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8/17/2019 Gillespie v. Prestige Royal Liquors - Complaint
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MULCAHY LLPJames M. Mulcahy (SBN 213547) [email protected] Kevin A. Adams (SBN 239171)[email protected]
Four Park Plaza, Suite 1230Irvine, California 92614Telephone: (949) 252-9377Facsimile: (949) 252-0090
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
ELLIOTT GILLESPIE, an individual;ROCKWOOD SPIRITS
INTERNATIONAL, a Canadiancorporation,
Plaintiffs,
v.
PRESTIGE ROYAL LIQUORS,CORP., a New York corporation;
GABRIEL SEZANAYEV a/k/aGavriyel Sezanayev, an individual;
FUSION GLASSWORKS, LLC, aFlorida corporation; and PRIVATE
LABEL DISTILLERY, LLC, aColorado corporation; and DOES 1
through 10, inclusive.
Defendants.
Case No.
COMPLAINT FOR:
1)
Declaratory Judgment of Non-
Infringement of the ‘498 patent;
2)
Declaratory Judgment of
Invalidity and Unenforceability of
the ‘498 patent;
3) Breach of Contract; and
4)
Design Patent Infringement
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Case 3:16-cv-02392 Document 1 Filed 05/02/16 Page 1 of 27
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Plaintiffs Elliott Gillespie (“GILLESPIE”) and Rockwood Spirits
International Inc. (ROCKWOOD SPIRITS”) doing business as GOLD BAR
BOTTLE COMPANY and GOLD BAR BOTTLING COMPANY (collectively
“Plaintiffs”) hereby sue Defendants Prestige Royal Liquors, Corp. (“PRESTIGE”),
Gabriel Sezanayev a/k/a Gavriyel Sezanayev (“SEZANAYEV”), Fusion
Glassworks, LLC (“FUSION”) and Private Label Distillery, LLC (“PLD”)
(collectively “Defendants”) and avers the following:
THE PARTIES
1. Plaintiff GILLESPIE is an individual who is a resident of Canada and
is president of Gold Bar Whiskey and an innovator in the spirits industry.
GILLESPIE’s Gold Bar Whiskey was recently awarded a double gold medal at
the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as winning
awards for packaging and design. GILLESPIE’s Gold Bar Whiskey has also been
featured by various whiskey/spirit websites and is the most innovative up and
coming product with its unique design. Plaintiff GILLISPIE has offices in
California at 201 Spear Street, San Francisco, California 94105 and has a distillery
location at 990 13th St, San Francisco, CA 94130-1222, in California.
2.
Plaintiff ROCKWOOD SPIRITS is a Canadian company with its
principle place of business in Ottawa, Canada. ROCKWOOD SPIRITS is engaged
in the business of design, manufacture, production and sale of products. Plaintiff
GILLESPIE is the President and majority shareholder of ROCKWOOD SPIRITS.
3. On information and belief, Defendant PRESTIGE is a corporation in
New York listing a location at 45-47 157th Street, Flushing, New York, 11355.
On information and belief, PRESTIGE is a licensee of U.S. Patent No. D750,498(the ‘498 patent) and U.S. Patent No. D754,545 (the ‘545 patent) and agent of
SEZANAYEV, the inventor listed on the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent.
SEZANAYEV is, upon information and belief, the owner of PRESTIGE, as well
as other companies such as Golden Kilos & Co. Inc. who is listed as the owner of
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trademark applications at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
4. On information and belief, Defendant SEZANAYEV is a citizen of
New York and resides at 45-47 157th Street, Flushing, New York, 11355, and
SEZANAYEV is the inventor and licensor of the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent.
5.
On information and belief, Defendant FUSION is a Florida
corporation with a principal place of business at 1322 S.E. 17 th Street, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL 33316. FUSION is a custom glass designer and glass broker who
assists clients in customized glass bottles, making prototypes, and sourcing
packaging through Chinese manufacturers. On information and belief, the owners
of Defendant FUSION are Michael Ferchak and Paul Dunning.
6.
On information and belief, Defendant PLD is a distillery and bottling
facility in Colorado, also owned by Michael Ferchak and Paul Dunning, and
related to Defendant FUSION. Upon information and belief, PLD and FUSION
together offer glass and distillery services in North America. Defendant PLD is a
company that assists clients with the development, growth, distribution, packaging
and marketing of spirits with active participation in glass bottle development, via
FUSION, from the facilities offices in Colorado and Florida.
7.
Plaintiffs are unaware of the true names and capacities of all
defendants sued here as Does 1 through 10, inclusive, whether individual,
corporate, associate or otherwise, are unknown to Plaintiffs, who therefore sues
said defendants by such fictitious names. Plaintiffs will amend this Complaint to
allege their true names and capacities when they have been ascertained. Plaintiffs
are informed and believes and thereupon alleges, that each of said fictitiously
named defendants, is responsible in some manner for the occurrences hereinalleged, included as an agent, coconspirator and alter ego of each of the other
codefendants, and that Plaintiffs' damages as herein alleged, were proximately
caused by the acts and/or omissions of each of them.
8.
At all such times herein mentioned, defendants, each of them, were an
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owner, a co-owner, an agent, representative, partner, and/or alter ego of its co-
defendants, or otherwise acting on behalf of each and every remaining defendant
and, in doing the things hereinafter alleged, were acting within the course and
scope of their authorities as an owner, a co-owner, an agent, representative,
partner and/or alter ego of its co-defendants, with the full knowledge, permission
and consent of each and every remaining defendants, each co-defendant having
ratified the acts of the other co-defendants.
9.
Plaintiffs are informed and believes and, upon such information and
belief, alleges that each of the defendants named herein as Does 1 through 10,
inclusive, were and are in some manner responsible for the actions, acts and
omissions herein alleged, and for the damages caused by the defendants, and are
therefore, jointly and severally liable for damages caused to Plaintiffs.
10. Plaintiff are informed and believes, upon such information and belief,
alleges that each of the defendants, including Does 1 through 10, inclusive, were,
at all times herein mentioned, acting in concert with, and in conspiracy with, each
and every one of the remaining defendants.
NATURE OF THE DISPUTE
11.
Defendant PRESTIGE has asserted rights under U.S. Patent No.
D750,498 (“the ‘498 patent”) based on certain activity of Plaintiff GILLESPIE,
and Plaintiff GILLESPIE contends that it has the right to engage in this activity
without license. A true and correct copy of the ‘498 patent is attached hereto as
Exhibit A. PRESTIGE lacks standing to assert rights under the ‘498 patent.
12. Defendants PRESTIGE and SEZANAYEV have wrongly accused
Plaintiffs of infringing the ‘498 patent, creating an actual controversy with the jurisdiction of this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201-2202 as to the non-
infringement, invalidity, and unenf orceability of the ‘498 patent.
13.
