API Sued by JVC over Arsenal Audio product name
 Automated Processes, Inc. (API) has received a formal complaint from electronics giant JVC Americas Corporation against API's use of the word "arsenal" in reference to API's recently introduced brand of pro audio equipment. Arsenal Audio by API products include a microphone preamp and two versions of a four band audio equalizer manufactured for use by professional recording artists and engineers.
JVC Americas Corp. is the registered owner of the word 'arsenal' in association with products for car audio equipment.
The complaint centers around the claim that API willfully infringed upon JVC's trademark with the "clear unmistakable intent and effect of causing confusion, mistake and deception among customers".
JVC contends that API's Arsenal Audio products would be confused with JVC's line of car audio equipment, and that API is 'cybersquatting' by registering the domain name ArsenalAudio.com for the promotion of the Arsenal Audio brand.
JVC is demanding unrestricted access to the domain name.
"We were completely blindsided, and are unaware that JVC has ever manufactured any piece of pro audio equipment" said Larry Droppa, API President. "And we can verify with assurance that API has never and likely will never manufacture a piece of audio equipment that installs in an automobile. Given the name "Arsenal Audio by API", I'm very confident that the buyer of a piece of Arsenal Audio equipment by API is extremely familiar with who the manufacturer is."
API explored a number of options to negotiate a settlement with JVC Americas Corp, but all proposal attempts were rejected by JVC...
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