e ra l p u rp ose o f a n

in te rlo c u to ry in

ju n c tio n is to m a in ta in th e sta tu s q u o , th e re a re c e rta in

c o n sid e ra tio n s wh ic h sh o u ld be ta k e n in to a c c o u n t in re v ie win g th e p ro p rie ty o f

su c h a n in

ju n c tio n

. Am o n g th e fa c to rs to b e c o n s i d e r e d b y a tria l c o u rt in

g ra n tin g a

te m p o ra ry in ju nc tio n a re wh e th e r:

(1 ) th e re is a su b sta n tia l th re a t th a t th e m ov in g p a rty will su ffe r irre p a ra b le in ju ry if th e in

ju n c tio n is n o t g ra n te d ; (2 ) th e th re a te n e d
in ju ry to th e m o v in g p a rty o u twe ig hs th e th re a te n e d h a rm th a t th e in ju nc tio n m a y d o to th e p a rty be in g e n jo in e d ; (3 ) th e re is a

su b sta n tia l lik e lih oo d th a t th e m o v in g p a rty will p re v a il o n th e

m e rits of he r c la im s a t tria l; a n d (4 ) g ra n t in g th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju nc tio n will n o t d isse rv e th e p u b lic in te re st.

(Cita tio n o m itte d .) S RB I n v e stm e nt S e rv ic e s, LLLP v

. Bra n c h Ba n kin g a n d

Tru st Co

., 2 8 9 Ga

. 1

, 5 (3 ) (7 0 9 S E2 d 2 6 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ). A lth ou gh th e tria l c o u rt’s

o rd e r in th is c a se d o e s n o t e x p re ssly a d dre ss th e se fa c to rs, th e tra n sc rip t c la rifie s

th a t e v id e n c e re la tin g to e a c h fa c to r wa s d isc u sse d a n d c o n sid e re d

. F irst, with

re g a rd to iLin k ’s in

ju ry , th e re wa s a rg u m e n t p re se n te d th a t iLin k ’s 20 13 p a g e a n t

wo u ld su ffe r lo ss o f c o n te sta nts a n d re v e nu e if it c o u ld n o t so le ly u se th e se rv ic em a rk s in issu e . S e c o n d , th e tria l c ou rt e x p re ssly we ig h e d th e re sp e c tiv e h a rm s

to iLin k a n d IACA a t th e h e a rin g , a n d i t d e t e rm in e d th a t iLin k’s fo r-p ro fit

b u sin e ss wo u ld h a v e m o re to lo se th a n IACA’s n o n -p ro fit c o m m u n ity

o rg a niz a tio n

. Fu rth e rm o re , th e tria l c ou rt in d ic a te d th a t it wa s ju st e m p lo y in g a n

e q u itab le sto p -g a

p m e a su re , a n d

, a lth o u g h it a llo we d iLin k to te m p ora rily use

th e se rv ic e m a rk s, th e tria l c o u rt re fu se d to e njo i n I A C A f r o m h o ld in g its

p a g e a nt a lto g e th e r

. Th ird

, b a se d o n th e re b u ttab le p re su m p tio n o f iLin k ’s

o w n e r s h i p in th e c o n te ste d se rv ic e m a rk s d u e to sta te re g istra tio n , Ky le v

.

Ge o rg ia Lo tte ry Co rp ., 3 0 4 Ga

. Ap p. 6 3 5

, 6 3 7 (2 ) (6 9 8 S E2 d 1 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ), a lo n g

with iLin k ’s swo rn c on te ntio n th a t IACA h a d e x p re sse d th a t it n o l o n g e r h a d

a n y in te n tio n of u sin g th e m a rk s, it c a n no t b e sa id th a t th e tria l c o urt wo u ld h a v e

a b u se d its d isc re tio n in a

n y d e te rm in a tio n th a t iLin k h a d a su b sta n tia l lik e lih o o d

o f su c c e e d i n g o n th e m e rits. F o u rth a n d fin a lly

, by fin d in g th a t b oth p a g e a n ts

c o u ld be h e ld

, th e tria l c ou rt’s u ltim a te ru lin g lim ite d a n y p o ssib le d isse rv ic e to

th e pu b lic

. Th e re fo re , c o n sid e rin g a ll o f th e se fa c to rs, it c a n n o t be c o n c lu d e d

th a t th e tria l c o u rt a

b u se d its d isc re tio n in gra n tin g th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n

.

No n e th e le ss, a s th e tria l c o u rt n o te d

, th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n is ju st a

te m p o ra ry re m e d y b a se d o n lim ite d fa c ts. A tria l re m a in s n e c e ssa ry to d e te rm in e

th e u ltim a te o wn e rsh ip in th e d isp u te d m a rk s.

2