DTS wins key lawsuit protecting company trademarks

DTS (Digital Theater Systems) has announced that on May 3, 2004, the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted partial summary judgment in favour of DTS, finding Mintek Digital liable on a number of counts - though the case was subsequently settled out of court.
Mintel were adjudged to have a case to answer for Trademark Infringement, False Designation of Origin, Trademark Dilution, and Unfair Competition relating to Mintek’s distribution of DVD players bearing DTS’ registered trademarks without obtaining a license from DTS.
The court ordered that the case proceed to trial on the issue of damages, and particularly on the issue of whether to award treble or punitive damages.
The parties have since settled on damages out of court for an amount that exceeds the royalties that otherwise would have been payable under DTS’ standard license agreement. Representing part of a larger program to aggressively seek to eradicate the unlawful use of DTS trademarks and other intellectual property, this achievement underscores DTS’ dedication to protecting both the value of its intellectual property and the competitive advantage that its intellectual property provides to the company’s valued consumer electronics manufacturer licensees.
“DTS has a responsibility to consumers and our legitimate licensees to enforce our intellectual property rights,” said Brian Towne, Vice President, Consumer/Pro Audio Division at DTS. “Our success in this lawsuit demonstrates our ongoing commitment to prevent the manufacture and distribution of unauthorised, untested and uncertified product improperly bearing any DTS trademarks or using DTS’ intellectual property.”
(GB)