International Diamond Importers, Inc. v. Oriental Gemco (N.Y.), Inc.
International Diamond Importers, Inc. v. Oriental Gemco (N.Y.), Inc.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
International Diamond Importers, Inc., d/b/a IDI Design and Meira T. Designs (“Metra T.” or “Plaintiff’) brings this action against Oriental Gemco (N.Y.) Inc. (“Oriental NY”), Oriental Gemco HK Co. (“Oriental Hong Kong” or “Oriental HK”), Oriental Gemco Pvt. Ltd. (“Oriental India”), and N.K. Nigam (collectively re
Defendants move to dismiss all claims pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), 12(b)(2), 12(b)(5), and 12(b)(6). Alternatively, Defendants move to dismiss under the doctrine of forum non conveniens pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404. Plaintiff cross-moves for jurisdictional discovery.
For the reasons set forth below, Defendants’ motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Plaintiffs motion for jurisdictional discovery is GRANTED.
II. BACKGROUND
A. Facts
1. Plaintiff
Meira T. is a New York company that designs, manufactures, and sells “unique, high quality” jewelry in the United States and abroad.
Meira T. jewelry is made with gold, diamonds, and other precious stones and the collections feature necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
2. Defendants
Oriental N.Y. is a New York corporation founded in 1996,
I will refer to Oriental HK and Oriental India collectively as the Foreign Defendants. Oriental HK is located in Hong Kong,
Oriental India is a company based in India, which started in the 1970s as a family business.
As discussed further below, the relationship between the three corporate entities is unclear and the subject of dispute. Plaintiff asserts that the three companies make up “one organization with manufacturing in Hong Kong and India and its sales office [is] in New York.”
Defendants assert a completely different relationship. They claim that the Oriental Gemeo companies “are three separate companies which sell jewelry in different countries.”
Plaintiff alleges that N.K. Nigam is the “owner and principal officer” and “responsible for the control, management, operation, and maintenance of affairs of Oriental NY, Oriental HK, and Oriental India.”
B. Claims
Plaintiff claims that Defendants have created, displayed and sold jewelry products that “utilize similar or identical features” giving Defendants’ jewelry “a confusingly similar look that is intended to mimic” Meira T. jewelry in violation of Plaintiffs rights.
C. Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss and Plaintiffs Cross Motion for Jurisdictional Discovery
Defendants move to dismiss all claims. They argue that (1) the court lacks personal jurisdiction over the Foreign Defendants as they do not have the requisite contacts with New York and the United States, (2) the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the state law claims, (3) the Foreign Defendants were improperly served in violation of the Hague Convention, and (4) Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for relief for copyright infringement, trade dress infringement, unfair competition under the Lanham Act, unfair competition under New York state law, and for deceptive business practices under New York state law.' Defendants also argue that (5) under the doctrine of forum non conveniens, New York is an inappropriate
Plaintiff opposes each motion. In addition, in response to Defendants’ motions regarding the lack of personal jurisdiction over the Foreign Defendants and improper service, Plaintiff has moved for jurisdictional discovery.
III. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Rule 12(b)(2) Motion to Dismiss
A plaintiff has the burden of proving personal jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence.
B. Rule 12(b)(1) Motion to Dismiss
Rule 12(b)(1) allows a party to assert the defense that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to hear a claim. “Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, and ‘[t]he validity of an order of a federal court depends upon that court’s having jurisdiction over both the subject matter and the parties.’ ”
“For the purpose of determining whether a district court has federal question jurisdiction pursuant to Article III and 28 U.S.C. § 1331, the jurisdictional inquiry ‘depends entirely upon the allegations in the complaint’ and asks whether the claim as stated in the complaint ‘arises under the Constitution or laws of the United States.’ ”
C. Rule 12(b)(5) Motion to Dismiss
“ ‘Before a federal court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant, the procedural requirement of service of summons must be satisfied.’”
D. Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss
In deciding a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the court evaluates the sufficiency of the complaint under the “two-pronged approach” suggested by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
E. Jurisdictional Discovery
A district court has “considerable procedural leeway” when deciding a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and “may permit discovery in aid of the motion.”
IV. APPLICABLE LAW
A. 12(b)(1) Motion to Dismiss
A federal district court may exercise jurisdiction only if so authorized by the Constitution and by statute.
28 U.S.C. § 1332 confers subject matter jurisdiction on the federal district courts, giving them original jurisdiction over cases “where the matter in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs and is between ... (2) citizens of a State and citizens or subjects of a foreign state[.]” “The general rule requiring complete diversity between opposing parties is explicit and unequivocal.”
28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) provides federal district courts with “original jurisdiction of any civil action arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents, plant variety protection, copyrights and trademarks[,]” and exclusive jurisdiction with respect to “patents, plant variety protection, or copyrights.” 28 U.S.C. § 1338(b) grants federal district courts original jurisdiction over “any civil action asserting a claim of unfair competition when joined, with a substantial and related claim under the copyright, patent, plant variety protection or trademark laws.” Finally, 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) permits district courts to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over “claims that are so related to claims in the action within [the court’s] original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy under Article III of the United States Constitu
B. 12(b)(2) Motion to Dismiss
“Federal courts are to apply the personal jurisdiction rules of the forum state.”
1. General Jurisdiction
Under section 301 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (“CPLR”), a foreign corporation is subjected to general jurisdiction if it is “doing business” in the State. Under this test, a foreign corporation is amenable to suit in New York if it “ ‘has engaged in such a continuous and systematic course of ‘doing business’ [in New York] that a finding of its ‘presence’ [in New York] is warranted.’ ”
However, general jurisdiction only comports with due process “when a corporation’s contacts with a state are ‘so continuous and systematic as to render [it] essentially at home in the forum State.’ ”
2. Specific Jurisdiction
If general jurisdiction is not satisfied, the court determines if there is specific jurisdiction. Under section 302(a)(2) of the CPLR, jurisdiction may be asserted over a non-domiciliary that “commits a tortious act within the state.”
(1) the burden that the exercise of jurisdiction will impose on the defendant; (2) the interests of the forum state in adjudicating the case; (3) the plaintiffs interest in obtaining convenient and effective relief; (4) the interstate judicial
system’s interest in obtaining the most efficient resolution of the controversy; and (5) the shared interest of the states in farthering substantive social policies.83
C. 12(b)(5)
The acceptable methods of service of a summons and complaint are set forth in Rule.4(h), which establishes that
a foreign corporation ... must be served (1) in a judicial district of the United States (A) in the manner prescribed by Rule 4(e)(1) for serving an individual; or (B) by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process .... or (2) at a place not within any judicial district of the United States, in any manner prescribed by Rule 4(f) for serving an individual, except personal delivery.
In turn, Rule 4(f) permits service outside the United States “by any internationally agreed means of service that is reasonably calculated to give notice, such as those authorized by the Hague Convention.”
