Michael Sorrentino Trademark Lawsuit Seeks Less GTL: EXCLUSIVE

Posted: August 6th, 2012 in The Situation by LALATE

Michael Sorrentino Trademark Lawsuit Seeks Less GTL: EXCLUSIVE

LOS ANGELES (LALATE EXCLUSIVE) – The Michael Sorrentino (Jersey Shore) trademark lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch is slated for an upcoming trial date, but with less GTL. As first broke on LALATE, Sorrentino and his company MPS Entertainment, LLC sued Abercrombie & Fitch in Miami court in November 2011 concerning trademark issues. The products in question were t-shirts sold by the retailer as depicted above. But the case of MPS Entertainment, LLC et al v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc got less GTL recently after Sorrentino drop one notable part of the case.

Recently, the parties told the court that, despite a mediation, the case did not settle. Despite a proceeding last week before Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan, the parties have been battling over the retailer’s attempt to strike parts of Sorrentino’s second amended complaint.

Back in May, the plaintiffs sought to quash the retailer’s attempts to conduct discovery on producers and broadcasters of the Jersey Shore. But on May 17, the court disagreed with Sorrentino, ruling that A&F can conduct discovery against MTV Networks, 495 Productions, Michael Kagan and Viacom International, Inc.

But one issue the jury will not decide is the GTL shirts sold at A&F. Several weeks ago, Sorrentino dismissed “all claims related to their claim that Defendants infringed Plaintiffs rights in any registered an unregistered GLT trademark.”

Sorrentino’s company owns several GTL trademarks. But a quick perusal reveals that, while the personality had a trademark for tote bags, facial scrubs and supplements since 2011, he didn’t have one for t-shirts prior to filing the lawsuit.

Ironically, while not related to the suit, an attempt to trademark GTL for “entertainment in the nature of on-going television and cable television reality based shows and programs” was recently abandoned by Sorrentino.

Since the case has begun, however, Sorrentino has been picking up new GTL trademarks including for jewelry, beverages, and even stain removers. Judge Joan A. Lenard has set the case for March of next year.