Slep-Tone Entertainment Corp. v. Golf 600 Inc.
Plaintiff Slep-Tone Entertainment Corporation, a manufacturer of karaoke tracks under the "Sound Choice" brand, filed a trademark infringement action against Clontarfscouse LLC, which operates "The River Roadhouse" bar. Clontarfscouse hired Nightstar DJ and Karaoke, which used Slep-Tone's trademarked products without a license. Slep-Tone warned Clontarfscouse about the infringement, but the defendant continued to host Nightstar's events. The court applied the Inwood test for contributory trademark infringement to Clontarfscouse as a service provider with sufficient control over the infringing conduct and knowledge of the specific infringement. Finding that Nightstar infringed Slep-Tone's trademarks and that Clontarfscouse was contributorily liable, the court granted Slep-Tone's motion for summary judgment on liability for federal trademark infringement and unfair competition.