Toon Boom wins restraining order against Bauhaus (Mirage/Aura)

http://www.macmerc.com/news/archives/2976

Emmy-award winning, Toon Boom Animation has obtained a temporary restraining order in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas against Bauhaus Software. The temporary restraining order prevents Bauhaus from continuing to advertise product promotions that prominently feature the Toon Boom name. Toon Boom has no business relationship with Bauhaus, and has no plans to form such an alliance. Bauhaus' use of Toon Boom's name was not authorized by Toon Boom, and Bauhaus products are not endorsed, supported, approved or otherwise sponsored by Toon Boom.

I'm confused. Doesn't most every cg tool offer "cross-grades"? Every offer I've come across names the "qualifying" products with the product name and the company name.

How does that break a law as long as you make sure the product name and trademark are attributed to the proper company?

It may have more to do with this kind of thing?

http://www.bauhaussoftware.com/store_2D_CG_IGW.php

I read that but it's simply talking about workflow among various software tools. I've read plenty of 3D articles where Photoshop and Zbrush are mentioned. What's the difference here?

Bauhaus also made sure that they were not claiming any right to the trademarked software titles and company name and properly noted all of ToonBoom's software and corp name with the (tm) and stated "All Trademarks herein are the property of their respective owners".

I'm not a lawyer but I really don't see much merit to their case.

I think it might have to do with an ad in the latest Animaton magazine that has "GOT TOON BOOM?" in a large headline and only when you read the smaller print do you see that it's a Mirage ad.

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