However, “[w]here service on a domestic agent [of a foreign entity] is valid and complete under both state law and the Due Process Clause ... the Convention has no
Rule 4(h)(1) authorizes service in a judicial district upon a foreign corporation “in the manner prescribed by Rule 4(e)(1) for serving an individual.” Rule 4(e) in turn permits service “by following state law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the state where the district court is located.” Section 311(a) of the CPLR provides that “[p]ersonal service upon a corporation ... shall be made by delivering the summons ... upon any domestic or foreign corporation, to an officer, director, managing or general agent, or cashier or assistant cashier or to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service.” “New York courts have construed the statute liberally, sustaining service of process ‘if service is made in a manner which, objectively viewed, is calculated to give the corporation fair notice.’ ”
D. 12(b)(6)
1. Copyright Infringement
“To prevail on a claim of copyright infringement, the plaintiff must demonstrate both (1) ownership of a valid copyright and (2) infringement of the copyright by the defendant.”
a. Ownership of a Valid Copyright
The validity of a copyright depends upon its originality.
b. Infringement
“The second element is further broken down into two components: ‘a plaintiff with a valid copyright must demonstrate that: (1) the defendant has actually copied the plaintiffs work; and (2) the copying is illegal because a substantial similarity exists between the defendant’s work and the protectible elements of plaintiffs.’ ”
i. Actual Copying
Actual copying may be established “circumstantially by demonstrating that the person who composed the defendant’s work had access to the copyrighted material ... and that there are similarities between the two works that are probative of copying.”
“Similarities between the two works are probative [of copying] only if the similarities ‘would not be expected to arise if the works had been created independently.’ ”
ii. Substantial Similarity
A plaintiff must also demonstrate that the similarity concerns protected elements of the work at issue.
“ ‘The standard test for substantial similarity between two items is whether an ordinary observer, unless he set out to detect the disparities, would be disposed to overlook them, and regard the aesthetic appeal as the same.’ ”
“[W]hen faced with works ‘that have both protectible and unprotectible elements,’ ” the usual “ordinary observer” test becomes “more discerning,”
2. Trade Dress Infringement
Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), a cause of action for trade dress infringement may be sustained under the Lanham Act.
[a]ny person who, on or in connection with any goods or services, or any container for goods, uses in commerce any word, term, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof, or any false designation of origin, false or misleading description of fact, or false or misleading representation of fact, which [ ] is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of such person with another person, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of his or her goods, services, or commercial activities by another person [ ] shall be liable in a civil action by any person who believes he or she is or is likely to be damaged by such act.115
The purpose of trade dress protection is to “secure to the owner of the mark. the goodwill of his business and to protect the ability of consumers to distinguish among competing producers.”
A plaintiff must prove “that (1) the claimed trade dress is non-functional; (2) the claimed trade dress has secondary meaning; and (3) there is a likelihood of confusion between the plaintiffs goods and the defendant’s.”
3. Federal Unfair Competition
A Lanham Act unfair competition claim examines “whether the public is likely to be misled into believing that the defendant is distributing products manufactured or vouched for by the plaintiff.”
The Supreme Court has established “a narrow reading of ‘origin of goods’ in § 43(a) so as to minimize application in cases that obviously sought an extension of copyright protection through the trademark statute.”
4. State Law Unfair Competition
“In New York, ‘the essence of unfair competition ... is the bad faith misappropriation of the labors and expenditures of another, likely to cause confusion or to deceive purchasers as to the origin of the goods.’ ”
5. State Law Deceptive Business Practices
Section 349 of the New York General Business Law is a consumer protection statute. It creates a private right of action protecting consumers from “[deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce or in the furnishing of any service in this state[.]”
Once a plaintiff meets the consumer-oriented threshold test, it must then show “that the defendant has engaged in an act' or practice that is deceptive or misleading in a material way and that the plaintiff has been injured by reason thereof.”
6. Liability of Individual Defendants
a. Personal Liability for Lanham Act Violations
It is well-established in the Second Circuit that “under the Lanham Act, a corporate officer may be held personally liable for trademark infringement and unfair competition if the officer is a moving, active[,] conscious force behind [the defendant corporation’s] infringement.”
b. Personal Liability for Copyright Act Violations
“ ‘[0]ne who, with knowledge of the infringing activity, induces, causes
Under a related theory of secondary copyright liability, “a defendant is vicariously liable for infringement where ‘the right and ability to supervise coalesce with an obvious and direct financial interest in the exploitation of copyrighted materials — even in the absence of actual knowledge that the copyright monopoly is being impaired.’”
y. DISCUSSION
A. 12(b)(1) Motion to Dismiss
The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the Copyright Act and the Lan-ham Act claims, and has supplemental jurisdiction over the related state law claims pursuant to section 1367 because they arise from the same set of operative facts as those at issue in the federal claims.
However, not all of the pieces included in the Complaint are properly before the court.
Because I agree that an application is not sufficient to bring an infringement action, three pieces included in Plaintiffs copyright infringement claim must be dismissed. Two pairs of earrings that are part of the Meira T. Fall 2011 Earrings collection
B. 12(b)(2) Motion to Dismiss
1. General Jurisdiction
There are three potential grounds for general jurisdiction under New York law. First, New York courts may assert general jurisdiction over a corporate defendants who “does business” in the state. Second, New York courts may assert general jurisdiction over a foreign parent company if it has a domestic “agent” that renders services of “sufficient!] importance]” to the foreign parent in the state.
In this case, jurisdiction under the first and second grounds would not com
It is possible, however, that the third ground of general jurisdiction — -the alter ego theory — is satisfied in this case.
2. Specific Jurisdiction
Plaintiff also claims specific jurisdiction over Foreign Defendants under CPLR § 302(a)(2) which permits the exercise of jurisdiction over a “non-domiciliary ... who ... commits a tortious act within
On the facts alleged, the Court cannot determine if there is specific jurisdiction over Foreign Defendants. Jurisdictional discovery is granted to determine if Plaintiff has met its burden to establish specific jurisdiction.
First, Plaintiff may show that the Foreign Defendants were present in the state. “CPLR § 302(a)(2) reaches only tortious acts performed by a defendant who was physically present in New York when he performed the wrongful act.”
Second, Plaintiff may show that the agency exception applies. “New York courts have recognized that jurisdiction under § 302(a)(2) may extend to out-of-state individuals who did not themselves commit a tort while physically present in New York but who can be deemed responsible for such a tort based upon theories of agency.”
Jurisdictional discovery is also appropriate to determine whether service on a director of Oriental N.Y. was sufficient as service upon a “mere department” or the agent of the Foreign Defendants.
3. Jurisdiction under Rule 4(k)(2)
Plaintiff claims that the Court has jurisdiction over the Foreign Defendants pursuant to Rule 4(k)(2) which provides for jurisdiction if (1) the claim ... arises under federal law, (2) the defendant is not subject to jurisdiction in any state’s courts of general jurisdiction, and (3) exercising jurisdiction is consistent with the United States Constitution and laws. But because Plaintiff still contends that the Foreign Defendants are subject to jurisdiction in New York, the second prong of the rule is not met. If the Court finds that the Foreign Defendants are not amenable to personal jurisdiction in New York, then this rule will be considered.
4. Lanham Act Jurisdiction
The Lanham Act can reach activities occurring outside the United States if the “ ‘contacts and interests of the United States are sufficient to support the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction.’”
, C. 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss
While jurisdictional discovery is ongoing with respect to the Foreign Defendants, the Court can consider the motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim brought by the domestic defendants—Oriental N.Y. and N.K. Nigam.