On April 26, 2016, U.S. Patent No. D754,545 (the ‘545 patent) was
issued to Defendant SEZANAYEV which has the same drawings as the ‘498
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patent. A true and correct copy of the ‘545 patent is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
14. In this action, Plaintiffs seek a declaration, among other things, that:
(i) they do not directly or indirectly infringe the ‘498 patent or the ‘545 patent
licensed by PRESTIGE and owned by SEZANAYEV, (ii) the ‘498 patent and the
‘545 patent is invalid and unenforceable, (iii) Defendants FUSION and PLD,
directly and indirectly through their agents, breached their nondisclosure
agreements with Plaintiffs by providing Plaintiffs’ Intellectual Property (“IP”),
which includes but is not limited to confidential, proprietary, and trade secret
information such as marketing, products, product designs, and product launch
timeline, to SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE, and possibly others, directly or
indirectly through their agents and other property pertaining to Plaintiffs’ Gold
Bar designs for the bottle packaging to SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE, and
others, (iv) Defendants, and others, are infringing GILLESPIE’s patent, and (v)
an order enjoining Defendants from further unlawful conduct and a judgment
awarding all damages, punitive damages, as well as costs and attorneys’ fees is
warranted.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
15.
This is a civil action regarding allegations of patent infringement
arising under the patent laws of the United States, Title 35 of the United States
Code, in which Plaintiffs seeks declaratory relief under the Declaratory Judgment
Act. Thus, the court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1331, 1338, 2201, and 2202. This action includes a declaratory
judgment of patent non-infringement, invalidity and unenforceability arising
under the patent laws of the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code. 16.
An actual controversy exists between Plaintiffs and Defendants
SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE by virtue of the assertion of rights under the ‘498
patent based on certain alleged activity by GILLESPIE. In particular, Defendants
SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE have stated that the ‘498 patent relates to the sale
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of a gold bar shaped container for whiskey in the United States by GILLESPIE.
17. GILLESPIE contends that he has the right to engage in making, using,
offering to sell, and selling his products, including his Gold Bar® Gold Finished
Whiskey product, without a license from Defendants.
18.
The Court has diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 and
supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ state law claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
19.
Venue is proper in this judicial district under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 and
1400.
20. The Court may properly exercise personal jurisdiction over all the
Defendants for at least the following reasons:
a.
Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE have personally availed
themselves of the benefits and protections of California, and Plaintiffs’ claims arise
out of Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE’s contacts with California.
Among other things, they are disseminating advertising in California.
SEZANAYEV maintains, as both the registrant and administrative contact, U.S.
websites (www.3kilos.com, www.3kilosvodka.com and www.mr3kilos.com)
which are accessible in California. Upon information and belief, these websites
advertise and direct consumers to purchase through many stores that ship to
residents in California, including this judicial district, and elsewhere, through
specific retailers. Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE also sell products to
online shops and retail stores that, in turn, sell their products in California,
including this judicial district.
b. Defendants PLD and FUSION have availed themselves of the benefits
and protections of California and both maintain websites (www.fusion-glassworks.com which allows consumers to directly purchase product samples
from the website, and www.privatelabeldistillery.com) which are accessible in
California and have transacted business in California, including this judicial
district. Upon information and belief, Defendants PLD and FUSION and Does 1
Case 3:16-cv-02392 Document 1 Filed 05/02/16 Page 6 of 27
http://www.3kilos.com/http://www.3kilosvodka.com/http://www.mr3kilos.com/http://www.fusion-glassworks.com/http://www.fusion-glassworks.com/http://www.privatelabeldistillery.com/http://www.privatelabeldistillery.com/http://www.fusion-glassworks.com/http://www.fusion-glassworks.com/http://www.mr3kilos.com/http://www.3kilosvodka.com/http://www.3kilos.com/
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through 10, have conspired with Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE, and
unknown other Does 1 to 10, directly and indirectly, to commit, and/or have aided,
abetted, or otherwise contributed to the wrongful acts and omissions alleged
herein.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
21.
GILLISPIE is the owner of Gold Bar Bottle Company and an
innovator and creator of the Gold Bar Whiskey which is one of the newest and
sought after whiskies that is made in the United States and a winner of recent
awards.
22. GILLISPIE filed a patent design application in July of 2009 for a
bottle and was granted a US Patent Registration No. D643,298 on August 16, 2011
(the “GILLESPIE patent”). A true and correct copy of the GILLESPIE patent is
attached hereto as Exhibit C.
23. GILLESPIE’s project was known as the “GOLD BAR” project.
GILLESPIE owns a U.S. Trademark Reg. No. 4617790 for “GOLD BAR” for
“alcoholic beverages and distilled spirits, namely whiskey,” GILLESPIE also has
a pending U.S. Trademark Application for “GOLD BAR” Serial No. 86/576,589
filed on March 25, 2015 for non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
24.
Upon information and belief, Defendants conspired to copy
GILLESPIE’s confidential and protected trade secret drawings, idea and
information to produce an exact or similar Gold Bar bottle design to GILLESPIE’s
Gold Bar Bottle design.
25. Defendant SEZANAYEV falsely represented to the United States
Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) that he was the original inventor of theclaimed invention and patent design when in fact, he was not. This inequitable
conduct alone of false representations to the USPTO of inventorship invalidates the
‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent and renders them unenforceable and invalid.
26.
As set forth more fully below, upon information and belief, some of
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the initial glass bottle brokers and factories in China, breached their confidential
and nondisclosure agreements and gave GILLESPIE’s confidential and trade secret
information to the Defendants who in turn used the confiscated materials to file a
design patent and produce their own Gold Bar Bottle from the confiscated
drawings and production details.
GILLESPIE APPROACHES ROCKWOOD & HINES, A
EUROPEAN OWNED, CHINA-BASED GLASS
BROKER/MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE BOTTLE
PROJECT
27. In November 2013, GILLISPIE first approached a glass broker
company in China named Rockwood & Hines (no relation to Plaintiff
ROCKWOOD SPIRITS) to produce and manufacture his bottle and the parties
entered a nondisclosure agreement to protect GILLESPIE’s and ROCKWOOD
SPIRIT’s confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information, including bottle
and bottle closure designs. Rockwood & Hines agrees to not disclose any designs
produced between the parties at any time to any third parties.
28.
Thereafter, GILLESPIE disclosed his confidential and trade secret
designs and confidential trade secret drawings for his Gold Bar bottle.
29.
The Rockwood & Hines representatives told GILLESPIE that they
had never seen a design like GILLESPIE’s Gold Bar Bottle design and thought it
was very clever and unique.
30. In December 2013, GILLESPIE paid Rockwood & Hines a design fee
in which all designs were owned by GILLESPIE. The efforts as part of the design
fee were to continue to perfect and develop an acceptable unique bottle design forGILLESPIE that resembled a Gold Bar, as part of GILLESPIE’s vision for his
product.
31.
GILLESPIE and representatives of Rockwood & Hines continued to
exchange confidential emails regarding issues related to the design and the issues
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related to the engineering of the bottle in December 2013 (specific to
manufacturability based on the China glass factories technical capabilities).
32. Additional confidential emails were exchanged between GILLESPIE
and representatives of Rockwood & Hines in 2014 and 2015.
