LOS ANGELES—Pipedream Products last month filed a trademark infringement suit against Electric Eel, claiming the novelty manufacturer owns the rights to the phrase “bachelorette party favors.”
The complaint filed April 14 claims that Pipedream owns the trademark for party decorations, party hats, gift bags and more, and registered the patent in 2006. Pipedream alleges Electric Eel was informed of the patent in 2007, when Electric Eel was reportedly selling paper goods under the name Bachelorette Party Favors. The suit states Electric Eel agreed at that time to cease manufacturing, selling and promoting goods Pipedream deemed as infringing on the patent, but notes that Pipedream learned in April the company was again manufacturing and distributing “bachelorette party favors.”
Electric Eel owner and president Elan Rofe said in a statement, “The products they are after are a pack of napkins and a gift bag. We have not reproduced these items since we last told them we would stop. There has been such a minimal amount of sales on them, and we no longer even exhibit our bachelorette items at trade shows. We have made it clear to Pipedream that we are no longer interested in carrying and selling bachelorette products in general. We will sell down on our assortment and not bring the goods back in.
“I can understand and certainly respect that they want to protect their intellectual property but there has been no malicious intent on our part at all.,” Rofe continued.. “After the initial complaint in 2007, we changed the packaging from ‘bachelorette party favors’ to
‘bachelorette party supplies.’ Some of the remaining products in our warehouse stock may have the old packaging. We will continue to defend ourselves and cooperate to get this matter settled as amicably as possible.”
Pipedream Products is seeking actual damages, profits and treble damages, in addition to attorney’s fees and court costs.
