Rockwell Wins Trademark Claims Against Unauthorized Reseller

Radwell International Inc. infringed Rockwell Automation Inc. trademarks by re-selling Rockwell-branded industrial equipment that had been materially altered, a New Jersey federal court said.

Rockwell said the products Radwell resold under its name lacked Rockwell’s warranty, quality control, and customer support guarantee, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey said as it awarded Rockwell summary judgment.

Because of those differences, the products were “materially different,” the court said in rejecting Radwell’s claim that they fell under the first-sale doctrine, which allows the buyer of a product to re-sell it without infringing.

The decision hinged on whether ...