THE JUG PLUG maker sues NuRich and an Amazon seller over a "NuRich Jug Plug" and copied listing images: complaint allegations

What was filed

The complaint is Document 1, filed October 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The case is Steel City Enterprises, Inc. v. NuRich Accounting, LLC d/b/a NuRich and James Boswell, individually and d/b/a NuFit, No. 1:26-cv-12456, and it includes a jury demand. It pleads four counts: trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), including a false advertising theory under § 1125(a)(1)(B); the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, 815 ILCS 510/2; common law trademark infringement and unfair competition; and infringement of U.S. Design Patent No. D977,973 under 35 U.S.C. §§ 271(a) and 289. Counsel is Nicholas S. Lee.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint says Steel City, a Pennsylvania corporation, has sold THE JUG PLUG, a reusable silicone plug for 3- and 5-gallon water jugs, under THE JUG PLUG and JUG PLUG since at least October 21, 2021, with more than 400,000 units sold and more than 3,200 Amazon reviews. It says Steel City owns Reg. No. 7,682,505, issued February 4, 2025 in Class 20, for THE JUG PLUG in stylized form with a design of a water jug, and that its rights in the words JUG PLUG, which the registration does not claim apart from the mark as shown, arise from using them as the product's name. USPTO records show the registration disclaims "THE JUG PLUG" apart from the mark as shown, describe the mark as the stylized wording "The JugPlug" with a water jug design, and list a first use date of November 17, 2023.

It alleges that the defendants sell a silicone plug for 55 mm water-jug openings for $12.99 per three-pack on Amazon under ASIN B0B355XKXJ, through Boswell's "NuFit" seller account on a listing that invites shoppers to "Visit the NuRich Store," and on the NuRich website under the product title "NuRich Jug Plug." It says the Amazon listing uses a copy of Steel City's "NO DRIPS OR LEAKS!" image, down to the same misspelling, with the JUG PLUG name removed from the caps it shows, plus two more images that repeat Steel City's layout or headline. On information and belief, it alleges that Boswell is a member, manager, or principal of NuRich who directs its activities. For jurisdiction it relies on an Amazon order placed October 2, 2026 and delivered to Vernon Hills, Illinois on October 3.

The design patent count asserts D977,973, titled "Container Plug" and issued February 14, 2023, which claims "the ornamental design for a container plug, as shown and described." The complaint says the USPTO considered the defendants' own Amazon listing for ASIN B0B355XKXJ during examination and issued the patent over it, and that inventor Brendan Kutcher assigned the application to Steel City by an assignment recorded March 22, 2023. The prayer asks for preliminary and permanent injunctions under 15 U.S.C. § 1116, 35 U.S.C. § 283, and 815 ILCS 510/3, removal of the listings, the defendants' total profits under 35 U.S.C. § 289 or damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284, profits and damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), and attorneys' fees under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a), 35 U.S.C. § 285, and 815 ILCS 510/3.