D.C. Circuit Affirms Vacatur of Judgment In Helicopter Trade Dress Claim Against Iran

Any conceivable reputational injury suffered by the maker of the Bell Jet Ranger helicopter as a result of alleged trade dress infringement by an Iranian state enterprise is too attenuated, speculative or remote to qualify as a “direct effect” in the U.S. such that Iran should lose its sovereign immunity, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Nov. 1 (Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, D.C. Cir., 12-7103, 11/1/13).

The court thus affirmed a federal district court’s vacatur of a default judgment against the government of Iran.

Bell Abandons Factory ...