1. Copyright Infringement
a.Ownership of Valid Copyrights and Infringement
Plaintiff has alleged that it owns the copyrights in seven of the pieces that Defendants allegedly infringed.
b.Actual Copying
Plaintiff has sufficiently pled actual copying by alleging that Defendants had access to the copyrighted works and that similarities between the works are probative of copying. Plaintiff has alleged that it shows Metra T. jewelry in stores in the United States and abroad in a number of well-known department stores,
c.Substantial Similarity
As a threshold matter, I consider which elements of Plaintiff’s works are not protectible, namely “the elements that ‘flow naturally and necessarily from the choice of a given concept,’ ”
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants’ allegedly infringing products are substantially similar to Plaintiffs works.
Therefore, Defendants’ motion to dismiss the. copyright infringement claim is denied.
2. Trade Dress Infringement
Defendants assert that Plaintiff failed to allege the elements of a trade dress claim.
Plaintiff has also sufficiently alleged that the trade dress has acquired secondary meaning through distinctiveness.
However, Plaintiff has merely made eon-clusory allegations of actual customer confusion with no supporting facts.
Therefore, Defendants’ motion to dismiss the trade dress infringement claim is denied.
3. Federal Unfair Competition
Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiff’s federal unfair competition claim, arguing that this claim is merely an attempt by Plaintiff to “use an alleged copyright infringement to bootstrap their claims related to unfair competition.”
However, Plaintiffs Lanham Act claims differ from its copyright claim. Plaintiff alleges that by misappropriating the Meira T Trade Dress, Defendants are misleading consumers as to the producer of those goods. “Defendants’ unlawful conduct has led to the ultimate purchasers believing that Defendants’ copies with the Meira T Trade Dress are made by Meira T.”
An unfair competition claim under the Lanham Act requires a showing of “a valid trademark entitled to protection under the Act, and (2) defendant’s actions are likely to cause confusion.”
4.State Law Unfair Competition
The New York law of unfair competition claim is subject to the same analysis as the Lanham Act claim, except for the additional requirement. of bad faith. The Complaint alleges that “Defendants, with knowledge of the widespread recognition of the Meira T. Trade Dress .... and with the specific intent to exploit that recognition, have made and sold copies of the jewelry all having the distinctive Meira T Trade Dress.”
5.State Law Deceptive Business Practice
Plaintiff has asserted claims for deceptive trade practices. To prevail, Plaintiff must demonstrate “consumer injury or harm to the public interest” which requires a showing that “the public’s health or safety is at stake as a result of the alleged infringement.”
6.Individual Liability
Plaintiff claims that N.K. Nigam “is responsible for the control, management, operation, and maintenance of the. affairs of Oriental 'NY,”
a. Lanham Act
Plaintiff has properly alleged personal liability for N.K. Nigam under the Lanham Act. The required showing has been made: as President of Oriental NY, he would have “authorized and approved the infringing acts”
b. Copyright Act
Plaintiff argues that it has sufficiently plead the “contributory and vicarious liability” of N.K. Nigam
i. Contributory Liability
Defendants argue that the claim against N.K. Nigam must fail because Plaintiff did not plead the necessary elements of contributory infringement, namely that N.K. Nigam had knowledge of the infringing activity.
ii. Vicarious Liability
Plaintiff has made sufficient allegations to state a claim against N.K. Ni-gam for vicarious liability. As President of Oriental NY, Nigam has the right and ability to supervise the company’s activities.
Therefore, Defendants’ motion to dismiss the claims against N.K. Nigam is denied.
D. Forum Non Conveniens
Defendants move to dismiss the case under the doctrine of forum non conve-niens, because the Foreign Defendants are based respectively in Hong Kong and India and neither “do[es] business in the United States,”
VI. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Defendants’ motions to dismiss are DENIED in
SO ORDERED.
. United Gemco, Inc. was initially included as a defendant. See First Amended Complaint (“Compl.”) ¶ 1. On May 22, 2014, United Gemco entered into a Consent Judgement with Plaintiff and was dismissed from the case. See Consent Judgement for Defendant United Gemco ¶ 3.
. Compl. ¶¶ 7, 13.
. Id. ¶ 23.
. See id. V 25.
. Id. ¶ 24.
. See id. ¶¶ 14, 27-28.
. Id.
. See id. ¶ 16; Certificates of Registrations, Exs. A-C to Compl.
. See Compl. ¶ 16; Copyright Applications, Ex. E to Compl.
. Compl. ¶ 18.
. See id. ¶ 9; 7/14/14 Declaration of N.K. Nigam, President of Oriental NY, in Support of Defendants' Motions to Dismiss (“N.K. Ni-gam Dec.”) ¶¶ 23-24.
. See N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 24.
. See Compl. ¶ 8.
. See id. ¶ 9; N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶¶ 9, 13; Defendants’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Motions to Dismiss ("Def. Mem.”), at 2.
. N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 14.
. See id. ¶¶ 15, 17-19, 21. See also Def. Mem. at 2.
. Compl. ¶ 9.
. See N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 3; Def. Mem. at 3.
. See N.K. Nigam Dec. V 3.
. See id. ¶¶ 5, 7-8, 11. See also Def. Mem. at 2.
. Compl. ¶ 10.
. Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendants' Motions to Dismiss ("Opp. Mem.”), at 1.
. Id. at 9.
. Id.
. Id.
. See id. at 12.
. Def. Mem. at 2.
. 7/14/14 Declaration of Prateek Nigam, Director of Oriental NY, in Support of Defendants' Motions to Dismiss ("First Prateek Ni-gam Dec.”) ¶ 5.
. See id. ¶ 6.
. See N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶¶ 25-26. See also First Prateek Nigam Dec. ¶ 5.
. Def. Mem. at 2.
. Compl. ¶ 11. Plaintiff identifies Nigam ' only as President of Oriental NY. See Opp. Mem. at 2. This is undisputed by Defendants. See N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 1. Plaintiff maintains that he is personally liable for the infringing activities of all three companies. See infra note 214.
. N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 1.
. Compl. ¶ 26.
. Id. ¶ 30.
. See id. ¶¶ 30-31.
. Id. ¶ 1.
. See id. ¶¶ 32-33.
. See Koehler v. Bank of Bermuda Ltd., 101 F.3d 863, 865 (2d Cir. 1996).
. M & M Packaging, Inc. v. Kole, 183 Fed.Appx. 112, 114 (2d Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).
. Penguin Grp. (USA) Inc. v. American Buddha, 609 F.3d 30, 35 (2d Cir. 2010) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
. See A.I. Trade Pin., Inc. v. Petra Bank, 989 F.2d 76, 79-80 (2d Cir. 1993). See also In re Magnetic Audiotape Antitrust Litig., 334 F.3d 204, 206 (2d Cir. 2003) (citation omitted).
. Doe v. Delaware State Police, 939 F.Supp.2d 313, 321 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (quoting Jazini v. Nissan Motor Co., 148 F.3d 181, 185 (2d Cir. 1998)).
