Synopsis

This lawsuit represents another front in Autodesk's ongoing effort to prevent competitors from using "DWG" as a trademark. Essentially, Autodesk argues that through its marketing efforts, the term "DWG" has lost its original generic meaning and taken on a secondary meaning referring specifically to Autodesk's proprietary drawing file format, and therefore any use of "DWG" in competitive products amounts to trademark infringement.

Introduction

While much of the text in Autodesk's complaint focuses on the claimed "DWG" trademark, the lawsuit is about more than just one mark. Autodesk also argues trade dress infringement due to SolidWorks' use of the "orange frame" used by Autodesk in various ways. This claim, and the infringement claim related to use of the words "AutoCAD" and other Autodesk marks on SolidWorks web sites is where much of the legal basis of this case comes from. The fact that the "DWG" mark is also in play is a nice bonus for Autodesk.

Docket History

Shows official court docket events obtained via PACER

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