Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1 Filed 02/24/20 Page 1 of 8

4
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
6 AT SEATTLE

7
KHEPER GAMES, INC., Civil Action No.: 2:20-cv-281
8
a Washington corporation,
9 COMPLAINT FOR PATENT
Plaintiff, INFRINGEMENT
10
v.
11 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
12 TRUE FABRICATIONS, INC.,
d/b/a True Brands,
13 a Washington corporation,

14 Defendant.
15

16 Plaintiff, Kheper Games, Inc. (“Plaintiff’ or “Kheper Games”), for its Complaint against
17 Defendant True Fabrications, Inc., d/b/a True Brands (“Defendant” or “True Fabrications”),
18 hereby alleges as follows:
19 NATURE OF ACTION
20 1. This is a civil action for the infringement of United States Design Patent No.
21 D768,031 (“the ’031 Patent”) under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 100 et seq.
22 2. True Fabrications has willfully infringed and continues to willfully infringe the
23 ’031 Patent.
24

25

26

27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

701 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 5400
COMPLAINT ................................................................... 1 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
Case No. 2:20-cv-281 (206) 622-4900
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1 THE PARTIES
2 3. Plaintiff Kheper Games, Inc. is a Washington corporation having its principal
3 place of business at 440 S. Holgate St, Seattle, WA 98134, United States.
4 4. Upon information and belief, Defendant True Fabrications, Inc., d/b/a True
5 Brands, is a Washington corporation having its principal place of business at 1055 N. 38th St.,
6 Seattle, WA 98103, United States.
7 JURISDICTION AND VENUE
8 5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§
9 1331 and 1338(a) because the action involves questions of federal patent law.
10 6. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant True Fabrications because,
11 upon information and belief, True Fabrications resides in this District, True Fabrications
12 regularly conducts business in this District and elsewhere in Washington, and/or True
13 Fabrications has committed acts of infringement of the ’031 Patent in this District and elsewhere
14 in Washington.
15 7. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391 and 1400(b)
16 because, upon information and belief, Defendant True Fabrications resides in this District and/or
17 Defendant True Fabrications has committed acts of infringement in this District and has a regular
18 and established place of business in this District.
19 THE PATENT-IN-SUIT
20 8. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office duly and legally issued the ’031 Patent,
21 entitled “Faceted Sphere,” on October 4, 2016. A true and correct copy of the ’031 Patent is
22 attached hereto as Exhibit A. A representative figure from the ’031 Patent is reproduced below:
23

24

25

26

27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

701 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 5400
COMPLAINT ................................................................... 2 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
Case No. 2:20-cv-281 (206) 622-4900
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7 9. The ’031 Patent is valid, enforceable and currently in full force and effect.
8 10. Kheper Games owns all rights, title and interest in and to the ’031 Patent.
9 FACTUAL BACKGROUND
10 11. Kheper Games was originally founded in Seattle in 1995 as Kheper Publishing
11 and became Kheper Games in 2000.
12 12. Initially, Kheper Games focused solely on publishing game books. However, as
13 its business and customer base grew, Kheper Games expanded its offerings to include a wide
14 variety of games and other novelty products. Kheper Games sells its games and other novelty
15 products to customers in over 100 countries around the world.
16 13. Among the novelty products sold by Kheper Games are barware, party products
17 and romance products.
18 14. Upon information and belief, True Fabrications was formed in or about 2005.
19 15. True Fabrications offers for sale a variety of drinkware, barware, and related
20 products. Upon information and belief, these products are offered for sale to customers in
21 Washington and throughout the United States through True Fabrications’ website at
22 www.truebrands.com and are also sold and distributed by True Fabrications to third-party
23 retailers in Washington and elsewhere in the United States.
24 16. Among the drinkware products offered for sale and sold by True Fabrications are
25 its line of disco ball tumblers, including without limitation the “Silver Disco Ball Drink
26 Tumbler,” the “Radiance Ombre Disco Tumbler,” the “Rainbow Disco Ball Tumbler,” and the
27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

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Case No. 2:20-cv-281 (206) 622-4900
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1 “Red White and Blue Disco Ball Tumbler” (collectively, “Disco Ball Tumblers”). Examples of
2 these products are depicted below:
3

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22 17. Upon information and belief, True Fabrications offers for sale and sells the Disco
23 Ball Tumblers in this District and elsewhere in Washington and the United States. For example,
24 upon information and belief, consumers located in this District may purchase the Disco Ball
25 Tumblers directly from True Fabrications’ website at www.truebrands.com. Upon information
26 and belief, True Fabrications also sells and distributes the Disco Ball Tumblers to retailers
27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

701 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 5400
COMPLAINT ................................................................... 4 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
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1 located in this District, including, for example, Total Wine & More and Francesca’s Collections,
2 for resale. Examples of True Fabrications’ Disco Ball Tumblers that were purchased at such
3 stores within this District, and that each include a label stating that the product was “[d]istributed
4 by True Brands,” are depicted below.
5

