T-Mobile USA, Inc. v. Terry
862 F. Supp. 2d 1121
W.D. Wash.2012Background
- Court grants partial summary judgment and permanent injunction against George Collett on multiple federal and Georgia claims.
- T-Mobile marks and activation process described; Collett not an authorized dealer and used marks without permission.
- Defendant and co-conspirators bulk-purchased, activated, and sold SIM cards and phones; used fraudulent activation codes; hacked T-Mobile systems.
- Harm includes defrauded airtime, roaming costs, damaged goodwill, and customer confusion; documented instances of actual confusion.
- Court applies transfer-influenced state law framework; finds summary judgment appropriate on trademark, false advertising, CFAA, and related claims; awards damages and fees.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark infringement likelihood of confusion | Collett used T-Mobile marks without authorization. | Unknown dealer status; not clearly infringing. | Yes; likelihood of confusion shown; summary judgment for T-Mobile on infringement. |
| False advertising under Lanham Act | Collett advertised as authorized dealer and genuine products. | Statements were not misleading or actionable. | Yes; false advertising established; summary judgment for T-Mobile. |
| CFAA violations | Collett accessed protected computers with fraudulent activation codes and sold stolen airtime. | Argument not stated explicitly; conduct denied. | Yes; CFAA claims proven; summary judgment for T-Mobile. |
| Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act | Collett repeatedly committed computer theft, trespass, and password disclosure. | Disputes over conduct validity. | Yes; GCSPA violations established; summary judgment for T-Mobile. |
| Conspiracy liability | Collett knowingly conspired with others to commit tortious acts harming T-Mobile. | Participation denied or minimized. | Yes; conspiracy proven; summary judgment for T-Mobile. |
Key Cases Cited
- Sleekcraft Boats, Inc. v. GoTo.com, Inc., 599 F.2d 341 (9th Cir. 1979) (Eight-factor test for likelihood of confusion)
- GoTo.com, Inc. v. Walt Disney Co., 202 F.3d 1199 (9th Cir. 2000) (trinity factors crucial in Sleekcraft analysis)
- Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242 (Supreme Court 1986) (genuine issue of material fact standard)
- Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (Supreme Court 1986) (summary judgment standard and burden-shifting)
- Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574 (Supreme Court 1986) (no genuine issue for trial where inference is implausible)
- Tyler v. Thompson, 308 Ga.App. 221 (Ga. Ct. App. 2011) (conspiracy liability—joint and several)