USDC IN/ND case 1:16-cv-00050 document 1 filed 02/03/16 page 1 of 9

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Overhauser Law Offices
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www.iniplaw.org
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
FORT WAYNE DIVISION

DESIGN BASICS, LLC, and

PLAN PROS, INC.,
Plaintiffs,

vs.
QUALITY CRAFTED HOMES INC.,
Defendant.

Case No.: 1:16-cv-00050

JURY DEMANDED

ORIGINAL COMPLAINT
Design Basics, LLC, and Plan Pros, Inc., plaintiffs, file this Complaint against Quality
Crafted Homes Inc. (Quality Crafted Homes), and for their causes of action allege the
following:
Parties
1.

Design Basics, LLC, is a Nebraska Limited Liability Company with its principal

place of business in Omaha, Nebraska. Under Articles of Merger executed on July 1, 2009,
Design Basics, LLC, is the successor by merger to Design Basics, Inc., and as such is the owner
of all assets (including copyrights, trade and service names, trade and service marks, and all
causes of action) that Design Basics, Inc., owned as of that date. Design Basics, LLC, and its
predecessor (Design Basics, Inc.) will hereinafter be referred to as Design Basics.
2.

Design Basics is engaged in the business of creating, marketing, publishing and

licensing the use of architectural works (as that term is defined in the Copyright Act and the
Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act of 1990, both codified at 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.)
and technical drawings depicting such architectural works.
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3.

Plan Pros, Inc. (Plan Pros), is a Nebraska corporation with its principal place of

business in Omaha, Nebraska.

4.

Plan Pros is engaged in the business of creating, marketing, publishing and

licensing the use of architectural works (as that term is defined in the Copyright Act and the
AWCPA) and technical drawings depicting such architectural works.
5.

Quality Crafted Homes is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of

Indiana with its principal place of business in Allen County, Indiana. Quality Crafted Homes
may be served through its registered agent, Dennis Kees, 22712 Antwerp Road, Harlan, Indiana
46743.
Jurisdiction and Venue
6.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction of this case under 28 U.S.C. 1338

because this action arises under federal copyright law, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.
7.

Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. 1400(a) because the defendant

may be found in this District. Furthermore, or in the alternative, venue is proper in this District
under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) because a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims at
issue occurred in this District; and defendant resides and does business in this District.
Factual Background
8.

Design Basics and Plan Pros are building design firms which create, market, and

license the use of architectural works (as that term is defined in the Copyright Act and the
Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act of 1990 (the AWCPA)) and technical drawings
depicting architectural works. Both firms own copyrights protecting the architectural works and
technical drawings they have created.

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9.

Design Basics is the author and the owner of all copyrights in the following

works, each of which has been registered with the United States Copyright Office:
Title
Plan No. 1748 Sinclair
Plan No. 1752 Lancaster
Plan No. 2235 Albany
Plan No. 2245 Tyndale
Plan No. 2638 Linden

Registration Certificate No.

VA 371-214, 694-094 & 726-353
VA 371-204, 694-094 & 756-041
VA 434-219, 694-094 & 756-041
VA 434-205, 710-606 & 1-924-168
VA 540-030, 694-094, 756-041 &
1-921-734
VA 1-074-900 & 1-082-262

Plan No. 8507 Smithport

10.

Plan Pros is the author and the owner of all copyrights in the work titled Plan

No. 29300 Leftwich, which has been registered with the United States Copyright Office as
Registration Certificate No. VA 1-346-932.
11.

The foregoing works described in paragraphs 9-10 above will be referred to

collectively as the Copyrighted Works.

12.

The Copyrighted Works have been published in various Design Basics and Plan

Pros plan books and publications. A chart that identifies some of those plan books that
published the various Copyrighted Works is attached as Exhibit A.
13.

Each of the Copyrighted Works constitutes original material that is copyrightable

under federal law.

14.

Design Basics is currently, and at all relevant times has been, the sole owner of all

right, title and interest in and to the works described in paragraph 9 above.
15.

Plan Pros is currently, and at all relevant times has been, the sole owner of all right,

title and interest in and to the works described in paragraph 10 above.

16.

Quality Crafted Homes has been engaged, at least in part, in the business of

creating, publishing, distributing and advertising residential home designs through traditional
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print media, on the internet on sites such as www.qualitycraftedhomes.com, and in marketing,

advertising, constructing and selling homes built according to such designs.
17.

Quality Crafted Homes has published, distributed, marketed and advertised

certain architectural designs for single family residential homes, each consisting of a floor plan
and exterior elevations, that Quality Crafted Homes has identified and marketed under the
following model names: Ashby, Blue Ash, Carrington, Crenshaw, Crest Hill, Deville,
Dogwood Ridge, Elway, Forest View, Harper, Lake Ridge, Milano, Mourtada, Prairie View,
River Birch, Scott Lodge, Serendipity, Tall Oak, Tucker, Weatherford.
18.

Design Basics and Plan Pros house designs, including the Copyrighted Works,

have been marketed for years on a nationwide basis, including in this District, by means of plan
books and other publications and also by means of the internet, including many websites.
19.

Quality Crafted Homes has been actually aware of Design Basics and Plan Pros

and the works that Design Basics and Plan Pros market. At all times material to this case,
Quality Crafted Homes has had a reasonable opportunity to have viewed the Copyrighted
Works.
20.

Quality Crafted Homes has violated and continues to violate Design Basics and

Plan Pros exclusive rights in each of the Copyrighted Works (including the right to reproduce,
the right to prepare derivative works and the right to sell), by copying, publishing, distributing,
advertising, marketing, selling and/or constructing in the marketplace, plans, drawings and
houses which were copied or otherwise derived from the Copyrighted Works, examples of
which include:
a.