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24 18. The design applied to each of True Fabrications’ Disco Ball Tumblers in the eyes
25 of an ordinary observer embodies and/or is a colorable imitation of Kheper Games’ “faceted
26 sphere” design claimed in the ’031 Patent.
27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

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COMPLAINT ................................................................... 5 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
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1 19. Upon information and belief, True Fabrications willfully and without
2 authorization copied the claimed design from the ’031 Patent to apply it to its Disco Ball
3 Tumblers.
4 20. Upon information and belief, True Fabrications’ business model involves copying
5 or integrating the designs and/or features of other successful products in the marketplace into
6 True Fabrications’ own products. For example, in an article entitled “The Best Corkscrew for
7 Opening Wine,” which was published on thewirecutter.com on June 29, 2017, the author praises
8 the design of a corkscrew offered by True Fabrications but also notes that the corkscrew is a
9 “knockoff” of another company’s design, which the author further notes is “the corkscrew that
10 most experts recommend.” See http://www.thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-corkscrew, last
11 accessed February 24, 2020.
12 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF:
13 PATENT INFRINGEMENT (35 U.S.C. § 271)
14 21. Kheper Games realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations of
15 paragraphs 1-20 of this Complaint as though fully set forth herein.
16 22. Upon information and belief, True Fabrications had actual and constructive notice
17 of Kheper Games’ rights respecting the ’031 Patent.
18 23. Upon information and belief, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, True Fabrications is
19 and has been infringing the ornamental design claimed by the ‘031 Patent by making, using,
20 selling, and/or offering to sell in the United States, and/or importing into the United States,
21 without authorization or consent from Kheper Games, products to which the design claimed in
22 the ‘031 patent or a colorable imitation thereof has been applied, including without limitation
23 True Fabrications’ Disco Ball Tumblers shown above.
24 24. True Fabrications infringes the ’031 Patent because, inter alia, in the eye of an
25 ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, the design of the ’031
26 Patent and the design of True Fabrications’ products, including without limitation the Disco Ball
27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

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COMPLAINT ................................................................... 6 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
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1 Tumblers, are substantially the same, the resemblance being such as to deceive such an ordinary
2 observer, inducing him to purchase one supposing it to be the other.
3 25. True Fabrications’ acts of infringement of the ’031 Patent were undertaken
4 without authority, permission or license from Kheper Games, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271.
5 26. True Fabrications’ infringement has damaged and injured and continues to
6 damage and injure Kheper Games. The injury to Kheper Games is irreparable and will continue
7 unless and until True Fabrications is enjoined from further infringement.
8 27. Kheper Games is entitled to a complete accounting of all revenue and profits
9 derived by True Fabrications from the unlawful conduct alleged herein, including without
10 limitation, True Fabrications’ total profits pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 289.
11 28. True Fabrications has engaged and is engaged in willful, intentional, and
12 deliberate infringement of the ’031 Patent. True Fabrications knew or should have known that
13 making, using, offering to sell, selling and/or importing products to which the design claimed in
14 the ’031 Patent or a colorable imitation thereof has been applied, including the Disco Ball
15 Tumblers, would directly infringe the ’031 Patent, yet True Fabrications infringed and continues
16 to infringe the ’031 Patent. Such willful and deliberate infringement justifies an increase of three
17 times the damages to be assessed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284.
18 29. Kheper Games is entitled to a permanent injunction preventing True Fabrications
19 from further infringing the ’031 Patent.
20

21 PRAYER FOR RELIEF

22 WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests that judgment be entered against Defendant and against
23 all of their affiliates, agents, servants, employees, partners and all persons in active concert or
24 participation with it, for the following relief:
25 1. A judgment that Defendant has infringed the ‘031 Patent;
26 2. An order and judgment permanently enjoining Defendant and its officers,
27 directors, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, attorneys, and all others acting in privity or in

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

701 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 5400
COMPLAINT ................................................................... 7 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
Case No. 2:20-cv-281 (206) 622-4900
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1 concert with them, and their parents, subsidiaries, divisions, successors and assigns, from further
2 acts of infringement of the ’031 Patent;
3 3. An award of all damages necessary to compensate Plaintiff for Defendant’s
4 infringement of the ’031 Patent;
5 4. An award of the amount of Defendant’s total profit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 289;
6 5. An award of enhanced treble damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284 for
7 Defendant’s willful infringements;
8 6. A declaration that this case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. § 285, and that
9 Plaintiff be awarded reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs;
10 7. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest;
11 8. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
12

13 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

14 Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury of all issues in this case.
15

