Jekyll Island vs. Polygroup Macau: Trademark Jurisdiction Case
This legal opinion addresses an appeal regarding personal jurisdiction over a foreign intellectual property holding company, Polygroup Macau Limited, in a trademark infringement case brought by Jekyll Island-State Park Authority. The court analyzed whether Polygroup Macau's contacts with the United States were sufficient to establish specific jurisdiction under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(k)(2). It specifically examined whether Polygroup Macau purposefully availed itself of U.S. laws through its trademark registrations, licensing practices with affiliated companies selling products in the U.S., and marketing efforts. The court ultimately reversed the lower court's dismissal, finding that Polygroup Macau's actions, including its reliance on U.S. trademark protections and its close relationship with sister companies operating in the U.S. market, established a strong enough connection for the case to proceed in a U.S. federal court.
