Molten U.S.A., Inc. has agreed to cease use of a VB LITE mark on volleyballs marketed by the company within six months of a June 25, 2008 Settlement Agreement with Tachikara U.S.A., Inc. Tachikara has manufactured and marketed volleyballs for the 12 & under age group with its federally registered VOLLEY-LITE (stylized) trademark since 1987.
This settlement comes on the heels of another lawsuit for the sports equipment manufacturer. In October of 2007, Baden Sports, Inc. received an $8.1 million judgment in a federal case brought against Molten Corporation and Molten USA. The jury found that Molten willfully infringed Badens patent on Cushion Control Technology and that Molten had intentionally falsely advertised its basketballs. According to court documents obtained by SEW, the bulk of Badens award came from the false advertising charge ($8.05 mm), with a $38,000 award for patent infringement.
