Pogrebnoy v. Russian Newspaper Distribution, Inc.

MEMORANDUM **

Oleg Pogrebnoy sued Russian Newspaper Distribution, Inc.; MMAP, Inc.; Vitaly Matusov; and Alexander Ginzburg (collectively, “Matusov”) for trademark and trade dress inMngement. After a three-day bench trial, the district court entered judgment in favor of the defendants. Pogreb-noy appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

The district court erred by applying the Tea Rose-Rectanus doctrine to bar Po-grebnoy’s trademark infringement claim. The Tea Rose-Rectanus doctrine does not apply where the junior user had…