Design Mart LLC v. Matthews International Corporation, Civil Action No. 3:23-cv-00082-CDL (M.D. Ga., July 17, 2023)

Design Mart LLC (“Design Mart”) has filed suit in the Middle District of Georgia for copyright infringement.

Design Mart is a family-owned-and-operated business who works to create and license “hundreds of original design images to cemeteries, gravestone manufacturers, and memorial counselors to assist them in the sale and creation of personal memorials for their customers and clients. “ Dkt.1 at ¶ 8. According to the Complaint, its rival company, Matthews International Corporation (“Matthews”), has “illegally copied at least 267 of Design Mart’s original copyrighted images.” Id. at ¶ 16. Allegedly, Matthews utilizes its online catalogs to “advertise” the Design Mart designs to grieving families. Id. at ¶ 17. The Complaint also alleges Matthews created a stencil, which then allows Matthews to transfer the allegedly infringing image onto a tombstone and sell the tombstone to a grieving family in need. Id. at ¶ 20. 

Design Mart brings two counts of copyright infringement against Matthews.

The case has been assigned to Judge Clay D. Land.