33.
In particular, during design and manufacturing trials in 2014 and early
March 2015, GILLESPIE and Rockwood & Hines exchanged very detailed emails
on the specifications for the Gold Bar Bottle. At this time, Rockwood & Hines
told GILLESPIE that he was their top priority from today onward.
34. On March 3, 2015, Rockwood & Hines informed GILLESPIE that
they could produce 50,000 units and a final technical drawing was sent to
GILLSPIE soon thereafter. These communications and designs would most likely
have been exchanged between Rockwood & Hines and the Chinese glass factory
where Defendants’ products referred to as the 3 Kilos bottle were eventually
produced. However, there were still problems raised by Rockwood & Hines and
further exchanges of revised drawings. Sometime thereafter, GILLESPIE stopped
working with Rockwood & Hines. However, at all times, Rockwood & Hines was
under a confidential and nondisclosure agreement to keep all communications and
designs and ideas confidential and protected.
35.
Unbeknownst to GILLESPIE, in this same time frame and at least by
March 11, 2015, Defendant SEZANAYEV filed his first patent design application
with the USPTO for a vodka bottle that is the same or similar to the drawings
GILLESPIE was exchanging with Rockwood & Hines and others, even though
such drawings and designs were protected under the confidential and nondisclosure
agreements signed by the various parties. GILLESPIE APPROACHES FUSION GLASSWORKS AND
PRIVATE LABEL DISTILLERY OWNED BY MICHAEL FERCHAK AND
PAUL DUNNING
36.
In an effort to get another opinion on the confidential designs for his
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bottle GILLESPIE approached FUSION, a US company owned by Michael
Ferchak and Paul Dunning.
37. Michael Ferchak, acting on behalf of FUSION and in his individual
capacity signed a confidential and nondisclosure agreement in July 2014 (8 months
before Defendant SEZANAYEV filed his first patent) for the Gold Bar Bottle
project, a true and accurate copy of which is attached as Exhibit D. After the
confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement was signed, GILLESPIE shared the
confidential and trade secret drawings and the information about the design to get
another design opinion from FUSION.
38. Paul Dunning, acting as the Managing Partner of PLD and in his
individual capacity also signed a confidential and nondisclosure agreement in
October 2014 which covered, inter alia, conversations that included Michael
Ferchak both verbally and in writing by email related to blending and bottling
services for the gold bar project. A true and accurate copy of that nondisclosure
agreement is attached as Exhibit E. An Addendum for the Gold Bar Whiskey
Project was signed again in July 2015 where Both Paul Dunning and Michael
Ferchak signed the addendum, in their individual capacity and as representatives of
FUSION and PLD, a true and accurate copy of which is attached as Exhibit F.
39.
As part of the confidential and nondisclosure agreements, Paul
Dunning and Michael Ferchak, agreed that they would not share or disclose any IP
belonging to Plaintiffs, including but not limited to business strategy, their business
relationship, product design, and product launch timeliness. Defendants FUSION
and PLD, through their owners, Paul Dunning and Michael Ferchak, agreed that
any of their agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants andadvisors were also bound by the nondisclosure agreement. In reliance on the
nondisclosure agreements, Plaintiffs shared its IP, including its Gold Bar bottle
drawings with Defendants FUSION and PLD in July of 2014 and after.
40.
FUSION later reported to GILLESPIE that his Gold Bar Bottle design
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cannot be produced, so GILLESPIE worked to find another glass bottler or design
company, but still worked with Paul Dunning and Michael Ferchak from October
2014 onward into the fall of 2015. Ongoing discussions between Paul Dunning,
Michael Ferchak and GILLESPIE continued regarding the Gold Bar bottle project,
potential customers, and the fact that GILLESPIE had a patent on his bottle design.
41.
Thereafter, GILLESPIE visited the PLD offices in Colorado in July
2015 and spent two days with Paul Dunning making further disclosures of
information, showing Paul the physical glass samples of his bottle and pictures of
marketing, branding, labels, artwork, line extensions, all of which were covered by
the nondisclosure agreement in place regarding the design of the Gold Bar bottles.
While GILLESPIE was specifically at the PLD offices to discuss distillery issues
relating to the whisky or other spirits, they also discussed the design of the Gold
Bar Bottle and other confidential information protected by the nondisclosure
agreements. It was on this visit that Paul Dunning informed Plaintiffs that he
represented a client named “3 KILOS,” but Plaintiff had no knowledge or reason to
believe that at the time any of Plaintiffs IP was disclosed to any other party, let
alone to the “3 KILOS” owners. Paul Dunning also stated at this meeting that he
was in close contact with an employee of Rockwood & Hines, as he was trying to
“poach them” to come work for his company FUSION and that GILLESPIE would
be in very good hands as they have knowledge of our product and the transition
would be seamless in moving over the project.
42. Upon information and belief, and unbeknownst to Plaintiffs,
Defendants FUSION and PLD all violated and breached their confidential and
nondisclosure agreements by providing the Gold Bar Bottle designs and othermaterials and confidential business practices that were proprietary IP of Plaintiffs
with Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE and/or agents or representatives
of Defendants.
43.
Plaintiffs later learned that the Chinese Factory was making a bottle
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by FUSION that was similar to Plaintiff’s Gold Bar Bottle as the sample bottle
from China had the FUSION logo on the bottle and the 3 Kilos label on the side of
the sample bottle. See below Fusion Glassworks logo, the June 2015 sample bottle
with the fusion logo, as compared to Defendants’ current product which also has
the FUSION logo directly on the product:
Defendant FUSION’s Logo: is on the prototype sample and the final product.
44.
Thus, by June 2015, Defendants and their agents and representatives
were already working to produce and manufacture GILLESPIE’s Gold Bar Bottle
design to use it in connection with their vodka products, and possibly other spirits,
even whiskey. Upon information and belief, the bottle was rudimentary in terms of
its final design, but more closely matched GILLESPIE’s patent in later product
designs.
45. In August 2015, in an email from Paul Dunning to GILLESPIE, Paul
Dunning, acting on behalf of PLD and FUSION makes it clear that he knows the
factory in which GILLESPIE is producing his Gold Bar Bottles and asks
GILLESPIE when he first produced his bottles.
46.
On or about February 6, 2016, Paul Dunning telephoned GILLESPIE
and told him that 3 Kilos brand is placing an order for one million dollars of glass,a “huge order” as he describes it, and that GILLESPIE “better hurry up to get on
the market” and that FUSION can assist if GILLESPIE has issues with his current
broker. Paul Dunning stated that GILLESPIES’ Gold Bar Bottle is better than the
3 Kilos one and that GILLESPIE’S current supplier has a lot of issues with other
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clients and quality problems. Paul Dunning also advised he would like to quote
GILLESPIE on the glass production. Paul Dunning was also asking GILLESPIE
in this phone call for all sorts of information on the distillery and GILLESPIE’s
release date of his Gold Bar product. Paul Dunning even requested that he buy
GILLESPIE’s whiskey inventory at the PLD facility. GILLESPIE sold this
inventory to PLD, but has yet to be paid.
