How a US Auto Parts Manufacturer Secured Multi-Class Trademark Protection to Combat Marketplace Counterfeiting

DNA Motor Inc, operating as DNA Motoring, is a US-based automotive aftermarket manufacturer producing performance exhaust systems, tonneau covers, LED lighting, and a wide range of auto accessories. Despite being an established domestic manufacturer, the brand faced a growing counterfeiting problem on Amazon and other online marketplaces.

• Counterfeit auto parts flood online marketplaces, with unauthorized sellers listing inferior products under the DNA Motoring name, some using it as a storefront banner. Without registered trademark protection, enforcement options are severely limited.
• The brand's product range spans multiple Nice classes: metal fabrication (Class 6), engine and machinery parts (Class 7), electronic accessories and lighting (Class 9), and floor mats and coverings (Class 27). Partial coverage would leave product lines vulnerable.
• As a B2B and B2C manufacturer, DNA Motoring needed protection for both wholesale distribution channels and direct-to-consumer marketplace sales.
• Counterfeit exhausts, lighting, and engine components can fail on the road, creating potential liability for the genuine brand.

For an auto parts maker, counterfeiting is a safety problem before it is a brand problem: a fake exhaust or light sold under the brand's name can fail on the road and erode years of trust with enthusiasts and installers.

Four product lines would normally mean four applications and four sets of fees. We put all four into one coordinated filing, with a filing basis and a specimen plan for each class.

Once registered, the single mark will cover all four product lines. Enforcement did not wait for the certificate.

With the filing on record, the brand removed hybrid listings that mixed counterfeit hardware with its name and suspended two storefronts using the mark as a banner. Registration across all four classes adds Amazon Brand Registry's automated detection, customs border enforcement, and standing to bring Lanham Act claims for injunctions and damages, including ex parte seizure under 15 U.S.C. §1116(d) in a true counterfeiting case. Because aftermarket defendants often argue first sale, we prepared evidence of quality-control and warranty differences and trained resellers on nominative fair use.

"Counterfeit parts with our name on them weren't just hurting our sales. They were putting drivers at risk. The 4-class trademark registration gave us the legal tools to clean up the marketplaces and protect our customers."

Key Takeaways

Need similar protection for your brand?

Whether you're expanding internationally, rebranding, or fighting counterfeiters, a GTC attorney will scope the filing and quote a flat fee before any work begins.

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