Online manufacturer accused of copying Ringers Gloves brand

A glove distributor is being sued in Houston for copyright infringement.

Ringers Technologies LLC, doing business as Ringers Gloves, filed suit June 5 in Southern District Court of Texas Houston Division against Roughneck City LLC and Curtis Hagen, citing trademark infringement, unfair competition and unjust enrichment.  According to the complaint, the plaintiff is in the business of manufacturing industrial gloves and has marketed products under a distinct and registered Roughneck brand since 2008.  The defendant, an online distributor of oilfield gloves, have since launched a line of Iron Roughneck brand gloves with designs and colors similar to Ringers' brand, the suit states. Ringers is suing, claiming the defendant's gloves are essentially knockoffs, and the similar brand is confusing for customers and damaging to Ringers' reputation.

The plaintiff wants the defendants to stop using the Iron Roughneck brand, the destruction of any products bearing the Iron Roughneck brand, an accounting of all profits the defendant made from the brand, damages and costs. It is represented by Austin attorney Craig S. Jepson of Reed & Scardino LLP.

Southern District Court of Texas Houston Division Case No. 4:14-cv-01556   This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Southern District Court of Texas Houston Division. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and it only represents one side of the story.