. Southern New England Tel. Co. v. Global NAPs Inc., 624 F.3d 123, 132 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Insurance Corp. of Ireland, Ltd. v. Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee, 456 U.S. 694, 701, 102 S.Ct. 2099, 72 L.Ed.2d 492 (1982)).
. Al-Khazraji v. United States, 519 Fed.Appx. 711, 713 (2d Cir. 2013) (citing Liranzo v. United States, 690 F.3d 78, 84 (2d Cir. 2012)).
. Arbaugh v.Y & H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 501, 126 S.Ct. 1235, 163 L.Ed.2d 1097 (2006).
. Southern New England, 624 F.3d at 132 (quoting Carlson v. Principal Fin. Group, 320 F.3d 301, 306 (2d Cir. 2003)).
. Jordan v. Verizon Corp., 391 Fed.Appx. 10, 12 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting APWU v. Potter, 343 F.3d 619, 623 (2d Cir. 2003)).
. Mosdos Chofetz Chaim, Inc. v. Village of Wesley Hills, 701 F.Supp.2d 568, 580-81 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (alteration in original) (quoting J.S. ex rel. N.S. v. Attica Cent. Sch., 386 F.3d 107, 110 (2d Cir. 2004)).
. Dynegy Midstream Servs. v. Trammochem, 451 F.3d 89, 94 (2d Cir. 2006) (quoting Omni Capital Int'l, Ltd. v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., 484 U.S. 97, 104, 108 S.Ct. 404, 98 L.Ed.2d 415 (1987)).
. See Burda Media, Inc. v. Viertel, 417 F.3d 292, 298 (2d Cir. 2005) (citing Mende v. Milestone Tech., Inc., 269 F.Supp.2d 246, 251 (S.D.N.Y. 2003)).
. Weston Funding, LLC v. Consorcio G Grupo Dina, S.A. de C.V., 451 F.Supp.2d 585, 589 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (quoting Russ Berrie & Co. v. T.L. Toys (HK) Ltd., No. 01 Civ. 4715, 2002 WL 31458232, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 4, 2002)).
. 556 U.S. 662, 669, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009).
. Hayden v. Paterson, 594 F.3d 150, 161 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937). Accord Ruston v. Town Bd. for Town of Skaneateles, 610 F.3d 55, 59 (2d Cir. 2010).
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)).
. Id. at 680, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Accord Pension Ben. Guar. Corp. ex rel. St. Vincent Catholic Med. Centers Ret. Plan v. Morgan Stanley Inv. Mgmt. Inc., 712 F.3d 705, 718 (2d Cir. 2013).
. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 564, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (quotation marks omitted).
. Id. (quotation marks omitted).
. Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. Miller, 664 F.2d 899, 904 (2d Cir. 1981).
. See Ehrenfeld v. Mahfouz, 489 F.3d 542, 550 n. 6 (2d Cir. 2007) (finding that it would be "legal error” to “forbid[] jurisdictional discovery any time a plaintiff does not make a prima facie showing of jurisdiction.”).
. Jazini, 148 F.3d at 185-86.
. See U.S. Const, art. Ill, § 1 ("The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”). See also Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Servs., Inc., 545 U.S. 546, 552, 125 S.Ct. 2611, 162 L.Ed.2d 502 (2005) ("The district courts of the United States, as we have said many times, are courts of limited jurisdiction. They possess only that power authorized by Constitution and statute.” (quotation marks and citation omitted)).
. See U.S. Const, art. Ill, § 2.
. International Shipping Co., S.A. v. Hydra Offshore, Inc., 875 F.2d 388, 391 (2d Cir. 1989).
. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1).
. See Newman-Green, Inc. v. Alfonzo-Lar-rain, 490 U.S. 826, 830, 109 S.Ct. 2218, 104 L.Ed.2d 893 (1989).
. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3).
. Penguin, 609 F.3d at 35.
. Sonera Holding B.V. v. Cukurova Holding A.S., 750 F.3d 221, 224 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 2888, 189 L.Ed.2d 837 (2014).
. Id.
. Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, -U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 2846, 2851, 180 L.Ed.2d 796 (2011).
. Sonera, 750 F.3d at 224 (quoting Landoil Res. Corp. v. Alexander & Alexander Servs., 77 N.Y.2d 28, 33, 563 N.Y.S.2d 739, 565 N.E.2d 488 (1990)) (alterations in original).
. Daimler AG v. Bauman, — U.S.-, 134 S.Ct. 746, 187 L.Ed.2d 624 (2014) (quoting Goodyear, 131 S.Ct. at 2851).
. Id. at 760.
. Id. at 760.
. Sonera, 750 F.3d at 226 (citing Daimler, 134 S.Ct. at ’761) (alterations in original).
. Daimler, 134 S.Ct. at 761 n. 19-,
. Lied ex rel. Licci v. Lebanese Canadian Bank, SAL ("Lici VI”), 732 F.3d 161, 170 (2d Cir. 2013). Accord Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 472, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 85 L.Ed.2d 528 (1985) (for the proper exercise of specific jurisdiction, the defendant must have "purposefully directed” his activities at the forum and the litigation must "arise out of or relate to” those activities).
. Walden v. Fiore, - U.S. -, 134 S.Ct. 1115, 1122, 188 L.Ed.2d 12 (2014) (quoting Burger King, 471 U.S. at 475, 105 S.Ct. 2174).
. Id. at 1123 (citation omitted).
. Id. (quoting Burger King, 471 U.S. at 475, 105 S.Ct. 2174).
. Asahi Metal Indus. Co. v. Superior Court, 480 U.S. 102, 113-14, 107 S.Ct. 1026, 94 L.Ed.2d 92 (1987).
. Subject to enumerated restrictions, Rule 4(f)(2) permits alternative service "if there is no internationally agreed means, or if an international agreement allows but does not specify other means, by a method that is reasonably calculated to give notice.”
. Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Schlunk, 486 U.S. 694, 707, 108 S.Ct. 2104, 100 L.Ed.2d 722 (1988).
. Id.
. Local 78, Asbestos, Lead & Hazardous Waste Laborers, AFL-CIO v. Termon Constr., Inc., No. 01 Civ. 5589, 2003 WL 22052872, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 2, 2003) (quoting Fashion Page, Ltd. v. Zurich Ins. Co., 50 N.Y.2d 265, 428 N.Y.S.2d 890, 406 N.E.2d 747 (1980)). Accord Dezonie v. Asset Prot. & Sec., Inc., No. 08 Civ. 11261, 2009 WL 1873527, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. June 30, 2009) (“New York courts have construed § 311 broadly.”) (citing Tadco Constr. Corp. v. Peri Framework Sys., Inc., 460 F.Supp.2d 408, 410 (E.D.N.Y. 2006)).
. Yurman Design, Inc. v. PAJ, Inc. (“PAJ, Inc.”), 262 F.3d 101, 109-10 (2d Cir. 2001).
. Kelly v. L.L. Cool J., 145 F.R.D. 32, 35-36 (S.D.N.Y. 1992) (citing Franklin Elec. Publishers v. Unisonic Prod. Corp., 763 F.Supp. 1, 4 (S.D.N.Y. 1991)). Accord Ritani, LLC v. Aghjayan, 880 F.Supp.2d 425, 440 (S.D.N.Y. 2012).
