AFL, a manufacturer of fiber-optic products, has filed two lawsuits--one against Fiberoptic Hardware LLC, and one against SurplusEQ.com Inc.--with the Federal District Court of Arizona in defense of its fusion splicer product line.
In each complaint, AFL alleges that the two companies independently committed various acts of unfair competition, including false advertising in their unauthorized sale of "gray market" Fujikura fusion splicers. AFL also asserts that Fiberoptic Hardware and SurplusEQ.com violated the Lanham (Trademark) Act, infringing upon Fujikura's trademark, and the Copyright Act.
The case number against Fiberoptic Hardware is CV 11-01081-PHX-MEA, and the case number against SurplusEQ.com Inc. is CV 11-01086-PHX-FJM.
AFL, wholly owned by Fujikura Ltd., is responsible for protecting Fujikura's trademarks in North America. AFL and Fujikura have addressed issues with other companies that have infringed on the Fujikura trademark in the past.
Fujikura is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and manufactures products for the telecommunications, electronics, automotive, and energy sectors.