MIAMI — Robert Bosch L.L.C. and its German parent company Robert Bosch G.m.b.H. have won a permanent injunction in federal court against a Florida auto parts wholesaler to resolve Bosch's allegations of counterfeiting, trademark infringement and unfair competition against SIC.
Bosch and SIC Autoparts L.L.C filed a joint motion for a permanent injunction and dismissal with prejudice May 8 before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks approved the motion the following day.
"With this judgment, Bosch has succeeded in defending the Bosch trademark in a series of lawsuits," the company said in an Oct. 13 press release.
"The company believes that defense of its intellectual property is of vital importance not only to Bosch but to the automotive aftermarket in total," Bosch said. It will continue to seek out and take action against counterfeiters, it said.
Bosch filed its original complaint against SIC in the Florida court Jan. 27.
In the complaint, Bosch accused SIC of selling canister purge valves and other auto parts that bore the Bosch trademark but were not manufactured by Bosch.
Bosch has used its trademark for many years, sold billions of dollars' worth of goods and services in the U.S. bearing that trademark, and has spent large sums marketing and promoting those goods and services, the company said in its complaint.
"The Bosch marks have become well-known throughout the United States and represent extremely valuable good will for Bosch," the complaint said.
SIC's alleged product counterfeiting and unauthorized use of the Bosch trademark caused irreparable harm to Bosch's reputation, as well as lost sales, according to the complaint.
Saint Lucie West, Fla.-based SIC Autoparts describes itself as a wholesaler and distributor for European automotive parts.