Case 7:17-Cv-06513-CS Document 118 Filed 03/06/18 Page 1 of 33
Case 7:17-cv-06513-CS Document 118 Filed 03/06/18 Page 1 of 33 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------x CAN’T STOP PRODUCTIONS, INC., MEMORANDUM DECISION Plaintiff, AND ORDER - against - No. 17-CV-6513 (CS) SIXUVUS, LTD., ERIC ANZALONE, ALEXANDER BRILEY, FELIPE ROSE, JAMES F. NEWMAN, RAYMOND SIMPSON, and WILLIAM WHITEFIELD, Defendants. ----------------------------------------------------------------------x Appearances: Stewart L. Levy, Esq. Eisenberg Tanchum & Levy White Plains, New York Robert S. Besser, Esq. Law Offices of Robert S. Besser Pacific Palisades, California Counsel for Plaintiff Karen Willis d/b/a Harlem West Entertainment San Diego, California Plaintiff-Intervenor Pro Se Sarah M. Matz, Esq. Gary Adelman, Esq. Adelman Matz P.C. New York, New York Counsel for Defendants Seibel, J. This case involves a dispute over the “Village People” trademarks associated with the disco group that had several hits – including “Macho Man,” “In the Navy,” and most famously “YMCA” – in the late 1970s. On February 16, 2018, the Court issued an Order, with opinion to follow, that denied Defendant’s motion for a preliminary injunction and vacated the amended 1 Case 7:17-cv-06513-CS Document 118 Filed 03/06/18 Page 2 of 33 temporary restraining order (“TRO”) that was in place. (Doc. 115.) This Memorandum explains the reasons for the Court’s decision. I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Plaintiff Can’t Stop Productions, Inc. filed this lawsuit against Defendants Sixuvus Ltd. and its members Eric Anzalone, Alexander Briley, Felipe Rose, James F. Newman, Raymond Simpson, and William Whitefield on August 25, 2017, for trademark infringement and a declaratory judgment that Plaintiff is the owner of all rights, title and interest in the “Village People” trademarks.
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