PONSOR, District Judge.
On March 30, 2009, Plaintiff Ruggers, Inc. d/b/a KooGa North America ("Plaintiff"), a vendor of rugby clothing and gear, filed suit against United States of America Rugby Football Union, LTD, d/b/a USA Rugby ("USA Rugby"), alleging that USA Rugby willfully violated the terms of an exclusive sponsorship agreement between the parties. (Dkt. No. 1.) On August 4, 2009, Plaintiff amended its complaint to add claims against a number of Plaintiff's competitors. (Dkt. No. 22.) The complaint, as amended, alleges that Plaintiff's competitors induced USA Rugby to violate the terms of its agreement with Plaintiff, that they unjustly benefitted from the breach, and that they otherwise misappropriated benefits owed Plaintiff under the agreement. Based on these allegations, Plaintiff asserts seven claims against all of the competitor-Defendants: violation of Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 93A (Count III); false advertising under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) (Count IV); trademark infringement under the Lanham Act; 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1)(a) (Count V); unjust enrichment (Count VI); intentional interference with contract (Count VII); misappropriation of common law right to publicity (Count VIII); and invasion of privacy under Mass. Gen. Laws 214 § 3A (Count IX).
One of the competitor-Defendants, Under Armour, Inc. ("Under Armour"), has moved pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), 12(d) to dismiss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment as to all claims against it. (Dkt. No. 41.) Following extensive briefing from both parties, the court held oral argument on the motion on March 5, 2010. For the reasons summarized below, Defendant's motion will be allowed.
In May 2004, Plaintiff entered into an agreement with USA Rugby ("the Sponsorship Agreement") whereby Plaintiff agreed to provide USA Rugby-sanctioned teams with $350,000 worth of rugby clothing and gear annually in exchange for the exclusive rights to use the USA Rugby trademark on its clothing and to have USA Rugby-sanctioned teams wear, use, and promote only Plaintiff's clothing and gear. (Dkt. No. 22, Second Amended Complaint (hereinafter "Compl.") at ¶¶ 15, 17.) Although the terms of the parties' agreement were contemporaneously reduced to a writing, the contract remained unsigned until June of 2007, at which time it was executed, and governed the parties' relationship from June 2007 through May 2008. (Compl. at ¶¶ 15, 16.) Plaintiff avers that, notwithstanding the lack of a signed instrument, USA Rugby acknowledged the parties agreement at all relevant times, and that from May 2004 until mid-2006 USA Rugby substantially complied with the terms of the agreement. (Compl. at ¶¶ 15, 19.)
Beginning in mid-2006 and continuing through the term of the Sponsorship Agreement, however, USA Rugby is alleged to have authorized a number of Plaintiff's competitors (including Under Armour) to use the USA Rugby logo in association with their products, allowed USA Rugby teams to wear and promote Plaintiff's competitors' clothes, and engaged in the sale and promotion of Plaintiff's competitors' brands through its USA Rugby website. (Compl. at ¶ 21.)
Under Armour has cast its motion as a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, a motion for summary judgment. Federal Rule 12(d) provides that if "matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56." Here, both parties have submitted materials beyond the complaint. Filing additional materials outside the pleadings, however, does not automatically convert the motion into one for summary judgment. Rather, a reviewing court may still choose to ignore the supplementary materials and determine the motion under the Rule 12(b)(6) standard. Garita Hotel Ltd. P'ship v. Ponce Fed. Bank, F.S.B., 958 F.2d 15, 18-19 (1st Cir.1992) (citing cases). This is the course the court has chosen to follow here.
To survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter to state a claim for relief that is both actionable as a matter of law and "`plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, ___ U.S.___, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). When assessing a complaint's sufficiency, a court must accept all well-pleaded facts as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of a plaintiff. Edes v. Verizon Communs., 417 F.3d 133, 137 (1st Cir.2005); Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6).
This "highly deferential" standard of review "does not mean, however, that a court must (or should) accept every allegation made by the complainant, no matter how conclusory or generalized." United States v. AVX Corp., 962 F.2d 108, 115 (1st Cir. 1992). Accord Sanchez v. Pereira-Castillo, 590 F.3d 31, 49 (1st Cir.2009) (citing Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950) (noting that pleadings that are no more than conclusions "are not entitled to the assumption of truth"). Ultimately, a complaint must "set forth `factual allegations, either direct or inferential, respecting each material element necessary to sustain recovery under some actionable legal theory.'" Gagliardi v. Sullivan, 513 F.3d 301, 305 (1st Cir. 2008) (quoting Centro Medico del Turabo, Inc. v. Feliciano de Melecio, 406 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir.2005)).