16 Dated this 24th day of February, 2020.

17
Respectfully submitted,
18 SEED IP Law Group LLP

19 /s/Marc C. Levy
Marc C. Levy, WSBA No. 19203
20
/s/Thomas A. Shewmake
21 Thomas A. Shewmake, WSBA No. 50765
701 Fifth Ave., Suite 5400
22
Seattle, WA 98104
23 Telephone: 206-622-4900
Facsimile: 206-682-6031
24 MarcL@seedip.com
TomShewmake@seedip.com
25

26 Attorneys for Plaintiff

Kheper Games, Inc.
27

SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP

701 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 5400
COMPLAINT ................................................................... 8 SEATTLE, W ASHINGTON 98104-7092
Case No. 2:20-cv-281 (206) 622-4900
Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-1 Filed 02/24/20 Page 1 of 5

EXHIBIT A
 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-1 Filed 02/24/20 Page 2 of 5
USOOD768031S

(12) United States Design Patent (10) Patent No.: US D768,031 S

Pelham (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 4, 2016
(54) FACETED SPHERE D357,958 S * 5/1995 Audero, Jr. .................. D21,713
6,068,486 A * 5/2000 Frank ..................... GO9B 27/08
(71) Applicant: Brian Pelham, Seattle, WA (US) 434/130
D440,265 S 4/2001 Cannon ........................ D21,714
(72) Inventor: Brian Pelham, Seattle, WA (US) 6.292,134 B1* 9/2001 Bondyopadhyay ... H01(Q 3/242
342,374
(73) Assignee: Kheper Games, Inc., Seattle, WA (US) 6,398,221 B1* 6/2002 Graham .................... A63F 9/12
ck 273 157 R
(**) Term: 15 Years D485,420 S 1/2004 Cannon .......................... D11.90
ck
(21) Appl. No.: 29/532,736 6,776,679 B1* 8/2004 Menow .................... AE
(22) Filed: Jul. 9, 2015 (Continued)
51) LOC (10) Cl. ............................................... 11-02
2 U.S & ) OTHER PUBLICATIONS
USPC ......................................... D11/131: D11/141 Mirror Ball, available Feb. 21, 2015, online, site visited Jul. 22.
(58) Field of Classification Search 2016. Available from internet, <URL: https://www.amazon.com/
USPC ....... D11/131-142, 157-164, 117, 121, 125, ADJ-Products-M-800-Mirror-Ball/dp/B00LLYOO88/ref=pd
D11/62, 90; D21/707 714, 398; 362/235; sim sbs 21 3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51pesE5wOZL&dpSrc=sims
446/247, 26, 116; 228/184; 434/134, &preST= AC UL160 SR146%2C160 &psc=1
434/135, 137, 130; D26/37–50 &refrD=JP8REEDE708NRO4GB2RM.
CPC ........... E04B 2001/3294; G09B 27/08: A63F (Continued)
2003/0444; A63F 2009/124; F21V3/02:
F21V 14/04; A63B 37/00; A63B 37/0098:
A63B 372. A63B 37/4. A63B 3000.
A63B 39/06: A63B 39/08 H01O 3/O2:
Primary Examiner-Cathron Brooks
Assistant Examiner — Teddy Falloway
H01G 3/12 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Victor N. King: Desh
See application file for complete search history. International Law, PC
(56) References Cited (57) CLAM
The ornamental design for a faceted sphere, Substantially as
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS shown and described.

D52,500 S * 9/1918 Vaile ............................ D21,708 DESCRIPTION

D107,066 S * 11/1937 Cavignac ...................... 473,378
2,579,646 A * 12, 1951 Branson ................. B21D 51 24 FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a faceted sphere,
220,581 showing my new design;
3,203,144. A * 8, 1965 Fuller ................... E04B 1 (3211
52/537 FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;
4.258,513 A * 3/1981 Bergman .............. E04B 1 (3211 FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof;
52.81.1 FIG. 4 is a first side view thereof
4,309,852 A * 1/1982 Stolpin .................. A63H33/04 FIG. 5 is a second side view thereof;
446,116
4,456,258 A * 6/1984 Lodrick .............. A63F 3/OO176 FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof; and,
273/241 FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof.
5,222,896 A * 6/1993 Smith, Jr. ............ GO9B 29,005
434/135 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Sheets
 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-1 Filed 02/24/20 Page 3 of 5

US D768,031 S
Page 2

(56) References Cited D725,204 S * 3/2015 Rub ............................. D21,398