. See PAJ, Inc., 262 F.3d at 109 (citing Feist v. Rural Publ’ns, 499 U.S. 340, 345-47, 111 S.Ct. 1282, 113 L.Ed.2d 358 (1991); U.S. Const, art. I, § 8, cl. 8).
. 17 U.S.C. § 410(c).
. See M. Lady, LLC v. AJI, Inc., No. 06 Civ. 0194, 2007 WL 2728711, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 19, 2007) (citing Fonar Corp. v. Domenick, 105 F.3d 99, 104 (2d Cir. 1997)).
. See Yurman Design, Inc. v. Golden Treasure Imps., Inc., 275 F.Supp.2d 506, 514 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (citing Boisson v. Banian, Ltd., 273 F.3d 262, 268 (2d Cir. 2001)).
. BanxCorp v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 723 F.Supp.2d 596, 601 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (quoting Hamil Am. Inc. v. GFI, 193 F.3d 92, 99 (2d Cir. 1999) (quotation marks and emphasis omitted)). Accord Velez v. Sony Discos, No. 05 Civ. 0615, 2007 WL 120686, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 16, 2007) ("Essentially, the ‘actual copying’ question concerns whether the defendant copied the plaintiff’s work as a factual matter, and the ‘improper appropriation’ analysis explores whether the copying that occurred was of such a nature that copyright infringement may have taken place as a matter of law.”).
. Jorgensen v. Epic/Sony Records, 351 F.3d 46, 51 (2d Cir. 2003). Accord Adams v. Warner Bros. Pictures Network, No. 05 Civ. 5211, 2007 WL 1959022, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. June 29, 2007) ("In the context of deciding whether the defendant copied at all (as distinguished from whether it illegally copied), similarity relates to the entire work, not just the protec-tibie elements, and is often referred to as ‘probative similarity.’ ” (citing Fisher-Price, Inc. v. Well-Made Toy Mfg., Corp., 25 F.3d 119, 123 (2d Cir. 1994))).
. Jorgensen, 351 F.3d at 51 (quoting Gaste v. Kaiserman, 863 F.2d 1061, 1066 (2d Cir. 1988)).
. See Boisson, 273 F.3d at 270 (citations omitted).
. Silberstein v. Fox Entm’t Group, Inc., 424 F.Supp.2d 616, 627 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).
. Porto v. Guirgis, 659 F.Supp.2d 597, 608-09 (S.D.N.Y. 2009) (quoting O’Keefe v. Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, Inc., 590 F.Supp.2d 500, 517 (S.D.N.Y. 2008)).
. Id. at 609 n. 4.
. See LaPine v. Seinfeld, No. 08 Civ. 128, 2009 WL 2902584, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 10, 2009) ("Not all copying constitutes copyright infringement; the copying must amount to an improper or unlawful appropriation.”) (citing Boisson, 273 F.3d at 268 ("Simply because a
. Feist, 499 U.S. at 348, 111 S.Ct. 1282.
. Id. at 345, 111 S.Ct. 1282.
. See Peter F. Gaito Architecture, LLC v. Simone Dev. Corp., 602 F.3d 57, 67 (2d Cir. 2010) ("This principle, known as the 'idea/expression dichotomy,’ ‘assures authors the right to their original expression, but encourages others to build freely upon the ideas and information conveyed by a work.’ ” (quoting Feist, 499 U.S. at 349-50, 111 S.Ct. 1282)).
. Bill Diodato Photography, LLC v. Kate Spade, LLC, 388 F.Supp.2d 382, 392 (S.D.N.Y. 2005). Accord Williams v. Crichton, 84 F.3d 581, 587-88 (2d Cir. 1996) ("[s]cénes á faire are unprotectible elements that follow naturally from a work’s theme rather than from an author’s creativity”).
. Gaito, 602 F.3d at 66 (quoting PAJ, Inc., 262 F.3d at 111).
. Id. (quoting Knitwaves Inc. v. Lollytogs Ltd. (Inc.), 71 F.3d 996, 1002 (2d Cir. 1995)).
. Id. (quoting Fisher-Price, 25 F.3d at 123).
. Id. (quoting Knitwaves, 71 F.3d at 1002).
. Id. (quoting Knitwaves, 71 F.3d at 1002). Accord Tufenkian Import/Export Ventures, Inc. v. Einstein Moomjy, Inc., 338 F.3d 127, 134 (2d Cir. 2003) ("[W]hile the infringement analysis must begin by dissecting the copyrighted work into its component parts in order to clarify precisely what is not original, infringement analysis is not simply a matter of ascertaining similarity between components viewed in isolation.") (emphasis in original).
. Gaito, 602 F.3d at 66 (quoting Tufenkian, 338 F.3d at 133). Accord Boisson, 273 F.3d at 272 (considering only those elements that alone are protectible "would result in almost nothing being copyrightable because original works broken down into their composite parts would usually be little more than basic unpro-
. Canal + Image UK Ltd. v. Lutvak, 773 F.Supp.2d 419, 429 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (quoting Tufenkian, 338 F.3d at 134).
. Knitwaves, 71 F.3d at 1004 (quoting Feist, 499 U.S. at 358, 111 S.Ct. 1282).
. See TrafFix Devices, Inc. v. Marketing Displays, Inc., 532 U.S. 23, 28-29, 121 S.Ct. 1255, 149 L.Ed.2d 164 (2001).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(A).
. Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana, 505 U.S. 763, 774, 112 S.Ct. 2753, 120 L.Ed.2d 615 (1992) (citing Park ‘N Fly, Inc. v. Dollar Park & Fly, Inc., 469 U.S. 189, 198, 105 S.Ct 658, 83 L.Ed.2d 582 (1985)).
. Sherwood 48 Assocs. v. Sony Corp. of Am., 76 Fed.Appx. 389, 391 (2d Cir. 2003) (citation omitted).
. Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted).
. Shevy Custom Wigs, Inc. v. Aggie Wigs, No. 06 Civ. 1657, 2006 WL 3335008, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 17, 2006).
. Warner Bros., Inc. v. Gay Toys, Inc., 658 F.2d 76, 79 (2d Cir. 1981) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
. L'Oreal USA, Inc. v. Trend Beauty Corp., No. 11 Civ. 4187, 2013 WL 4400532, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2013) ("[T]he standards for false designation of origin claims under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1125) are the same as for trademark infringement claims under Section 32 (15 U.S.C. § 1114).”). Accord Twentieth Century Fox Film. Corp. v. Marvel Enters., Inc., 220 F.Supp.2d 289, 297 (S.D.N.Y. 2002); Estate of Ellington ex rel. Ellington v. Harbrew Imps. Ltd., 812 F.Supp.2d 186, 192 (E.D.N.Y. 2011) ("A party establishes liability under [15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) ] if it can demonstrate (1) that it has a valid trademark entitled to protection under the Act, and (2) defendant's actions are likely to cause confusion.”) (citations and quotation marks omitted).
. Expressway Music, Inc. v. Slep-Tone Entm’t Corp., No. 12 Civ. 834, 2013 WL 5345969, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 2013).
. Id. (quoting Dastar Corp. v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 539 U.S. 23, 37, 123 S.Ct. 2041, 156 L.Ed.2d 18 (2003)).
