HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Oct. 13, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Over two years ago the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau (Bureau) created a SURF CITY USA(r) consumer brand. The Bureau has extensively promoted its SURF CITY USA merchandise and tourism services and has developed valuable goodwill in the marks since their adoption.
In protecting its brand, the Bureau contacted only one local Santa Cruz merchant who apparently was aware of the branding efforts of the Bureau but still chose to use the SURF CITY USA mark. "We attempted to resolve this matter by presenting an amicable settlement with the profits from the use of the mark to be donated to a California ocean charity that would benefit both Santa Cruz and Huntington Beach," said Doug Traub, President of the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. "We had hoped that this would go a long way to resolve any question regarding the good faith intent of Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. We thought that we had an agreement that would create goodwill between both of our communities and thought we would be finalizing our previously negotiated settlement. But in lieu of honest dialogue, we learned about this lawsuit from a press release from the Noland's law firm."
"We obtained the SURF CITY USA trademarks through the federally mandated process of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. People in our country who labor long and hard to create copyrights, patents and trademarks should be able to rely upon the protections of federal law," stated Doug Traub. "The Bureau was surprised to learn of this lawsuit in light of its prior communications with the plaintiff in this matter. Nonetheless, the Bureau will take the necessary actions to protect its intellectual property rights."
Surf City USA is a registered mark of the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau.
The Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau logo is availableat http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2774