Being sued for $250,000!?

It appears there is another Cameron Ingalls. It also appears that he lives here, in the 'Great Republic of Lafayette, Indiana".



I think everyone hopes that if they have a double wandering the earth somewhere that their double would be friendly. That someday you would happen upon each other and could sit down for a nice cup of tea and discuss religion, politics, music and crazy coincidences like the one I am about to share.

An email appeared in my inbox yesterday morning that I almost deleted thinking it was junk mail. It was from administrator@cameroningallsphotography. Upon first glance I figured it to be spam but as i read it appeared more personal. It is from another 'Cameron Ingalls', my double! However this double didn't want to discuss politics or the weather, my double wants to sue me for $250,000 for using his business name because he has been a wedding photographer since 1990.

Here is how the email reads....


Jeansonne & Remondet Attorneys
Client: Cameron Ingalls Photography, Lafayette IN
200 W Congress St # 1100
Lafayette, LA 70501

08/15/2006

Dear Cameron Ingalls:
It has come to my attention that you have made an unauthorized use of my copyrighted business name entitled „Cameron Ingalls Photography‰ (the "Name") in the preparation of work derived therefrom. I have reserved all rights in the Name, first used in 1990, and have registered trademark therein. Your business name entitled Cameron Ingalls and Ingalls Photography is essentially identical to the Name and clearly used the Name as its basis. Our website is recent, but our business has existed profitably in the United States of America and the Great Republic of Indiana for over 15 years. You perform wedding photography and have insisted to utilize this name despite the previous existence of our business.

As you neither asked for nor received permission to use the Name as the basis for a photography business nor to make or distribute copies, including electronic copies, of same, I believe you have willfully infringed my rights under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $250,000 as set forth in Section 504(c)(2) therein.

I demand that you immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing work derived from the Name, and all copies, including electronic copies and digital media, of same, and that you deliver to me, if applicable, all unused, undistributed copies of same, or destroy such works immediately and that you desist from this or any other infringement of my rights and Name in the future.

If I have not received an affirmative response from you by August 22nd, 2006 indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, I shall take further action against you.

Sincerely,
Jeansonne & Remondet Attorneys

200 W Congress St # 1100
Lafayette, LA 70501
On Behalf of Cameron Ingalls

So check out his website:
Yesterday was a hard day. I spent the majority of it on the phone with lawyers and other photographers trying to figure out what to do. I thought I would need to trademark my name but it appears that this is impossible because you can't trade mark just your name.

It's just so sad that there are people out there, with really cool names, who are trying to ruin their double's business and life. I am appaled that we live in such a sue-happy society. Our politics, while meant to be fair, are not very loving. It is a sad sad world we live in. If you could, as my friends and family who have supported me over the years as I have pursued this dream of owning a successfull photography business, please pray. That's all that I can ask right now. Thanks so much for your love and support. It means so much to me.