In Counts IV and V respectively, Plaintiff alleges that Under Armour: (1) engaged in false sponsorship by using USA Rugby's registered and unregistered trademarks "in such a way as to intentionally indicate falsely the sponsorship of the goods or sponsorship of [ ] USA Rugby"; and (2) infringed USA Rugby's registered trademarks by using them "in such a way as to confuse consumers. . . ." (Compl. ¶¶ 44, 51.) For each of these claims to survive, Plaintiff must set forth facts demonstrating that Under Armour, in fact, "used" a USA Rugby trademark. DeCosta v. Viacom Int'l, Inc., 981 F.2d 602, 605 (1st Cir.1992) ("[t]rademark law seeks to prevent one seller from using the same
Here, the allegations contained in the complaint are insufficient to demonstrate, either directly or inferentially, that Under Armour has, in fact, "used" the USA Rugby trademark. Plaintiff's Lanham Act claims rest entirely on the vague and conclusory allegation that "all" of the named competitor-defendants used USA Rugby trademarks. However, threadbare recitals of the legal elements, supported by mere conclusory statements do not suffice to state a cause of action. Chiang v. Skeirik, 582 F.3d 238, 244 (1st Cir.2009). At a minimum, a plaintiff must set forth facts "as to who did what to whom, when, where, and why. . . ." Educadores Puertorriquenos en Accion v. Hernandez, 367 F.3d 61, 68 (1st Cir.2004). The complaint contains no allegation (nor has Plaintiff at any point asserted) that Under Armour, for example, either sold or produced any item bearing the USA Rugby mark or that it attempted to exploit the mark in any of its solicitation materials. In short, Plaintiff's broad undifferentiated allegations provide an insufficient basis to support its claims against Under Armour.
In an effort to preserve its causes of action, Plaintiff has proposed that it be given the opportunity to further amend its complaint should it be deemed "somehow insufficient". (Dkt. No. 60, Pl's Sur-reply in Opp. to Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss, 4 & n. 2.) In the context of its opposition to Plaintiff's motion summary judgment, Plaintiff has made additional factual allegations bearing on the "use" element of its trademark claims. Having considered these supplementary allegations, the court concludes that Plaintiff's proposed amendment would be futile. Glassman v. Computervision Corp., 90 F.3d 617, 623 (1st Cir.1996).
Plaintiff alleges that on at least three occasions in 2007, representatives of USA Rugby, including members of the national team, wore Under Armour apparel "in close physical relation to the USA Rugby marks on other garments" during public appearances. (Dkt. No. 55, Pl's Memo. In Opp. at 17.)(Emphasis supplied). According to Plaintiff, these additional facts demonstrate that Under Armour "used" USA Rugby marks based on a theory that a USA Rugby representative's choice to wear an Under Armour-branded undershirt in conjunction with their USA Rugby-branded uniforms constitutes "use" of USA Rugby marks by Under Armour.
Plaintiff's argument is unpersuasive. There is no support, either in the case law Plaintiff cites or in regular English, for Plaintiff's theory of use. Random House defines "use" as "the act of employing, using, or putting into service."
Plaintiff's failure to adequately demonstrate use of a USA Rugby mark by Under Armour is also fatal to its claim under Chapter 93A. In Count III, Plaintiff alleges that "each of the Defendants" has engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A, §§ 2 and 9.
In Count VI, Plaintiff alleges that by continuing to engage in sponsorship activities and conveying the impression that it was a sponsor of USA Rugby, Under Armour was unjustly enriched to Plaintiff's detriment. With Count IV, Plaintiff merely seeks to reassert its Lanham Act and Chapter 93A claims as an equitable claim. In Massachusetts, the equitable remedy of unjust enrichment is not available to parties with an adequate remedy at law. Santagate v. Tower, 64 Mass.App.Ct. 324, 833 N.E.2d 171, 176 (2005); Infusaid Corp. v. Intermedics Infusaid, Inc., 739 F.2d 661, 668 (1st Cir.1984) ("if there is an adequate remedy at law, equitable
In Counts VIII and IX, Plaintiff alleges that Under Armour (along with all other Defendants) wrongfully appropriated to itself the right of publicity in USA Rugby's name and likeness—a right that was exclusively assigned to Plaintiff under the terms of the sponsorship agreement. Plaintiff seeks both statutory and common law remedies for the alleged misappropriation.