. Eyal R.D. Corp. v. Jewelex New York Ltd., 784 F.Supp.2d 441, 447 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (quoting Jeffrey Milstein, Inc. v. Greger, Lawlor, Roth, Inc., 58 F.3d 27, 34-35 (2d Cir. 1995)).
. Perfect Pearl Co. v. Majestic Pearl & Stone, Inc., 887 F.Supp.2d 519, 541 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (citations omitted).
. Lopez v. Gap, Inc., 883 F.Supp.2d 400, 423 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (quotation marks omitted).
. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 349(h), (a). See also Gaidon v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 94 N.Y.2d 330, 344, 704 N.Y.S.2d 177, 725 N.E.2d 598 (1999); Shapiro v. Berkshire Life Ins. Co., 212 F.3d 121 (2d Cir. 2000).
. New York Univ. v. Continental Ins. Company, 87 N.Y.2d 308, 320, 639 N.Y.S.2d 283, 662 N.E.2d 763 (1995). Accord MaGee v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 954 F.Supp. 582, 586 (E.D.N.Y. 1997) ("The injury must be to the public generally as distinguished from the plaintiff alone.”); Gaidon, 94 N.Y.2d at 344, 704 N.Y.S.2d 177, 725 N.E.2d 598 ("As a threshold matter, in order to satisfy General Business Law § 349 plaintiff’s claims must be
. Shapiro, 212 F.3d at 126 (quoting Oswe-go, 85 N.Y.2d at 25, 623 N.Y.S.2d 529, 647 N.E.2d 741) (quotation marks omitted).
. Id. (quoting Gaidon, 94 N.Y.2d at 344, 704 N.Y.S.2d 177, 725 N.E.2d 598 (citations and quotation marks omitted)).
. Id. (quoting Oswego, 85 N.Y.2d at 25, 623 N.Y.S.2d 529, 647 N.E.2d 741).
. Gucci Am., Inc. v. Duty Free Apparel, Ltd., 277 F.Supp.2d 269, 273 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (quoting Securitron Magnalock Corp. v. Schnabolk, 65 F.3d 256, 264 (2d Cir. 1995)). Accord Capitol Records, Inc. v. Wings Digital Corp., 218 F.Supp.2d 280, 285-86 (S.D.N.Y. 2002).
. See Sports Traveler v. Advance Magazine Publishers, Inc., No. 96 Civ. 5150, 1997 WL 137443, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 24, 1997). Accord Securitron, 65 F.3d at 264—65; EFS Mktg., Inc. v. Russ Berrie & Co., Inc., 836 F.Supp. 128, 137 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), aff'd inpart, vacated in part, rev’d in part on other grounds, 76 F.3d 487 (2d Cir. 1996); Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. McNeil-P.P.C., Inc., 786 F.Supp. 182, 215-16 (citing Vitabiotics Ltd. v. Krupka, 606 F.Supp. 779 (E.D.N.Y. 1984)).
. Cartier v. Aaron Faber, Inc., 512 F.Supp.2d 165, 170 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). Accord Bambu Sales, Inc. v. Sultana Crackers, Inc., 683 F.Supp. 899, 913 (E.D.N.Y. 1988) (holding liable individual defendants who were directly involved in the purchase, approval and resale of infringing products) (citing Donsco, Inc. v. Casper Corp., 587 F.2d 602, 606 (3d Cir. 1978)).
. Bambú Sales, Inc., 683 F.Supp. at 913-14.
. Id. at 913.
. Faulkner v. National Geographic Enters., 409 F.3d 26, 40 (2d Cir. 2005) (quoting Gershwin Publ’g Corp. v. Columbia Artists Mgmt., Inc., 443 F.2d 1159, 1162 (2d Cir. 1971)).
. Matthew Bender & Co. v. West Publ’g Co., 158 F.3d 693, 706 (2d Cir. 1998).
. Smith v. Mikki More, LLC, No. 13 Civ. 3388, 59 F.Supp.3d 595, 613-14, 2014 WL 5042655, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 9, 2014) (quoting Viacom Int’l, Inc. v. YouTube, Inc., 676 F.3d 19, 36 (2d Cir. 2012)).
. Id. (quoting Jonathan Adler Enters., LLC v. Ins & Outs Pottery, Inc., No. 12 Civ. 4866, 2012 WL 4471540, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2012)). Accord Luft v. Crown Publishers, Inc., 772 F.Supp. 1378, 1379 (S.D.N.Y. 1991) ("All persons and corporations who participate in, exercise control over, or benefit from the infringement are jointly and severally liable as copyright infringers.") (citing Sygma Photo News, Inc. v. High Soc. Magazine, Inc., 11 & F.2d 89, 92 (2d Cir. 1985)).
. Premier Fabrics, Inc. v. Woodland Trading Inc., No. 13 Civ. 7522, 42 F.Supp.3d 549, 554-56, 2014 WL 4230468, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 26, 2014) (internal citations omitted).
. See National Geographic Enters., 409 F.3d at 40.
. Defendants have not contested the subject matter jurisdiction of the Court with respect to specific pieces. However, the Court has an independent duty to determine that it has subject matter jurisdiction. See Arbaugh, 546 U.S. at 501, 126 S.Ct. 1235.
. Psihoyos v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 748 F.3d 120, 125 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting 17 U.S.C. § 411(a)).
. Id. (noting that "even assuming arguendo that a pending application constitutes a ‘registration’' under § 411(a), [plaintiff] had not even filed the applications for registration of the relevant works prior to instituting the
. Christians of California, Inc. v. Clive Christian New York, LLP, No. 13 Civ. 0275, 2014 WL 2465273, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. May 30, 2014), on reconsideration, No. 13 Civ. 0275, 2014 WL 3605526 (S.D.N.Y. July 18, 2014) (citing cases). In a footnote, the magistrate judge noted that “[t]he consensus is, in fact, overwhelming.” Id. at *4 n. 1 (citing cases). Accord Corbis Corp. v. UGO Networks, Inc., 322 F.Supp.2d 520, 521-22 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).
. See Compl. ¶ 28.
. See Application to Copyright Office for Fall 2011 Earring, Ex. F to Compl.; Compl. ¶ 16 ("Meira T is the owner of ... Copyright Application[ ] titled ... Fall 2011 Earrings.”). Because Plaintiff does not include these-pieces in its trade dress claim, they are dismissed in their entirety. See Compl. ¶ 28 (“The following Oriental Infringing Products infringe on Meira T Copyrights.”).
. See Exs. A-F of Compl. A similar piece— center stone of natural shape surrounded by small stones at the center of the chain, with pendants on the side of the center stone—is part of the 2011 Collection which has a Certificate of Registration and is included in Exhibit A to the Complaint. However, this is not the same product as the one in the Complaint. The copyrighted design has four pendants on one side of the chain, and the closest pendant to the center stone is larger than the other three. Additionally, there are three stones attached to the chain on the other side of the stone. See Ex. A to Compl.
. See Compl. ¶ 27 (“The following Gemco Infringing Products and Oriental Infringing Products infringe on Meira T Copyrights and Meira T trade dress.”) (emphasis added).