Quality Crafted Homes Milano (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1752 Lancaster (and any
predecessor or derivative thereof).
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b.

Quality Crafted Homes River Birch (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 2235 Albany (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

c.

Quality Crafted Homes Lake Ridge (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

d.

Quality Crafted Homes Mourtada (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

e.

Quality Crafted Homes Forest View (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

f.

Quality Crafted Homes Crest Hill (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 2245 Tyndale (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

g.

Quality Crafted Homes Serendipity (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

h.

Quality Crafted Homes Tall Oak (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

i.

Quality Crafted Homes Harper (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 2235 Albany (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

j.

Quality Crafted Homes Ashby (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).
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k.

Quality Crafted Homes Dogwood Ridge (and any predecessors, copies

or derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

l.

Quality Crafted Homes Weatherford (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor
or derivative thereof).

m.

Quality Crafted Homes Prairie View (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same name or a different name)
infringes the Design Basics Plan No. 8507 Smithport (and any
predecessor or derivative thereof).

n.

Quality Crafted Homes Carrington (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same or a different name) infringes
Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor or derivative
thereof).

o.

Quality Crafted Homes Crenshaw (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same or a different name) infringes
Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor or derivative
thereof).

p.

Quality Crafted Homes Scott Lodge (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same or a different name) infringes
Design Basics Plan No. 1748 Sinclair (and any predecessor or derivative
thereof).

q.

Quality Crafted Homes Deville (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same or a different name) infringes
Design Basics Plan No. 1752 Lancaster (and any predecessor or
derivative thereof).

r.

Quality Crafted Homes Blue Ash (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same or a different name) infringes Plan
Pros Plan No. 29300 Leftwich (and any predecessor or derivative
thereof).

s.

Quality Crafted Homes Tucker (and any predecessors, copies or

derivatives of that model under the same or a different name) infringes
Design Basics Plan No. 2638 Linden (and any predecessor or derivative
thereof).

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Cause of Action
Copyright Infringement
21.

Design Basics and Plan Pros complain of Quality Crafted Homes for copyright

infringement, and incorporates paragraphs 1 through 20 above by reference.

22.

Quality Crafted Homes construction and sale of houses and creation of

associated design and construction drawings based on Design Basics Copyrighted Works has
infringed and continues to infringe Design Basics copyrights in the Copyrighted Works.
23.

Quality Crafted Homes construction and sale of houses and creation of

associated design and construction drawings based on Plan Pros Copyrighted Works has
infringed and continues to infringe Plan Pros copyrights in the Copyrighted Works.
24.

Quality Crafted Homes creation and publication of non-pictorial representations

based on Design Basics Copyrighted Works have infringed and are infringing Design Basics
copyrights in the Copyrighted Works.
25.

Quality Crafted Homes creation and publication of non-pictorial representations

based on Plan Pros Copyrighted Works have infringed and are infringing Plan Pros copyrights
in the Copyrighted Works.
26.

Design Basics is entitled to recover the actual damages it suffered as a result of

the foregoing infringement, and all of Quality Crafted Homes profits from such infringement,
pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(b).
27.

Plan Pros is entitled to recover the actual damages it suffered as a result of the

foregoing infringement, and all of Quality Crafted Homes profits from such infringement,
pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504(b).

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28.

In the alternative to the actual damages and infringer profits sought above,

Design Basics is entitled to an award of statutory damages for all infringements of Design
Basics Copyrighted Works, as permitted by 17 U.S.C. 504(c).
29.

In the alternative to the actual damages and infringer profits sought above, Plan

Pros is entitled to an award of statutory damages for all infringements of Plan Pros
Copyrighted Works, as permitted by 17 U.S.C. 504(c).
30.

Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 505, Quality Crafted Homes is liable for plaintiffs costs

and reasonable attorneys fees incurred in this action.

31.

In addition, Design Basics and Plan Pros are entitled to preliminary and

permanent injunctions pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 502 prohibiting Quality Crafted Homes from
further infringement of their copyrights, including but not limited to the further use of infringing
plans, creation or use of derivative plans, and construction, sale or rental of infringing
structures.
32.

Furthermore, this Court should issue an order pursuant to 17. U.S.C. 503

directing the United States Marshals Service to (a) impound all copies of the Copyrighted
Works, in possession of Quality Crafted Homes or its agents or contractors in violation of
plaintiffs exclusive rights, and (b) upon final hearing of this case, to destroy or otherwise
dispose of those copies.
Conditions Precedent
33.

With respect to all counts, Design Basics and Plan Pros generally aver that all

conditions precedent to their rights of recovery have occurred or been performed, or have been
waived or excused by Quality Crafted Homes.
Jury Demand
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34.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38, Design Basics and Plan Pros

respectfully demand trial by jury of all issues so triable.

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Design Basics, LLC, and Plan Pros, Inc.,
pray that defendant Quality Crafted Homes Inc., be cited to appear and answer; and that upon
final trial they each have and recover from defendant as set forth above, that they have
permanent injunctive relief against defendant as requested herein, and that they have such and
other relief as they may show themselves to be entitled.
Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Sean J. Quinn

John D. LaDue (19039-71)
Sean J. Quinn (29441-71)
200 First Bank Building
205 West Jefferson Boulevard
South Bend, Indiana 46601
Telephone: (574) 968-0760
Facsimile: (574) 968-0761
[email protected]
[email protected]
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS
DESIGN BASICS, LLC, AND
PLAN PROS, INC.