47.
In March 2016, Plaintiff saw Michael Ferchak at a spirits trade event
and Michael Ferchak informed GILLESPIE that he saw Plaintiffs’ design and
bottle in China on the shelf at the manufacturer. Michael Ferchak also told
GILLESPIE that he does not want any legal problems, which suggested that he
knew the SEZANAYEV design for the 3 KILOS bottle was the same or very
similar to Plaintiffs’ Gold Bar Whiskey bottle design and that he had illegally and
improperly given the information, design drawings and images to SEZANAYEV,
or agents or representatives working directly or indirectly with SEZANAYEV and
the Chinese Factory. At the same time, Michael Ferchak informed GILLESPIE
that “3 KILOS” was just awarded a patent on their bottle design.
48.
On April 20, 2016, Paul Dunning approached GILLESPIE in Las
Vegas at a trade show. Without any questions or inquiry from GILLESPIE went
into a dialogue trying to explain that he is not connected with the 3 Kilos company
and trying to distance himself from being involved with the 3 Kilos product. Paul
Dunning admitted to GILLESPIE at this time that he was aware of both designs
and that there was a looming issue. Paul Dunning also stated that he has “nothing
to do with the glass side of the business, that is Michael Ferchak ’s business and the
two are not connected.” However, this was untrue as only Paul Dunning andanother employee were representing FUSION at the FUSION booth at the Wine
and Spirits Wholesalers Association (WSWA) event in Las Vegas in April 2016.
49.
Paul Dunning and Michael Ferchak’s actions individually and on
behalf of FUSION and PLD, demonstrate that they have colluded and conspired
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with others, including and not limited to factories in China, to illegally and
improperly turn over GILLESPIE’s confidential designs which they took all for
personal gain and gave or shared with Defendants PRESTIGE and SEZANAYEV,
and their agents and representatives.
50.
Meanwhile, upon information and belief PRESTIGE and
SEZANAYEV, directly and indirectly through their representatives and agents are
spreading false rumors on the Gold Bar Whiskey products stating that Gold Bar
Whisky is violating their patent and infringing their patent. This is all untrue and
designed to harm GILLESPIE and his launch of his Gold Bar Whiskey product
when in reality, it is Defendants who are engaging in bad conduct and who
obtained a patent through their inequitable conduct and by stealing GILLESPIE’s
designs and ideas.
DEFENDANTS CONSPIRED AND COLLUDED TO SHARE THE
CONFIDENTIAL DESIGNS AND RUSHED TO FILE DESIGN PATENTS
51. Upon information and belief, Plaintiffs’ proprietary, confidential and
trade secret information, designs and IP, were illegally and improperly shared
among and between all Defendants prior to March 2015 which was the first date
that SEZAYANEV filed his first patent design application. SEZANAYEV’s
patent application copied GILLESPIE’s IP and proprietary designs provided to
Defendants FUSION and PLD, as well as other third parties such as Rockwood &
Hines, under strict confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements.
52. On or about March 2015, after such time as Plaintiffs had shared their
IP, including the confidential product designs and confidential business
information with Defendants FUSION and PLD under the confidential andnondisclosure agreement, SEZANAYEV filed a design patent application assigned
US 29/520,145 which was titled “VODKA BOTTLE.” Recently, on April 26,
2016, this patent design application became the ‘545 patent.
53.
The timing of SEZANAYEV’s first patent design in March of 2015
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and expedited review request is of no coincidence. It was at this same time that
Rockwood & Hines, the Chinese glass broker had approved the final designs for
GILLESPIE and at a time after which representatives and agents of FUSION, PLD
and Rockwood & Hines had, upon information and belief, colluded and conspired
with SEZANAYEV and others acting as agents and representatives of
SEZANAYEV to file the patent design whereby SEZANAYEV claimed he was
the original inventor and signed a false declaration under penalty of perjury and
other that he was the original inventor when he was not and the drawings were
merely copied and taken, and were not his own.
54. Further, through information and belief, Defendants were all aware
that GILLESPIE developed the Gold Bar Bottle designs and that SEZANAYEV
was not the inventor of the designs. Nevertheless, through information and belief,
SEZANAYEV went forward to file two design patent applications in lieu of
knowing about GILLESPIE’s Gold Bar Bottle designs and in fact copying such
designs.
55.
Additionally, in October 2015, SEZANAYEV filed papers with the
USPTO seeking expedited review of the design patent and paid the expedited
review fee to try to get a patent as fast as possible.
56.
Subsequently in June 2015, SEZANAYEV filed a second design
patent, a Continuation in Part design application no. 29/529,056 of the prior design
application no. 29/520,145. SEZANAYEV’s design application no. 29/529,056
also requested expedited examination. In the application filing, just as done in his
first design patent application, SEZANAYEV signs a declaration under penalty of
perjury and oath that he is the original inventor. 57.
This declaration was false and material to the grant of his patent
design registration when in fact he did not invent anything and merely copied
Plaintiffs’ confidential and trade secret designs and IP, including product designs,
and did not invent or make any novel design. This second design patent was also
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expedited for review presumably because SEZAYANEV knew he had taken the
designs and drawing and was trying to get a patent granted as soon as possible. On
March 1, 2016, the ‘498 patent was granted. On April 26, 2016, the’545 patent
was granted.
THE CEASE AND DESIST LETTERS
58.
On or about April 1, 2016, Defendant PRESTIGE (through counsel)
contacted GILLESPIE by letter, informing him that PRESTIGE is the exclusive
licensee of the ‘498 patent, enclosing a copy of the said patent, and stating that
[Y]ou, your company, marketing persons and certain distributors in the U.S.
presently advertise, offer for sale and sell a gold bar-shaped container for
whiskey in the United States… As the exclusive licensee of the ‘498 patent,
our client is entitled to keep others from using, selling, advertising and
distributing containers or bottles that are identical or nearly identical as that
shown in the ‘498 patent and we request you immediately cease and desist
from all use, sale, advertising or distributing containers or bottles of that
type.”
In the cease and desist letter, PRESTIGE identified the allegedly infringing
products including the “gold bar shaped container of whiskey product.”
PRESTIGE further requested immediate written assurances that GILLESPIE will
no longer use, sell, advertise or distribute the containers or bottles in the future and
requested an accounting.
59. Thus, PRESTIGE asserted their right, title, and interest to the ‘498
patent.
60.
The ‘498 patent is a design patent titled “GOLD BAR -SHAPEDCONTAINERS FOR ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.”
The ‘498 patent on its face states that it was issued on March 1, 2016.
61.
Plaintiffs believe that their products, including its Gold Bar® Gold
Finished Whiskey product do not infringe the ‘498 patent or the ‘545 patent and
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that the claims of the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent are invalid. Accordingly, an
actual controversy exists as to whether Plaintiffs’ manufacture, use or sale of its
products infringes any valid or enfor ceable claim of the ‘498 patent and the ‘545
patent. Absent a declaration of non-infringement, invalidity, and/or
unenforceability, Defendants PRESTIGE and SEZANAYEV will continue to
wrongly assert the ‘498 patent against Plaintiffs and the ‘545 patent against
Plaintiffs, and thereby causing Plaintiffs irreparable harm.