. See Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., 226 F.3d 88, 96 (2d Cir. 2000) (“In certain circumstances, jurisdiction has been predicated upon activities performed in New York for a foreign corporation by an agent .... [when] that New York representative renders services on behalf of the foreign corporation that ... 'are sufficiently important to the foreign entity that the corporation itself would perform equivalent services if no agent were available.”).
. Sonera, 750 F.3d at 225 (citing Daimler, 134 S.Ct. at 759).
. Id. at 761 n. 19.
. Sonera, 750 F.3d at 225. See Daimler, 134 S.Ct. at 759 ("[T]he inquiry into importance stacks the deck, for it will always yield a pro-jurisdiction answer”) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. See Sonera, 750 F.3d at 225-26 (noting . that even if the domestic agents' contacts could be imputed to foreign corporate defendants, “the company's contacts with New York do not come close to making it 'at home’ there.”).
. See NYKCool A.B. v. Pacific Int'l Servs., Inc., No. 12 Civ. 5754, 66 F.Supp.3d 385, 393, 2014 WL 3605632, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. July 15, 2014) (noting that as opposed to an agency theory, "[t]he [Supreme] Court [in Daimler ] did not express any doubt as to the soundness of an alter ego theory of jurisdiction”).
. ESI, Inc. v. Coastal Corp., 61 F.Supp.2d 35, 51 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (citing Koehler, 101 F.3d at 865).
. See Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 751 F.2d 117, 120-22 (2d Cir. 1984) (listing the factors to consider: "(1) common ownership, (2) financial dependency of the subsidiary on the parent corporation, (3) the degree to which the parent corporation interferes in the selection and assignment of the subsidiary's executive personnel and fails to observe corporate formalities, and (4) the degree of control over the marketing and operational policies exercised by the parent.”).
. See Opp. Mem. at 12.
. See id. at 1, 2, 9.
. Id. at 9.
. See, e.g., N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 26 ("The list of owners is different for each company and they have separate corporate affairs.”).
. Opp. Mem. at 10.
. Pincione v. D’Alfonso, 506 Fed.Appx. 22, 25 (2d Cir. 2012) (citing Bensusan Restaurant Corp. v. King, 126 F.3d 25, 28 (2d Cir. 1997)).
. See Capitol Records, Inc. v. Kuang Dyi Co. of RM, No. 03 Civ. 0520, 2004 WL 405961, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 4, 2004) (holding that "[c]opyright infringement is a commercial tort that is deemed to take place at the point of consumer purchase.... In the instant case, [defendant] is alleged to have purposely made sales of an infringing product to entities in New York, thus making it amenable to suit under 302(a)(2),” and noting that "offering even one copy of an infringing work for sale in New York, even if there is no actual sale, constitutes commission of a tortious act within the state sufficient to imbue the Court with personal jurisdiction over the infringers.”) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted); Citigroup Inc. v. City Holding Co., 97 F.Supp.2d 549, 567 (S.D.N.Y. 2000) ("Trademark infringement occurs where the attempted passing off of an infringing mark occurs .... Offering one copy of an infringing work for sale in New York ... constitutes commission of a tortious act within the state sufficient to imbue the Court with personal jurisdiction over the infringers.”) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
. Opp. Mem. at 9.
. LaChapelle v. Torres, 1 F.Supp.3d 163, 169 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (citing In re Satyam Computer Servs. Sec. Litig., 915 F.Supp.2d 450, 484 (S.D.N.Y. 2013)).
. Id. (citations omitted).
. Id. (quoting Emerald Asset Advisors v. Schaffer, 895 F.Supp.2d 418, 430 (E.D.N.Y. 2012)) (alterations in original).
. Plaintiff also claims jurisdiction is appropriate under the "passing off” exception, because some courts have held that for copyright and trademark infringement claims, "the physical presence of the defendant is not required for the tort to be viewed [for the purposes of 302(a)(2) ] as having occurred in New York.’ ” Overseas Media, Inc. v. Skvortsov, 407 F.Supp.2d 563, 572 (S.D.N.Y. 2006), aff'd, 277 Fed.Appx. 92 (2d Cir. 2008) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). But this theory is only available where the out-of-state defendants solicited business by sending direct mailings or other such materials with the allegedly, infringing marks directly into New York. See, e.g., id. at 566-67. Here, Plaintiff has not alleged that the Foreign Defendants have solicited business in New York in that way. Plaintiff only claims that the Foreign Defendants ship the allegedly infringing goods to Oriental N.Y. and to customers in New York.
. The facts Plaintiff alleges to support this claim are largely the same as those alleged to support its claims of general jurisdiction under the alter ego theory or specific jurisdiction under the agent exception. See Opp. Mem. at 12-13; Crosby Dec. ¶¶ 14-18. Furthermore, the legal standards for these theories substantially overlap. See Darden v. DaimlerChrysler N. Am. Holding Corp., 191 F.Supp.2d 382, 387-88 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) ("To show an agency relationship, [plaintiff] should show that the subsidiary does all the business which the parent corporation could do were it here by its own officials. Alternately, to show that a domestic company is a mere department of the foreign corporation, a plaintiff should address four factors: common ownership; financial dependency of the subsidiary on the parent corporation; the parent’s control over the subsidiary’s selection of executives and observance of corporate formalities; .the parent’s control over the subsidiaries' marketing and operations.”) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
. Juicy Couture, Inc. v. Bella Int’l Ltd., 930 F.Supp.2d 489, 505 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (quoting Software AG Inc. v. Consist Software Solutions, Inc., No. 08 Civ. 389, 2008 WL 563449, at *14 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 21, 2008)). See also id. (listing "three factors to consider when determining whether the Lanham Act should be applied to extraterritorial conduct: (1) whether the defendant is a United States citizen; (2) whether there exists a conflict between the defendant's trademark rights under foreign law and the plaintiff’s trademark rights under domestic law; and (3) whether the defendant's conduct has a substantial effect on United States commerce.”) (citing Vanity Fair Mills v. T. Eaton Co., 234 F.2d 633, 642 (2d Cir. 1956)).
. See Aerogroup Int’l, Inc. v. Marlboro Footworks, Ltd., 955 F.Supp. 220, 226 (S.D.N.Y. 1997), aff'd, 152 F.3d 948 (Fed.Cir. 1998) (not
. See Certificates of Registration, Exs. A-C to Compl.
. Ritani, 880 F.Supp.2d at 440 (citing L.L. Cool /., 145 F.R.D. at 36).
. See Compl. ¶ 29 (“Defendants continue to display. Plaintiff's copyrighted works at their stores and at trade shows”); id. ¶ 31 ("In disregard of these written requests, Defendants continue to actively display and sell the Infringing Products at trade shows and in their stores.”).
. See, e.g., Elektra Entm't Grp., Inc. v. Santangelo, No. 05 Civ. 2414, 2005 WL 3199841, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 28, 2005) ("This assertion of continuous and ongoing infringement satisfies the pleading requirements applicable to claims for copyright infringement.”); Blagman v. Apple Inc., No. 12 Civ. 5453, 2013 WL 2181709, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. May 20, 2013) (holding án allegation of defendant’s "continued infringement” sufficient, and noting that "courts in this Circuit have held [such a claim] satisfactory to survive a motion to dismiss”).
