Skateboarder Tony Hawk faces trademark lawsuit

By: SCOTT MARSHALL - Staff Writer | Thursday, June 16, 2005 9:49 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- A Tahoe City-based toy maker filed a trademark-infringement lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in San Diego against skateboarder Tony Hawk, toy maker Mattel Inc. and McDonald's Corp.

North Shore Militia Resources, Corp., which describes itself in the lawsuit as a group of people living and working together on the northern shore of Lake Tahoe, says in the suit that it makes and sells action figure toys internationally under the brand name "Huck Doll," for which it holds a trademark registered in 2001.

The lawsuit alleges that in 2002, Hawk, whose business is based in Vista, began a skateboarding tour called "Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huckjam." In 2003, Hawk applied to register a trademark for "Boom Boom Huckjam" for toys, balls and other items, the lawsuit alleges.

Hawk, Mattel and McDonald's began selling "Boom Boom Huckjam" toys and action figures in 2004 "in clear violation" of North Shore Militia Resources' rights to the trademark "Huck," the lawsuit alleges.

North Shore Militia Resources is seeking a court order requiring Hawk, Mattel and McDonald's to surrender for destruction all toys and promotional materials that compete with its "Huck" products. The company also is asking for an estimated $1 million in profits and more than $20 million in punitive damages from Hawk, Mattel and McDonald's.

Hawk's publicist, Sarah Hall, said Hawk's has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation. Spokespeople for Mattel and McDonald's could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

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