D729,890 S * 5/2015 Smith ... ... D21,713
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS D754,259 S * 4/2016 Mcphee ... D21,398
D761,366 S * 7/2016 Smith .......................... D21,707
7,192,329 B2 * 3/2007 Lee ........................ A63H33/04 2005, OO86875 A1 * 4, 2005 Holler ....................... B63B 1/12
428, 34.1 52.79.1
D540,412 S * 4/2007 Peterson ...................... D21.803 2007/0163185 A1* 7/2007 Morley ............ E04B 1/3205
D548,301 S * 8/2007 Peterson ...................... D21.803 52.81.1
D551,591 S * 9/2007 Wesorick . ... D11 (131 2009/0046461 A1 2/2009 Fan ........................... F21V 3? O2
D570,729 S * 6/2008 Chen ........ ... D11 (117 362,242
D574,747 S * 8/2008 Chen .............. ... D11 (117 2012/0331269 A1* 12/2012 Aras ................. GO6F 15, 17375
D605,552 S * 12/2009 van der Lande ............ D11/141 712/29
D626,189 S * 10/2010 Lin ................ ... D21,713 2013,0107520 A1* 5, 2013 O’Kane .................. F2V 14/04
D637,667 S * 5/2011 Lin ... ... D21,398 362,235
D638,889 S * 5/2011 Sato . ... D21,709
D653,717 S * 2/2012 Sato ............................. D21,708
D654,546 S * 2/2012 Nakagawa ................... D21,708 OTHER PUBLICATIONS
D661,749 S * 6/2012 Nakagawa . ... D21,708
D693,417 S * 11/2013 Kim ......... D21,708 Faceted Sphere, available Jul. 31, 2015, online), site visited Jul.
D694,350 S : 1.58: S. P39. 22, 2016). Available from internet, <URL: http://www.turbosquid.
9: i. 1233 Wilson isoto3 SG: com/3d-models/hexagonally-faceted-sphere-3ds/372576.*
343,700 MS
D718,821 S * 12/2014 Beyrich ....................... D21,478 * cited by examiner
 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-1 Filed 02/24/20 Page 4 of 5

U.S. Patent Oct. 4, 2016 Sheet 1 of 2 US D768,031 S

FIG. 2 FIG. 3

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 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-1 Filed 02/24/20 Page 5 of 5

U.S. Patent Oct. 4, 2016 Sheet 2 of 2 US D768,031 S

FIG. 4 FIG. 5

FIG. 6 FIG. 7
 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-2 Filed 02/24/20 Page 1 of 2

(SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)

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Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-2 Filed 02/24/20 Page 2 of 2
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AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

for the
Western District
__________ of of
District Washington
__________

)
)
)
)
Plaintiff(s) )
)
v. Civil Action No.
)
)
)
)
)
Defendant(s) )

SUMMONS IN A CIVIL ACTION

To: (Defendant’s name and address)

A lawsuit has been filed against you.

Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) — or 60 days if you
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) — you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney,
whose name and address are:

If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.
You also must file your answer or motion with the court.

CLERK OF COURT

Date:
Signature of Clerk or Deputy Clerk
 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-3 Filed 02/24/20 Page 2 of 2

AO 440 (Rev. 06/12) Summons in a Civil Action (Page 2)

Civil Action No.

PROOF OF SERVICE
(This section should not be filed with the court unless required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 (l))

This summons for (name of individual and title, if any)

was received by me on (date) .

I personally served the summons on the individual at (place)

on (date) ; or

I left the summons at the individual’s residence or usual place of abode with (name)
, a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there,
on (date) , and mailed a copy to the individual’s last known address; or

I served the summons on (name of individual) , who is

designated by law to accept service of process on behalf of (name of organization)
on (date) ; or

I returned the summons unexecuted because ; or

Other (specify):
.

My fees are $ for travel and $ for services, for a total of $ .

I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is true.

Date:
Server’s signature

Printed name and title

Server’s address

Additional information regarding attempted service, etc:

 Case 2:20-cv-00281 Document 1-4 Filed 02/24/20 Page 1 of 1
AO 120 (Rev. 08/10)

Mail Stop 8 REPORT ON THE

TO:
Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office FILING OR DETERMINATION OF AN
P.O. Box 1450 ACTION REGARDING A PATENT OR
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 TRADEMARK

In Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 290 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1116 you are hereby advised that a court action has been
filed in the U.S. District Court on the following
Trademarks or Patents. ( the patent action involves 35 U.S.C. § 292.):

DOCKET NO. DATE FILED U.S. DISTRICT COURT

PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT

PATENT OR DATE OF PATENT

HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
TRADEMARK NO. OR TRADEMARK
1

In the above—entitled case, the following patent(s)/ trademark(s) have been included:
DATE INCLUDED INCLUDED BY
Amendment Answer Cross Bill Other Pleading
PATENT OR DATE OF PATENT
HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
TRADEMARK NO. OR TRADEMARK
1

In the above—entitled case, the following decision has been rendered or judgement issued:
DECISION/JUDGEMENT

CLERK (BY) DEPUTY CLERK DATE

Copy 1—Upon initiation of action, mail this copy to Director Copy 3—Upon termination of action, mail this copy to Director
Copy 2—Upon filing document adding patent(s), mail this copy to Director Copy 4—Case file copy