LOS ANGELES — The dispute between California based GLP (German Light Products) US Inc. and Global Truss America, LLC, which had brought a suit against GLP US earlier this year claiming trademark infringement, has heated up again after GLP US issued a press release claiming to have been appointed as “the sole and exclusive distributor of Global Truss products for the United States of America and Canadian markets.”
The GLP US Inc. statement in mid-June asserted:
“Following a period of rapid growth since its appointment as a distributor of Global Truss products in the USA, California based GLP (German Light Products) US Inc. has announced that it has now been appointed as the sole and exclusive distributor of Global Truss products for the United States of America and Canadian markets.”
Global Truss America, LLC responded with its own release June 27 challenging, in particular, GLP US Inc.’s claim to be the “‘sole and exclusive’ authorized Global Truss distributor in the United States and Canada.”
The Global Truss America, LLC statement continued:
“The absurdity and clear falsehood in this statement can easily be seen by anyone who simply types www.globaltruss.com into their browser or the words ‘global truss’ in their search engine. The company who supports that web site is Global Truss America, LLC. Products are available for sale and purchase. Global Truss continues to sell and distribute its products to customers. Consumers should not be fooled by these absurd statements by an infringer.
The Global Truss America, LLC press release added:
“In December 2010, Global Truss America learned that GLP (German Light Products), and its manager, Mr. Mark Ravenhill, made an arrangement with one of Global Truss America’s factories to purchase unauthorized products for importation into the United States in violation of Global Truss America’s rights and US law. GLP and Mr. Ravenhill have been sued in United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. CV 11-168 SJO (SSx). Global Truss America no longer does business with that Chinese Factory.”
Contacted by phone June 27, Ravenhill said that he did not have any changes or retractions and defended the mid-June press release as accurate.
