California District Court Rules in Favor of National Grange in Trademark Battle

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In light of The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California ruling today in favor of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, National Grange President Ed Luttrell issued the following statement,

"The National Grange applauds the decision of the Eastern District Court to uphold the trademark agreements set forth by the Federal Trademark Act of 1946. Following our organization's decision to revoke the local California state charter in 2013, its principal Robert McFarland unlawfully continued to use the Grange name and trademarks. The permanent injunction issued today will permanently protect our association's registered trademarks which we have tirelessly worked to protect since our establishment in 1867."

The injunction prohibits the Defendant and its agents, affiliates, and assigns, and any other persons "acting in concert with defendant and its agents, affiliates, and assigns," from using any name or mark containing the word "Grange." With this ruling, the Court has affirmed that when a local chapter secedes or is revoked from a national hierarchical, it cannot continue to use the national association's name and trademarks.  

"With nearly 150 years under our belt, the National Grange has become the country's leading rural advocacy organization," said Mr. Luttrell. "Today's decision reaffirms our significance to the agricultural and rural community, while protecting the 'Grange' name we have worked so hard to establish. The Court's ruling is another step in ensuring our organization can continue to advocate for the people we represent."

For additional information, or to speak to President Luttrell, please call (503) 680-4134 or e-mail Ed Luttrell at [email protected]

Established in 1867, The National Grange, a nonpartisan, nonprofit fraternal organization, is the nation's oldest agricultural and rural community service organization. With more than 2,100 local chapters, the Grange has evolved into the nation's leading rural advocacy organization and a major benefactor to local communities. There are 160,000 members across the United States. For more information on the National Grange, visit our website at www.nationalgrange.org.

SOURCE National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry