The Andre Miller Saga

Andre Miller 46 The Intimidation

It had been a busy 2 weeks since Krystal Bell, seeress, and alchemist, had done her seer's reading using her different decks of cards. They had been working 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, to keep up with the ever-growing number of orders for defensive products, summoning services, or alchemical potions.

Andre Miller, leader of the family, summoner of celestials, and head of their company Infinity Brand Ltd. had spent the last hour going back and forth with Bobby Dunkirk and Bill Beach, lawyers that the company and family had hired to handle various legal problems, try to find out who and why they were being sued.

"They call themselves Artifax, they are a national firm that handles defensive talismans and magical security." Said, Bobby.

"OK, and they are suing us because? I'm not following, you've read me out all the technical stuff and the do this don't do that in legal speak. Break it down for my slightly melted from overwork brain." Said Andre.

"OK, brass tacks, they are threatening to get a cease and desist order against Infinity Brand Ltd. for trademark infringement, unless you disclose the formulas you use to make the talismans that are regularly used in your business so they can make sure that they aren't the same as the ones they use. Basically, you are starting to take business from their local outlet and they are pissed about it." Bobby explained.

"OK, let me loop Tilly in from the other line so we can get it from the horse's mouth." There was the click of another line coming into the call, "You there Tilly?"

"Yeah, I'm here. I've been keeping up with Andre's side of the conversation. They tried this song and dance with another rune maker and talismonger back a few years ago. They accused them of trademark infringement, buried them in legal fees, and in the end got their formulas and started mass producing them for a profit. Their R&D department is less R&D and more vultures that sample other people's products, try to copy them, fail, and then claim infringement. Too bad for them I already own the trademarks on all my products, patients, and copyrights too. I have an airtight seal on my formulas and designs. Counter-sue them. They messed with the wrong woman this time!" Tilly Rhodes, master of magical defenses and talismans, was angry and it showed in her voice.

"OK, see that, I understood. As Tilly said, counter-sue them and claim, whatever it is they are doing is bull. Bury their asses in paperwork, make every motion, every objection, every whatever. To get them to either put up or shut up." Said Andre.

"If they want to call trademark violation, we'll get their formula, versus mine, on paper and practical tests and I guarantee mine wins hands down. I make a superior product because it can't be mass-produced, every piece must be hand-inscribed, or hand built. That's one of the reasons we're so far back on orders, we have to hand-make everything." Said Tilly on the edge of rage.

"OK, we'll start the paperwork, we'll counter with a cease and desist order of our own. This is going to be expensive though, you can bet it'll come out to the tune of 2-300000 dollars by the time it's all said and done."

"Add in lawyers fees to the case too because they wrongfully sued us. Take them through the wringer. We have the money to give. We still have dragon parts we can sell off to cover costs." Andre said.

They thanked the two lawyers and hung up the line. "If they think they are taking my plans and formulas without a fight they are out of their minds!" said Tilly.

"Oh, I'm with you. This is the ambiguous this that Kris saw coming, I'd lay money on it. They didn't do enough research on us, we're not the group to roll over and take it." Andre replied.

"Besides that, we're in the right. They can spew all the bull that they want. In the end, the truth will out." Said Conroy Miller, Andre's father, and burnt-out summoner.