Founded in 1999 by Dan Henderson, Randy Couture and Matt Lindland, Team Quest is a brand of mixed martial arts training facility based out or Oregon. With six facilities located in Oregon and California, Team Quest has catered primarily to wrestlers and has compiled a list of top athletes within the sport. Some of these names include: Dan Henderson, Randy Couture, Matt Lindland, Chael Sonnen, and Jason Mayhem Miller.
Recently however, there has been an internal struggle for the rights of the Team Quest name and Logo. UFC outcast, and Strikeforce contender Dan Henderson has filed suit against Lindland for copyright infringement over his company, Team Quest Fight Club, LLC. According to the lawsuit, Henderson and Couture opened the first Team Quest training facilities in 1999, while Lindland joined the team in 2001. Within Henderson's claims include statements stating that Henderson and Couture had been using the Team Quest 'fist' logo prior to Lindland joining the team, however, the logo had not been trademarked. The statement further alleges that Lindland registered trademarks to himself, Team Quest Fight club, LLC, Randy Couture and trainer Rob Follis, but not the name of Dan Henderson. Henderson believes these omissions were intentional on Lindland's part.
Apparently, the conflict started when Lindland asked Henderson for reimbursement for trademark expenses, at which time Henderson notified Lindland that he was withdrawing his support and ordered Lindland hand over the Team Quest trademark to him. Lindland has since sent 'cease and desist' notifications to Henderson asking him to stop using the Team Quest trademark.
Negotiations between attorney's has been ongoing, but ultimately has resulted in litigation. As simple as this case may seem (Lindland owning the trademarks), courts take into account 'Senior Users' and because Henderson was using the trademark before Lindland had registered it, both parties have some ownership over the company name.
Unless Henderson and Lindland can resolve the dispute outside of the courts, we can expect to see this all boil over within the next month. For such a successful Team, it sure does have it shortcomings.
Recently however, there has been an internal struggle for the rights of the Team Quest name and Logo. UFC outcast, and Strikeforce contender Dan Henderson has filed suit against Lindland for copyright infringement over his company, Team Quest Fight Club, LLC. According to the lawsuit, Henderson and Couture opened the first Team Quest training facilities in 1999, while Lindland joined the team in 2001. Within Henderson's claims include statements stating that Henderson and Couture had been using the Team Quest 'fist' logo prior to Lindland joining the team, however, the logo had not been trademarked. The statement further alleges that Lindland registered trademarks to himself, Team Quest Fight club, LLC, Randy Couture and trainer Rob Follis, but not the name of Dan Henderson. Henderson believes these omissions were intentional on Lindland's part.
Apparently, the conflict started when Lindland asked Henderson for reimbursement for trademark expenses, at which time Henderson notified Lindland that he was withdrawing his support and ordered Lindland hand over the Team Quest trademark to him. Lindland has since sent 'cease and desist' notifications to Henderson asking him to stop using the Team Quest trademark.
Negotiations between attorney's has been ongoing, but ultimately has resulted in litigation. As simple as this case may seem (Lindland owning the trademarks), courts take into account 'Senior Users' and because Henderson was using the trademark before Lindland had registered it, both parties have some ownership over the company name.
Unless Henderson and Lindland can resolve the dispute outside of the courts, we can expect to see this all boil over within the next month. For such a successful Team, it sure does have it shortcomings.
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