Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/233430092/Hollywood-Fashion-Tape-v-Beauty-Union-Global
Timestamp: 2017-12-18 09:40:30
Document Index: 298628304

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§\n2201', '§ 1331', '§ 1391', '§\n34', '§ 285']

Hollywood Fashion Tape v. Beauty Union Global | Declaratory Judgment | Patent Infringement
Description: Official Complaint for Declaratory Judgement in Civil Action No. 0:14-cv-02863: Hollywood Fashion Tape, Inc. v. Beauty Union Global Ltd. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, ...
Official Complaint for Declaratory Judgement in Civil Action No. 0:14-cv-02863: Hollywood Fashion Tape, Inc. v. Beauty Union Global Ltd. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, no judge yet assigned. See http://news.priorsmart.com/-laGc for more info.
Hollywood Fashion Tape, Inc., Civil File No. _______________
Beauty Union Global Ltd.,
Plaintiff Hollywood Fashion Tape, Inc. for its Complaint against Defendant
Beauty Union Global Ltd. states and alleges as follows:
1. Plaintiff Hollywood Fashion Tape, Inc. (“HFT”) is a Minnesota corporation
with its principal place of business located at 219 North Second Street, Suite 310,
Minneapolis, MN 55401. HFT sells personal care products and clothing accessories on
its website, hollywoodfashionsecrets.com, and through various retailers in the United
2. Upon information and belief, Defendant Beauty Union Global Ltd.
(“Beauty Union”) is a Chinese company with its principal place of business at Unit B,
19/F, Federal Center, 77 Sheung on Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
3. This is an action for declaratory judgment of non-infringement of United
States Patent No. 8,079,388 (the “‘388 patent”) arising under the patent laws of the
United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§
2201-2202. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action under 28
U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a), 2201, and 2202.
4. Upon information and belief, the Court has personal jurisdiction over
Beauty Union based on its sales of products in the State of Minnesota. Beauty Union
sells its Travalo® refillable perfume spray through national retailers located in
Minnesota, including Target, Walgreens, and Macy’s.
5. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391.
6. An actual controversy exists between HFT and Beauty Union regarding
infringement of the ‘388 patent.
HFT’s Perfume Atomizer Product
7. HFT sells the Perfume Atomizer shown below.
8. HFT does not manufacture the Perfume Atomizer. Instead, HFT purchases
the Perfume Atomizer from a domestic broker named EmpireEMCO, which is located in
9. EmpireEMCO sourced the Perfume Atomizer for HFT from an overseas
factory for domestic distribution.
10. HFT did not provide any specifications or instructions with respect to the
design of the Perfume Atomizer.
The ‘388 Patent
11. Beauty Union is the owner by assignment of the ‘388 patent, which is
entitled “Refill Perfume Bottle.” The ‘388 patent was issued by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) on December 20, 2011. A true and correct copy of the
‘388 patent is attached as Exhibit A.
12. According to USPTO assignment records, the named inventor assigned the
application for the ‘388 patent to Beauty Union on May 20, 2010.
13. The ‘388 patent has only one independent claim, which is reproduced
1. A portable refillable non compressible liquid dispenser adapted to
receive non-compressible liquid from a bottle provided with a spraying
means having a stem through which the non-compressible liquid is
dispensed , the portable refillable non-compressible liquid dispenser
consisting of a body having an upper portion with a first opening and a
bottom portion with a second opening,
wherein the first opening has a vaporizer mechanism for dispensing
non-compressible liquid received in the refillable dispenser, said
vaporizer mechanism comprising a tube positioned within the
dispenser, a pump communicating with the tube, and a nozzle
communicating with the pump, through which nozzle the non-
compressible liquid is sprayed in an outward direction; and
wherein the second opening has a refill mechanism comprising a
check valve adapted to receive the stem of the bottle so that when
the stem is pushed through the check valve, the check valve is open
to and receives the non-compressible liquid through the refill
mechanism from the spraying means of the bottle and when the stem
is withdrawn from the check valve, the check valve is closed to
prevent leakage of the non-compressible liquid.
See Ex. A at col. 4, lns. 28-49.
Beauty Union’s Infringement Allegations
14. On May 23, 2014, counsel for Beauty Union sent a cease and desist letter to
HFT’s CEO, accusing HFT’s Perfume Atomizer of infringing the ‘388 patent. A true and
correct copy of the May 23 letter is attached as Exhibit B.