62.
Defendant PRESTIGE has also sent cease and desist letters to
Plaintiffs’ retailers such as www.forwhiskeylovers.com and Douglas Stone, 870
Piermont Avenue, Piermont, NY 10968 and www.goldbarwhiskey.com,
threatening that sale of Plaintiff’s Gold Bar® Gold Finished Whiskey product
violates Defendants’ patent rights which is and will cause Plaintiff irreparable
harm.
GILLESPIE’S DESIGN AND THE 3 KILOS BOTTLE DESIGN
63. Separate from the ‘498 and ‘545 patent, upon information and belief,
Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE, through a number of agents and sales
representatives and/or distributors, and Does 1 through 10, have made, used,
imported, offered for sale, and/or sold a bottle design without license or authority
from GILLESPIE, products covered by the claims in the GILLESPIE patent
(hereinafter referred to as the “Accused Products”).
64. The design of the bottle in the Accused Product are not designs or
claims from the ‘498 or ‘545 patent.
65. Upon information and belief, the Accused Products are identified by
Defendants as “3 KILOS VODKA,” “3 KILOS,” “3 KILOS HOLLANDVODKA,” and are advertised on Facebook, Instagram, www.3kilos.com,
www.newyorkliquorgiftshop.com, www.lwwarehouse.com, www.wine-
searcher.com, www.iconosquare.com, and sold online and in retail stores, as well
as marketed and advertised at trade shows.
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http://www.forwhiskeylovers.com/http://www.goldbarwhiskey.com/http://www.3kilos.com/http://www.3kilos.com/http://www.newyorkliquorgiftshop.com/http://www.newyorkliquorgiftshop.com/http://www.lwwarehouse.com/http://www.lwwarehouse.com/http://www.wine-searcher.com/http://www.wine-searcher.com/http://www.wine-searcher.com/http://www.iconosquare.com/http://www.iconosquare.com/http://www.iconosquare.com/http://www.wine-searcher.com/http://www.wine-searcher.com/http://www.lwwarehouse.com/http://www.newyorkliquorgiftshop.com/http://www.3kilos.com/http://www.goldbarwhiskey.com/http://www.forwhiskeylovers.com/
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66. The Accused Products, an example of which is shown below on the
left hand side or bottom side, are virtually identical to the claim of the
GILLESPIE patent, as shown below on the right-hand side or top side:
67.
Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE, their agents,
representatives, sales persons and distributors, have touted their 3 KILOS
VODKA product at various trade shows and to the industry as being the first
product with the bottle design of a gold bar. However, the 3 KILOS VODKA
product is not the first product with the bottle design of a gold bar and is not
covered by the ‘498 patent or ‘545 patent. Thus, Defendants PRESTIGE and
SEZANAYEV, and others who are acting as representatives and agents of
PRESTIGE and SEZANAYEV are, upon information and belief, making false
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claims of patent protection. The below photo was taken from the 3 Kilos
Instagram site, posted by them on March 22, 2016. This was posted while at an
event where Plaintiffs’ GOLD BAR WHISKEY was being displayed at a table 50
years from the 3 Kilos table, causing further economic hardship as numerous
retailers attending the show approached GILLESPIE and said that the 3 Kilos
booth representatives are saying that GILLESPIE is infringing their patent. See
the attached image and text.
68. Further evidence that the Defendants colluded and conspired together
to commit these wrongful and infringing acts is evidenced by the Accused Product
which on its face has the FUSION trademark directly on the product, as shown in
the below picture and set forth in the above paragraphs.
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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement of the ‘498 patent)
69.
Plaintiffs hereby incorporates by reference its allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 66 of this Complaint as though fully set forth herein.
70. Defendants SEZAYANEV and PRESTIGE contend that products
made, used, sold, advertised or marketed by GILLESPIE infringe the ‘498 patent.
71.
Plaintiffs deny Defendants SEZAYANEV and PRESTIGE’s
contentions and alleges that the products do not directly or indirectly infringe the
‘498 patent or the ‘545 patent.
72.
An actual controversy thus exists between Plaintiffs and Defendants
SEZAYANEV and PRESTIGE as to whether the accused products infringe the
‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent.
73. Accordingly, Plaintiffs seeks and is entitled to a judgment against
Defendants SEZAYANEV and PRESTIGE that they do not infringe and have not
infringed, directly or indirectly, contributorily or by inducement, the ‘498 patent
and the ‘545 patent.
74.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 and 2202, a judicial determination of the
respective rights of the parties with respect to the alleged infringement of the ‘498
patent and the ‘545 patent is necessary and appropriate under these circumstances.
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SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
(Declaratory Judgment of Invalidity and Unenforceability of the ‘498 patent)
75. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference its allegations contained in
paragraphs 1 through 66 of the Complaint as though fully set forth herein.
76.
Defendants SEZAYANEV and PRESTIGE content the ‘498 patent is
valid and enforceable.
77.
Plaintiffs deny Defendants’ contentions and alleges that the ‘498
patent and the ‘545 patents are invalid and unenforceable for failure to meet one
or more of the conditions of patentability specified in Title 35 of the United States
Code, 35 U.S.C. §§ 102, 103, 112, and/or 171. PRESTIGE and SEZANAYEV
dispute these contentions. No claim or design drawing of the ‘498 patent or the
‘545 patent can be validly construed to cover any products imported, made, used,
sold or offered for sale by Plaintiffs and the alleged invention of the ‘498 patent
and the ‘545 patent is taught by, suggested by, and/or obvious in view of the prior
art.
78.
The ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent are also invalid under 35 U.S.C. §
112 as the patent drawings are inconsistent and incomplete and do not disclose the
patent. Moreover, the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent are also invalid for
nonenablement and indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. § 112. The errors and
inconsistencies in the drawing are material and of such magnitude that the overall
appearance of the design is unclear. Some of the drawings depict the ‘498 patent
and the ‘545 patent with a rectangle shape on the top and bottom and other
drawings depict the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent with a trapezoid shape on the
top and bottom and neither half can be disregarded as unclear due to the perspectives shown.
79.
The named inventor of the designs set forth in the ‘498 patent and the
‘545 patent are not the inventor thereof rendering the patents invalid and
unenforceable under 35 U.S. C. § 102(f). Additionally, the ‘498 patent and the
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‘545 patent do not designate all inventors of the designs set forth in the patent
rendering the patents invalid and unenforceable.
80. The designs in the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent are obvious under
36 U.S.C. § 103.
81.
The ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent are unenforceable as a result of
inequitable conduct of Defendants and/or their representatives, including but not
limited to, Gary or Godel Sezayanev, Gabriel Sezanayev, Paul Dunning and
Michael Ferchak, and others unknown at this time.
