Intellectual Property Law

Second Circuit: Statements made in settlement discussions admissible to prove estoppel

By McKee, Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C.

In a decision yesterday, the Second Circuit affirmed a jury's findings in a trademark infringement case between Polo Ralph Lauren and the U.S. Polo Association.  The jury found that one of the USPA's four marks was likely to cause confusion.  The two parties had been involved in a previous lawsuit in the early 1980s, and the USPA's former logo was found to have infringed Polo's trademark rights.

The court held that it was not erroneous for the district court to permit evidence of statements made during settlement negotiations that one of the logos was not "offensive" to Polo, as it was necessary for the USPA's claim of estoppel.  Further, the court held that it was not erroneous for the district court to refuse to give a jury instruction that the USPA, because it was previously found to have infringed, was required to stay a "safe distance" away from Polo's mark.  Such an instruction would have confused the jury regarding the applicable legal standard.

More detail of PRL USA Holdings, Inc. v. U.S. Polo Ass'n, Inc. after the jump.

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Full post as published by FileWrapper on March 05, 2008 (boomark / email).