15. In the letter, Beauty Union demanded, among other things, that HFT “cease
and desist all further sales and offers for sale of its refillable perfume atomizers that
infringe the ‘388 patent . . . .” See Ex. B at 1.
16. Beauty Union closed its letter by threatening the following:
17. On May 30, 2014, counsel for HFT responded, clarifying that HFT was not
aware of the ‘388 patent before receiving Beauty Union’s letter and explaining that more
time was needed to investigate Beauty Union’s infringement allegations.
18. Beauty Union wrote to HFT again on June 10, demanding that HFT
“confirm by June 17, 2014, that HFS will cease and desist its infringement of Beauty
Union’s Patent No. 8,079,388, and provide the remaining information sought in my
letter.” A true and correct copy of the June 10 letter is attached as Exhibit C.
19. Again, Beauty Union threatened that “[u]nless we receive such
confirmation of compliance as well as the requested information by that date, we have
been authorized by Beauty Union to take all necessary steps to enforce its patent against
HFS.” See Ex. C.
20. HFT responded three days later, explaining that based on its preliminary
investigation, the Perfume Atomizer does not infringe the ‘388 patent. HFT also clarified
that it does not manufacture the Perfume Atomizer and identified EmpireEMCO as the
entity from which HFT purchases the accused product.
21. The following week, counsel for HFT and Beauty Union spoke by
telephone and both parties proposed potential resolutions of this matter. Beauty Union
immediately rejected HFT’s proposal.
22. Shortly thereafter, Beauty Union sent cease and desist letters to retailers of
HFT’s Perfume Atomizer.
23. In its letters to HFT’s retailers, Beauty Union represented that HFT’s
Perfume Atomizer infringes the ‘388 patent, and the retailers’ importation, sale, and offer
for sale of the Perfume Atomizer in the United States constitutes patent infringement.
24. Beauty Union’s letters to retailers also represented that Beauty Union had
provided previous notice of infringement to HFT and EmpireEMCO and demanded that
the retailers immediately stop offering for sale or selling HFT’s Perfume Atomizer.
25. Beauty Union threatened to enforce the ‘388 patent against the retailers if
they continue to offer for sale or sell HFT’s Perfume Atomizer.
HFT’s Non-Infringement of the ‘388 Patent
26. As set forth in paragraph 13 above, claim 1 of the ‘388 patent requires a
check valve “adapted to receive the stem” of a perfume bottle so that the check valve
opens when the stem is “pushed through” the check valve.
27. The check valve in the HFT Perfume Atomizer does not interact with the
stem of the perfume bottle in this manner. When refilling HFT’s Perfume Atomizer, the
stem of the perfume bottle is not “pushed through the check valve” or “withdrawn from
the check valve,” as required by the ‘388 patent.
28. For this and other reasons, HFT’s Perfume Atomizer does not infringe the
‘388 patent.
Actual Controversy Between HFT and Beauty Union
29. Based on Beauty Union’s continued allegations of infringement and threats
to “take all necessary steps to enforce its patent,” an actual controversy exists between
Beauty Union and HFT with respect to infringement of the ‘388 patent.
30. HFT restates and realleges each of the allegations set forth in preceding
31. HFT has not infringed and is not infringing the ‘388 patent.
32. HFT is entitled to a declaratory judgment of non-infringement of the ‘388
33. This is an exceptional case entitling HFT to an award of its attorneys’ fees
incurred in connection with prosecuting and defending this action pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §
34. HFT demands a jury trial for all claims so triable.
WHEREFORE, HFT asks the Court to:
1. A judgment declaring that HFT has not infringed and is not infringing any
valid claim of the ‘388 patent, and that HFT has not contributed to or induced and is not
contributing to or inducing infringement of any valid and enforceable claim of the ‘388
2. A judgment declaring this to be an exceptional case under 35 U.S.C. § 285
and awarding HFT its costs, expenses, and reasonable attorneys’ fees; and
3. An award of such other and further relief the Court deems just and proper.
Dated: July 10, 2014 /s/ Lora M. Friedemann
Lora M. Friedemann (#259615)
Laura L. Myers (#387116)
lmyers@fredlaw.com
50916964_1.DOC
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