Plaintiff's common law claim (Count IX) may be disposed of quickly. Although Massachusetts recognizes a right of publicity, Bi-Rite Enterprises, Inc. v. Bruce Miner Co., 757 F.2d 440, 444 (1st Cir.1985), it "does not recognize the [common law] tort of misappropriation of the right to publicity." Minovitch v. Battin, 2005 WL 2009453, 2005 Mass.Super. LEXIS 351 (Mass.Super.Ct. July 15, 2005) (citing Nolan and Sartorio, Tort Law, Mass. Practice Series, Vol. 37, Sec. 33, n. 1). Rather, Massachusetts protects against the appropriation of the commercial value of a person's name and likeness by statute. See Tropeano v. Atlantic Monthly Co., 379 Mass. 745, 400 N.E.2d 847, 850 (1980); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 3A. Count VIII, therefore, will be dismissed.
As to Plaintiff's statutory publicity claim, Under Armour argues that corporations lack standing to sue under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 3A. In support, it cites Warner-Lambert Co. v. Execuquest Corp., 427 Mass. 46, 691 N.E.2d 545 (1998), a Supreme Judicial Court decision holding that corporations lack standing to sue for invasion of privacy under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 1B because "[a] corporation is not an `individual' with traits of a `highly personal or intimate nature.'" Id. at 548. In an effort to refute this argument, Plaintiff cites Bi-Rite Enterprises, Inc. v. Bruce Miner Co., 757 F.2d 440 (1st Cir. 1985), a First Circuit case in which two corporate entities—each a licensee of the publicity rights of a number of individual musicians—brought claims against a poster manufacturer under Section 3A for distributing posters portraying the performers. Id. at 441. Plaintiff argues that "there is nothing in the statute, the Bi-Rite decision, or anywhere else that supports precluding groups, teams, or the entities that run them" from asserting publicity claims. (Dkt. No. 60 Pl.'s Sur-Reply, 4.)
Unfortunately, the legal authority cited by the parties is not particularly illuminating. The Warner-Lambert decision, as Under Armour concedes, addressed a separate section of the statute while the Bi-Rite decision did not ultimately reach the scope of section 3A because, applying choice of law principles, it held that the corporate entities' publicity claims were governed by the laws of Illinois and Connecticut not Massachusetts law. Bi-Rite, 757 F.2d at 446.
It appears that one court in this district has considered the issue of corporate standing under section 3A directly. In Pump, Inc. v. Collins Management, Inc., 746 F.Supp. 1159, 1172 (D.Mass.1990), Judge William Young expressed "grave doubts" as to whether section 3A, which the court noted was designed to apply to the misappropriation of private names and likenesses, is amenable to use by a corporate plaintiff to protect a registered trademark. Id. Noting that "the Massachusetts legislature ha[d] already provided ample
This court shares Judge Young's dubiousness regarding the application of section 3A in the corporate context, but also concludes that it need not rule on the issue. The statute provides, in pertinent part, that "[a]ny person whose name, portrait or picture is used within the commonwealth for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade without his written consent... may recover damages for any injuries sustained by reason of such use." Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 214 § 3A. As discussed supra, Plaintiff has failed to adequately allege that Under Armour has, in fact, "used" USA Rugby's mark. Nor has Plaintiff demonstrated use of USA Rugby's name or likeness by Under Armour. Consequently, Count IX will be dismissed.
In Count VII, Plaintiff alleges that Under Armour intentionally interfered with its contractual relations with Defendant USA Rugby. To state a claim for intentional interference with contract under Massachusetts law, a complaint must contain enough factual matter to demonstrate that: (1) Plaintiff had a contract with USA Rugby; (2) Under Armour knowingly induced USA Rugby to break that contract; (3) Under Armour's interference, in addition to being intentional, was improper in motive or means; and (4) Plaintiff was harmed by Under Armour's actions. Platten v. HG Berm. Exempted Ltd., 437 F.3d 118, 130 (1st Cir.2006) (quoting G.S. Enters., Inc. v. Falmouth Marine, Inc., 410 Mass. 262, 571 N.E.2d 1363, 1369-70 (1991)).
Count VII fails because the complaint lacks sufficient allegations to support the second and third of these elements. Other than the bald and undifferentiated assertion that "each of the Competing Defendants sought and induced USA Rugby to break the Sponsorship Agreement while knowing of its existence," the complaint does not contain a single factual allegation from which this court can conclude or infer that Under Armour knowingly induced USA Rugby to breach the Sponsorship Agreement—let alone that its actions were improper in motive or means.
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant Under Armour's Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. No. 41) is hereby ALLOWED. The court will hold off entering judgment in favor of Under Armour until entry of judgment for the entire case is proper or a motion is filed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b).
The clerk will set this case for a status conference.
It is So Ordered.