Nobles et al. v. AB Printing & Imaging, Inc. (D. Mass. 21-cv-11204).

The Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, along with its Secretary/Treasurer Steven Nobles, accuses AB Printing of infringing the GCC’s service mark, a “Union Label,” in connection with BLAH.  The GCC authorizes use of the mark only where goods and services are provided by members of the GCC under working conditions approved by the GCC.  The mark in question was registered in 2009.

The GCC says that AB Printing’s predecessor, Piro Printing, was authorized to use the mark, and when Piro was obtained by new owners and the name was changed to AB Printing, the use of the mark continued to be authorized, as AB Printing continued to be party to a collective bargaining agreement with a GCC local union.  In August 2017, however, the collective bargaining agreement expired, and AB Printing did not enter into a new collective bargaining agreement and ceased paying union dues on behalf of its employees.  The GCC says that, despite this, AB Printing continues to use the Union Label mark in an attempt to deceive customers that its printing work is being performed entirely by union workers.  The GCC brings counts for trademark infringement, false designation of origin and false description, and violation of 93A.  Judge Saylor has the case.