PMMI Prevails In Lawsuit Fighting Fraudulent Use of PACK EXPO Logo and Phony List Sales

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, won a lawsuit against Data Marketers Inc. doing business as LogiChannel for trademark infringement, false association advertising and unfair competition. LogiChannel was falsely positioning itself using the PACK EXPO logo and attempting to sell fake attendee lists.

PMMI filed a complaint against LogiChannel in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after discovering that the data and marketing services company had used the PACK EXPO logo without permission and otherwise misrepresented itself. LogiChannel misleadingly claimed to have a false PACK EXPO attendee list for sale.

Eastern District of Virginia Court, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III marked a clear victory for PACK EXPO and all trade show organizers, by signing an order on Feb. 25 requiring Data Marketers, Inc. to permanently refrain from advertising, offering or selling any goods or services infringing upon all PACK EXPO logo designs and trademarks. The defendant was also ordered to pay damages and attorney’s fees.

“This order represents a victory for associations and other trade show organizers that find themselves victims of trademark infringement and unauthorized vendors attempting to sell fake lists and other services,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “Trade show exhibitors have a right to know the relationship between a company and the event producer when doing business. The circumstances are a sad commentary on the state of the ethics and conduct of some individuals and businesses.”

PMMI’s President & CEO Jim Pittas commented: “This is a win not only for PMMI and the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows but for all trade show organizers,” he says. “This latest court order sends a signal to all unauthorized vendors attempting to pass themselves off as legitimate trade show organizers and deceive exhibitors and other suppliers. The trade show community will not tolerate improprieties in this area.”

PMMI continues to spend time educating exhibitors about companies falsely representing themselves as official suppliers to PACK EXPO. When in doubt, contact PMMI to confirm the legitimacy of any potential vendor.