. See Compl. ¶ 23.
. See id. ¶¶ 24-25.
. See id. ¶ 24.
. See id. ¶ 27.
. Bill Diodato, 388 F.Supp.2d at 392 (cita-r tion omitted).
. Compl. ¶ 15.
. See id. ¶ 26.
. Novelty Textile Mills, Inc. v. Joan Fabrics Corp., 558 F.2d 1090, 1093 (2d Cir. 1977) ("[T]he key is the similarities rather than the differences; only a slavish copy would have no differences and a copyright extends beyond a photographic reproduction.”) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
. Premier Fabrics, 42 F.Supp.3d at 553-54, 2014 WL 4230468, at *3 (citing Tufenkian, 338 F.3d at 133-34 ("[I]nfringement analysis is not simply a matter of ascertaining similarity between components viewed in isolation. For the defendant may infringe on the plaintiff’s work not only through literal copying of a portion of it, but also by parroting properties that are apparent only when numerous aesthetic decisions ... are considered in relation to one another.”)).
. Defendants claim they independently created the designs at issue. See N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶¶ 31-32. Independent creation is an affirmative defense to a prima facie claim of copyright infringement. .However, this defense cannot be addressed in a motion to dismiss. Moreover, the Second Circuit has made it clear that independent creation is a question of fact, and should be reserved for the jury. See Repp v. Webber, 132 F.3d 882, 891 (2d Cir. 1997).
.Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s trade , dress is functional, implying that because Plaintiff did not allege "non-functionality” in the Complaint, an essential element of a trade dress claim was not pled. See Def. Mem. at 20. However, invoking the specific phrase "non-functionality” is not necessary to maintain a trademark infringement claim. See BLT Rest. Grp. LLC v. Tourondel, No. 10 Civ. 06488, 2011 WL 3251536, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 19, 2011) (holding that other allegations in the complaint — including that the trade dress was "unique” and "associated specifically with” the plaintiff's brand — were sufficient to plead nonfunctionality). Plaintiff has
. Compl. ¶ 18.
. See Cartier Inc. v. Sardell Jewelry, Inc., 294 Fed.Appx. 615, 617 (2d Cir. 2008) (listing factors to determine whether a mark has acquired secondary meaning: "(1) advertising expenditures, (2) consumer studies linking the mark to a source, (3) unsolicited media coverage of the product, (4) sales success, (5) attempts to plagiarize the mark, and (6) length and exclusivity of the mark’s use”).
. Compl. ¶ 46.
. See id. ¶¶ 45-46.
. Id. ¶ 45.
. Id. ¶ 47.
. Id. IT 51.
. See id. ¶ 52 ("Defendants’ unlawful conduct has led to the ultimate purchasers believing that Defendants’ copies with the Meira T Trade Dress are made by Meira T.”).
. See Starbucks Corp. v. Wolfe’s Borough Coffee, Inc., 588 F.3d 97, 115 (2d Cir. 2009) ("In determining whether there is a likelihood of confusion, we apply the eight-factor balancing test ... (1) the strength of plaintiff’s mark; (2) the similarity of the parties' marks; (3) the competitive proximity of the products; (4) the likelihood that the plaintiff will bridge the gap between the products; (5) actual customer confusion; (6) defendant’s intent or bad faith in adopting the mark; (7) the quality of the defendant’s product; and (8) the sophistication of consumers.”) (citing Polaroid Corp. v. Polarad Elecs. Corp., 287 F.2d 492, 495 (2d Cir. 1961)).
. Compl. ¶ 45. See also id. ¶ 46 ("Meira T has created a distinctive image for the Meira T Collection that serves to identify the products in the minds of consumers.”).
. Id. ¶¶ 51, 53.
. See id. ¶ 27.
. Id. ¶ 48.
. See id. ¶ 51.
. See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 49 (“The articles are known to be quality items ... made with precious materials, and embodying expert craftsmanship. ’.
. Id. ¶ 57.
. Def. Mem. at 17.
. Id. (internal citations omitted).
. Compl. ¶ 52. See also id. ¶ 53 (“Defendants’ willful and knowing sale of look-alike Meira T Trade Dress, has caused or is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of Defendants with Meira T, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of Defendants' goods, services or commercial activities by Meira T in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)”.).
. Cf. Expressway Music, 2013 WL 5345969, at *3 ("Here, regardless of the copyright status of these videos, [Plaintiff] alleges facts about the misuse of its trademark on products it did not create, namely because [plaintiff’s] registered trade dress and trademark appear on [defendant's] media — -and format — shifted tracks. These are cognizable claims under the Lanham Act.”).
. Estate of Ellington ex rel. Ellington, 812 F.Supp.2d at 192 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
. See Expressway Music, 2013 WL 5345969, at *3 (citing Regal Jewelry Co., Inc. v. Kingsbridge Intern., Inc., 999 F.Supp. 477, 490
. Compl. ¶51. See also id. ¶ 66 (“Defendants’ deliberate and/or intentional manufacture ... of look-alike Meira T designs.”).
. Securitron, 65 F.3d at 264.
. DO Denim, LLC v. Fried Denim, Inc., 634 F.Supp.2d 403, 408-09 (S.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing National Distillers Prods. Co., LLC v. Refreshment Brands, Inc., 198 F.Supp.2d 474, 486-87 (S.D.N.Y. 2002)).
. Compl. ¶11. Plaintiff also alleges that Nigam should be held personally liable for the infringing activities of the Foreign Defendants. See id. It is undisputed that he is President of Oriental NY. See N.K. Nigam Dec. ¶ 1. However, his relationship to the Foreign Defendants is unclear. Whether.Ni-gam is personably liable for any infringement by the Foreign Defendants must wait for a determination of his relationship to those entitles, and whether they can be liable for direct infringement.
. Compl. ¶ 11.
. Bambú Sales, Inc., 683 F.Supp. at 913-Í4.
. See id. at 913.
. Opp. Mem. at 18.
. See Def. Mem. at 16 ("[T]he Complaint fails to make the required scienter allegations, instead couching its allegations against them in broad, conclusory terms.”).
. Compl. ¶ 38. See also id. ¶ 40 ("Defendants’ willful and knowing sale of jewelry products, which directly copy designs for which Meira T owns copyright registrations, is in violation of [the Copyright Act.]”).
. Id. ¶ 11. Cf. Agence France Presse v. Morel, 769 F.Supp.2d 295, 304 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) ("[Activities that lead to contributory liability are ... personal conduct that encourages or assists the infringement ...” (citing West Publ’g Co., 158 F.3d at 706)).
. See Compl. ¶ 11 (claiming N.K. Nigam is "responsible for the control, management, operation, and maintenance of the affairs of Oriental NY”).
. See id.
. Def. Mem. at 24-25.
. Id. at 25.
. Id.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND IMPORTERS, INC. d/b/a IDI Design and Meira T. Designs v. ORIENTAL GEMCO (N.Y.), INC., Oriental Gemco HK Co., Oriental Gemco Pvt. Ltd., and N.K. Nigam
- Cited By
- 25 cases
- Status
- Published