82. During prosecution of the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent, Defendants
and/or others substantively involved in the preparation of the ‘498 patent and the
‘545 patent engaged in inequitable conduct before the USPTO. Upon information
and belief, the SEZANAYEV withheld information about the GILLESPIE Gold
Bar Bottle designs, despite having in his possession such information. This
information was material and not cumulative to the U.S. Patents issued on the face
of the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent, the information provided by SEZANAYEV
and his attorney to the USPTO in an Information Disclosure Statements, and the
information before and/or considered by the USPTO during the prosecution of the
‘498 patent application and the ‘545 patent application.
83.
Further, upon information and belief, SEZANAYEV filed a false
declaration with the USPTO claiming he was the inventor, when he knew he was
not.
84. On information and belief, the material information withheld by
SEZANAYEV and/or his attorney was withheld knowingly and with the intent to
deceive or mislead the USPTO.85.
Such inequitable conduct renders the ‘498 patent and the ‘545 patent,
and all the claims thereof, unenforceable.
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THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
(Breach of Contract Against Defendants FUSION and PLD and Does 1 - 10)
86. Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference its allegations contained in
paragraphs 1 through 66 of the Complaint as though fully set forth herein.
87.
Defendants FUSION and PLD and Does 1 to 10, entered into
confidential and nondisclosure agreements in connection with protecting and
sharing information to produce glass bottles and design, samples and production
molds for samples and final products. The confidential and nondisclosure
agreements also were directed to production of custom formulation, blending and
purchase of bulk alcohol supply and contract bottling and packaging.
88.
Pursuant to these agreements, Defendants FUSION and PLD agreed
that Plaintiff owned all the confidential and proprietary information and trade
secrets, and that they would protect and pr eserve all of Plaintiff’s information,
trade secrets, strategy, product launch timeline, IP and technology, including but
not limited to product design.
89.
Defendants FUSION and PLD breached these confidentiality and
nondisclosure agreements by transferring and disclosing Plaintiffs’ confidential
and proprietary information, trade secrets, and IP, including product design,
strategies, and product launch timeline to SEZAYANEV and PRESTIGE and
other Does 1 to 10 and to competitors of Plaintiffs.
90. As a legal and proximate cause of Defendants FUSION and PLD’s
breaches of contract, Plaintiffs have and will continue to suffer substantial
economic damages.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION(Design Patent Infringement Against All Defendants and Does 1 - 10)
91.
Plaintiffs hereby incorporate by reference its allegations contained in
paragraphs 1 through 66 of the Complaint as though fully set forth herein.
92.
No Defendant in this action has sought or received a license from
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Plaintiff GILLESPIE for any purpose whatsoever.
93. Defendants SEZANAYEV and PRESTIGE, through a number of
agents and sales representatives and/or distributors, and Does 1 through 10,
without consent have been and are infringing the GILLESPIE patent under 35
U.S.C. § 271(a), by making, using, offering for sale or selling, without license or
authority from GILLESPIE, in this District and elsewhere in the United States,
products covered by the GILLESPIE patent bearing the ornamental design that
embodies the inventions claimed in the GILLESPIE patent, and will continue to
do so unless enjoined by the Court.
94. Defendants have had actual or constructive knowledge of the
GILLESPIE patent and their prior and continuing infringement of the GILLESPIE
patent was and continues to be willful and deliberate.
95. Defendants’ infringement of the GILLESPIE patent has irreparably
damaged Plaintiffs in an amount that is unknown and cannot at the present time be
ascertained, and will cause added injury and loss unless Defendants are enjoined
by this Court.
96.
Without the consent of Plaintiffs, Defendants have actively induced
infringement and/or contributed to the infringement, and are still actively inducing
and/or contributing to the infringement of the GILLESPIE patent, and will
continue to do so unless enjoined by the Court.
97. Defendants’ inducement of infringement and contributory
infringement of the GILLESPIE patent has irreparably damaged Plaintiffs in an
amount that is unknown and cannot at the present time be ascertained, and will
cause added injury and loss unless Defendants are enjoined by this Court. 98.
Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law.
REQUEST FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs requests that this Court enter judgment in its
favor against all Defendants as follows:
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A. For a judicial declaration that Plaintiffs do not infringe contribute to
the infringement of, induce others to infringe, either directly or
indirectly, any valid claim of the U.S. Patent No. D750,498 and/or
U.S. Patent No. D754,545; and
B.
For a judicial declaration that U.S. Patent No. D750,498 and/or U.S.
Patent No. D754,545 are invalid and unenforceable; and
C.
Ordering that Defendants, their agents, and all persons acting in
concert or participation with Defendants be enjoined from asserting
claims against Plaintiffs for infringement of the U.S. Patent Design
No. D750,498 and/or U.S. Patent Design No. D754,545, and from
asserting to third parties that Plaintiff’s products in any way infringe
Defendants’ design patents; and
D. Ordering that Defendants’ inequitable conduct in the prosecution of
the Defendants’ patents and/or their predecessor applications render
these patents unenforceable; and
E.
Ruling that Defendants FUSION and PLD breached their
confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements with Plaintiffs, to enjoin
FUSION and PLD to prevent further breaches and award attorneys’
fees;
F. Judgment for Plaintiffs on its cause of action for patent infringement
of U.S. Patent Design No. D643,298; and
G. That the Court preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants, their
officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and anyone acting
in concert or participation with them or any of them, from infringingthe GILLESPIE patent, U.S. Patent Design No. D643,298, as
provided in 35 U.S.C. § 283, and specifically bar Defendants and
anyone else acting in concert with Defendants, from making, using,
selling, or offering for sale products that infringe the GILLESPIE
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patent, U.S. Patent Design No. D643,298, and that they be
permanently enjoined and restrained including but not limited to;
H. That Defendants be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from
using the Accused Products in any show, trade fair, or marketing
venture, including but not limited to use as a permanent or temporary
display;
I.
That Defendants will remove any picture, photo or reference to the
Accused Products from any and all touch screen computers at any
and all trade shows and from any and all Internet web sites, including
Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites;
J.
That Defendants be required to deliver up to Plaintiff for destruction,
any and all goods in their possession or under their control that were
or are being advertised, promoted, offered for sale or sold which
infringe the GILLESPIE patent;
K. That Defendants be required, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 284 and 289,
to account to Plaintiff for any and all profits derived by them, and for
all damages sustained by Plaintiff by reason of Defendants’ actions
complained of herein, including an award of treble damages provided
by statute;
L. That the Court award Plaintiff damages, as provided by 35 U.S.C. §§
284 and 289, resulting in the infringement of the ‘322 Patent by
Defendants;
M. That the Court award Plaintiff its costs in this action, together with
reasonable attorneys’ fees as provided in 35 U.S.C. § 285. N.
That Plaintiff be awarded both pre-judgment and post-judgment
interest on each and every damage award;
O.
Declaring this to be an exceptional case under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and
the extent provided by law requiring Defendants to pay Plaintiffs’
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attorneys’ fees and expenses; and
P. Awarding Plaintiff such other and further relief as the Court deems
just and proper.
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury on all issues so triable as a matter of right
and law.
DATED: May 2, 2016 MULCAHY LLP
By: /s/ Kevin A. AdamsKevin A. AdamsAttorneys for Plaintiffs
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EXHIBIT B
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EXHIBIT C
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EXHIBIT D
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NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
July 17, 2013
Michael FerchakInternational | Managing Partner, Director of Manufacturing
Fusion Glassworks+1 646-431-0439
Attention: Mr. Michael Ferchak
Re: Disclosure of Information
Dear Mr. Ferchak:
Fusion Glassworks (the “Recipient” or “you”) wishes to obtain certain information from us in
connection with producing a glass bottle design and sample mold and production mold for bothrenderings, samples and final products. This includes creative glass bottle and bottle closure
design and graphic design work (the “Permitted Purpose”), all subject to the terms andconditions set out in this Agreement.
Definitions.
In this Agreement, the term “our Representatives” means our agents, directors, officers,
employees, representatives, consultants and advisers. The term “your Representatives” meansyour agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants and advisers.
The term “Confidential Information” means:
(a) all information, in whatever form communicated or maintained, that we discloseto, or that is gathered by inspection by, you or any of your Representatives, whether provided
before or after the date of this Agreement;
(b) all plans, design, proposals, reports, analyses, notes, studies, forecasts,
compilations or other information, in any form, that are based on, contain or reflect anyConfidential Information regardless of the identity of the person preparing the same (“Notes”);
and
(c) any matter relating to (i) this Agreement, and (ii) the disclosure of information by
us to you or your Representatives.
The term “Confidential Information” does not include any information that:
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2
(a) is at the time of disclosure to you or thereafter becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by you or any of your Representatives in breach of
this Agreement;
(b) is or was received by you on a non-confidential basis from a source other than us
if such source is not prohibited from disclosing the information to you by a contractual, fiduciaryor other legal obligation to us; or
(c) was known by you prior to disclosure under this Agreement if you were notsubject to any contractual, fiduciary or other legal confidentiality obligation in respect of such
information and such prior knowledge can be proven by written records in your possession priorto such disclosure.
Provision of Confidential Information.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, we shall make such Confidential Information
available to you as we, in our sole discretion, consider advisable in the circumstances, solely for
the Permitted Purpose. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, you shall, and shall causeyour Representatives to, comply with all of our procedures relating to the provision ofinformation as we may adopt from time to time.
Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information.
You shall treat confidentially and not disclose, and shall cause your Representatives to treat
confidentially and not disclose, except as permitted herein, any Confidential Information. Youmay disclose any of the Confidential Information only to those of your Representatives who need
to know such Confidential Information for the Permitted Purpose. You shall inform yourRepresentatives of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and cause each of
your Representatives to treat such Confidential Information confidentially in accordance withthis Agreement and not disclose such Confidential Information except as permitted herein. You
shall be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by any of your Representatives.
Use of Confidential Information.
You shall not use, and shall cause your Representatives not to use, the Confidential Informationfor any purpose other than the Permitted Purpose. You shall not use the Confidential
Information in any way that is, directly or indirectly, detrimental to us.
Personal Information.
You agree that neither we nor any of our Representatives shall disclose to you information aboutidentifiable individuals forming part of the Confidential Information.
Compelled Disclosure.
If you or any of your Representatives receives a request or is legally required to disclose all or
any part of the Confidential Information, you shall (a) immediately notify us of the request orrequirement, (b) consult with us on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or
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3
narrow the request or lawfully avoid the requirement, and (c) if requested by us cooperate withus to seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy. If a protective order or other remedy is
not available, or if we waive compliance with the provisions of this section, (x) you or yourRepresentatives, as the case may be, may disclose to the person requiring disclosure only that
portion of the Confidential Information which you are advised by written opinion of counsel is
legally required to be disclosed, and (y) you shall not be liable for such disclosure unless suchdisclosure was caused by or resulted from a previous disclosure by you or any of yourRepresentatives not permitted by this Agreement.
Return of Documents.
Upon request by us at any time, you shall (a) return promptly to us all physical copies of the
Confidential Information, excluding Notes, then in your possession or in the possession of yourRepresentatives, (b) destroy all (i) electronic copies of the Confidential Information, and all (ii)
Notes (including electronic copies thereof) prepared by you or any of your Representatives,including electronic back-ups of the foregoing in a manner that ensures that such Notes may not
be retrieved or undeleted by you or any of your Representatives, and (c) deliver to us a certificateexecuted by one of your duly authorized senior officers indicating that the requirements of this
sentence have been satisfied in full.
Process.
We have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to disclose or continue todisclose or make available Confidential Information to you or any of your Representatives.
No Representations or Warranties by us.
Neither we nor any of our Representatives make any representation or warranty, express or
implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the Confidential Information. Neitherwe nor any of our Representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust
or otherwise, to you or any other person resulting from use of the Confidential Information byyou or any of your Representatives or for omissions from the Confidential Information.
No Property Rights.
The Confidential Information shall at all times remain our property.
Legal Remedy.
We would not have an adequate remedy at law and may be irreparably harmed in the event that
any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by you or your Representatives inaccordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by you or your Representatives.
Accordingly, we shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement andto specific performance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in addition to any other
remedy to which we may be entitled at law or in equity.
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4
Miscellaneous.
No failure or delay by us in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other orfurther exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement.
Your obligations under this Agreement shall survive indefinitely.
If any provision of this Agreement as applied to any party in any circumstance is adjudged by a
court to be invalid or unenforceable, this will in no way affect any other provision of thisAgreement, the application of such provision in any other circumstance, or the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between us pertaining to the subject matter
hereof.
Notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
effectively given if delivered personally or sent by facsimile (i) if to us, to:Rockwood Spirits International Inc., 5480 Canotek Rd, Suite 21 Ottawa, ON, K1J 9H7, to
[email protected] Attention: Elliott Gillespie; and (ii) if to you,
Michael FerchakInternational | Managing Partner, Director of Manufacturing
Fusion Glassworks+1 646-431-0439
www.fusion-glassworks.com Attention: [email protected]
The division of this Agreement into sections and the insertion of headings are for convenience ofreference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ontario andthe federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
For the purpose of the NDA, the parties have chosen the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada.
In addition to the above, the “recipient” will not disclose to third parties any design produced in relation
to discussions or contracts between the two parties and will not disclose that Rockwood Spirits
International Inc. is a client of the recipient and related enterprises.
This Agreement shall ensure to the benefit of, and be binding on, each of us and our respectivesuccessors and permitted assigns. Neither of us may assign our respective rights or obligations
under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.
This Agreement may be signed in counterparts and each of such counterparts shall constitute an
original document and such counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the sameinstrument.
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5
Yours very truly,
ROCKWOOD SPIRITS INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:
Name: Elliott Gillespie
Accepted and agreed as of the date first above written.
FUSION GLASSWORKS
By: Name: Mr. Michael Ferchak
Title: Managing Partner
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EXHIBIT E
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NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
October 2, 2014
!"#$%&' )%*'+ ,#-++'". ))/01234 5 67, 895
8:;4400
8&&'?@?A B"C !8:) ,:77D7E
Re: Disclosure of Information
Dear Mr. Dunning:
Michael Andrew Brands Inc.(the “Recipient” or “you”) wishes to obtain certain information
from us in connection with discussions to enter into a contract for an agreement to producecustom formulation, blending and engage in the purchase of bulk alcohol supply as well as
contract bottling and packaging. This includes, any eventual contract to undertake such work on behalf of Rockwood Spirts International Inc. (the “Permitted Purpose”), all subject to the termsand conditions set out in this Agreement.
Definitions.
In this Agreement, the term “our Representatives” means our agents, directors, officers,
employees, representatives, consultants and advisers. The term “your Representatives” meansyour agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants and advisers.
The term “Confidential Information” means:
(a)
all information, in whatever form communicated or maintained, that we discloseto, or that is gathered by inspection by, you or any of your Representatives, whether provided
before or after the date of this Agreement;
(b) all plans, design, proposals, reports, analyses, notes, studies, forecasts,
compilations or other information, in any form, that are based on, contain or reflect any
Confidential Information regardless of the identity of the person preparing the same (“ Notes”);and
(c) any matter relating to (i) this Agreement, and (ii) the disclosure of information byus to you or your Representatives.
The term “Confidential Information” does not include any information that:
(a) is at the time of disclosure to you or thereafter becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by you or any of your Representatives in breach of
this Agreement;
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(b) is or was received by you on a non-confidential basis from a source other than us
if such source is not prohibited from disclosing the information to you by a contractual, fiduciary
or other legal obligation to us; or
(c) was known by you prior to disclosure under this Agreement if you were not
subject to any contractual, fiduciary or other legal confidentiality obligation in respect of such
information and such prior knowledge can be proven by written records in your possession priorto such disclosure.
Provision of Confidential Information.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, we shall make such Confidential Information
available to you as we, in our sole discretion, consider advisable in the circumstances, solely for
the Permitted Purpose. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, you shall, and shall cause
your Representatives to, comply with all of our procedures relating to the provision ofinformation as we may adopt from time to time.
Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information.
You shall treat confidentially and not disclose, and shall cause your Representatives to treatconfidentially and not disclose, except as permitted herein, any Confidential Information. You
may disclose any of the Confidential Information only to those of your Representatives who need
to know such Confidential Information for the Permitted Purpose. You shall inform your
Representatives of the confidential nature of such Confidential Information and cause each ofyour Representatives to treat such Confidential Information confidentially in accordance with
this Agreement and not disclose such Confidential Information except as permitted herein. You
shall be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by any of your Representatives.
Use of Confidential Information.
You shall not use, and shall cause your Representatives not to use, the Confidential Information
for any purpose other than the Permitted Purpose. You shall not use the Confidential
Information in any way that is, directly or indirectly, detrimental to us.
Personal Information.
You agree that neither we nor any of our Representatives shall disclose to you information about
identifiable individuals forming part of the Confidential Information.
Compelled Disclosure.
If you or any of your Representatives receives a request or is legally required to disclose all or
any part of the Confidential Information, you shall (a) immediately notify us of the request orrequirement, (b) consult with us on the advisability of taking legally available steps to resist or
narrow the request or lawfully avoid the requirement, and (c) if requested by us cooperate with
us to seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy. If a protective order or other remedy is
not available, or if we waive compliance with the provisions of this section, (x) you or yourRepresentatives, as the case may be, may disclose to the person requiring disclosure only that
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portion of the Confidential Information which you are advised by written opinion of counsel is
legally required to be disclosed, and (y) you shall not be liable for such disclosure unless such
disclosure was caused by or resulted from a previous disclosure by you or any of yourRepresentatives not permitted by this Agreement.
Return of Documents.
Upon request by us at any time, you shall (a) return promptly to us all physical copies of the
Confidential Information, excluding Notes, then in your possession or in the possession of yourRepresentatives, (b) destroy all (i) electronic copies of the Confidential Information, and all (ii)
Notes (including electronic copies thereof) prepared by you or any of your Representatives,
including electronic back-ups of the foregoing in a manner that ensures that such Notes may not be retrieved or undeleted by you or any of your Representatives, and (c) deliver to us a certificate
executed by one of your duly authorized senior officers indicating that the requirements of this
sentence have been satisfied in full.
Process.
We have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to disclose or continue to
disclose or make available Confidential Information to you or any of your Representatives.
No Representations or Warranties by us.
Neither we nor any of our Representatives make any representation or warranty, express or
implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the Confidential Information. Neither
we nor any of our Representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trustor otherwise, to you or any other person resulting from use of the Confidential Information by
you or any of your Representatives or for omissions from the Confidential Information.
No Property Rights.
The Confidential Information shall at all times remain our property.
Legal Remedy.
We would not have an adequate remedy at law and may be irreparably harmed in the event that
any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by you or your Representatives inaccordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by you or your Representatives.
Accordingly, we shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and
to specific performance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in addition to any other
remedy to which we may be entitled at law or in equity.
Miscellaneous.
No failure or delay by us in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other orfurther exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement.
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Your obligations under this Agreement shall survive indefinitely.
If any provision of this Agreement as applied to any party in any circumstance is adjudged by acourt to be invalid or unenforceable, this will in no way affect any other provision of this
Agreement, the application of such provision in any other circumstance, or the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between us pertaining to the subject matter
hereof.
Notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall beeffectively given if delivered personally or sent by facsimile (i) if to us, to:
Rockwood Spirits International Inc., 5480 Canotek Rd, Suite 21 Ottawa, ON, K1J 9H7, to
[email protected] Attention: Elliott Gillespie; and (ii) if to you,
!"#$%&' )%*'+ ,#-++'". ))/
01234 5 67, 895
8:;4400
8&&'?@?A B"C !8:) ,:77D7E
Email: [email protected]
The division of this Agreement into sections and the insertion of headings are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ontario and
the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
F@" &G' HI"H@-' @J &G' 7,8= &G' H%"'- G%$' KG@-'? &G' +%L- @J
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ROCKWOOD SPIRITS INTERNATIONAL INC.
By: Name: Elliott Gillespie
Accepted and agreed as of the date first above written.
PRIVATE LABEL DISTILLERY LLC.
By:
Name: Paul Dunning
Title:
Paul T. Dunning Signature 1299
Managing Partner
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EXHIBIT F
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Amendment 1
Confidential Non-Disclosure Agreement
This agreement is made between Rockwood Spirits International Inc. (alsoregistered as the Gold Bar Bottling Company) and Private Label DistilleryLLC.
This agreement is an amendment to the original NDA signed by both parties onOctober 2, 2014, it does not replace the original NDA. It is intended to clarifyobligations related to the non-disclosure agreement between both parties.
Project Ref Name: Gold Bar Whiskey
Both parties agree to exercise a high degree of care to safeguard any