A federal judge in the Eastern District of New York has reopened the trademark lawsuit involving the Haitian music group Zafem, its founder Dener Ceide, and the plaintiffs Wiss and Marie Joseph, who claim ownership of the registered mark “Zafem World Entertainment.” The original judgment, which included a one-million-dollar statutory damages award and a court order banning the band from using the name “Zafem,” has been conditionally vacated. This development gives the group a chance to defend itself for the first time, but the court placed firm conditions before moving forward.

The dispute began when the Josephs sued Ceide and his company, Dener Ceide Productions, Inc., alleging trademark infringement. According to court records, the Josephs registered the mark in 2021 and said they had used it for nearly a decade to promote Haitian-American concerts and entertainment events. Zafem, however, continued using the band name it has carried since its founding in 2016.

The Josephs won the lawsuit by default last September after Zafem failed to respond in court. The default judgment awarded the plaintiffs one million dollars and issued a permanent injunction preventing the band from using the name. One day later, the Josephs emailed Ceide a copy of the judgment. Zafem then filed a motion asking the court to set aside the default and reopen the case, arguing that Ceide never understood he had been sued.

In his ruling, Judge Cogan stated that he believed Ceide had been served properly but said there was reasonable doubt about whether Ceide understood the legal documents, especially considering his heavy touring schedule and the volume of fan mail and unsolicited deliveries he receives. The judge found the failure to respond careless but not intentional, and courts usually allow cases to proceed on the merits when possible.

The plaintiffs argued that reopening the case would harm them, but the court disagreed. The judge said there was no loss of evidence or increased difficulty in discovery, which are the types of issues that would justify keeping the default in place. Delays alone are not considered legal prejudice.

Judge Cogan also noted that Zafem presented several defenses that could potentially defeat the lawsuit if proven at trial. The group argues it used the name first and has been continuously performing and releasing music under the Zafem identity since at least 2016. In trademark law, earlier use can override later federal registration. The band also argues there is no consumer confusion between their name and the plaintiffs’ mark “Zafem World Entertainment.” The judge also acknowledged Zafem’s claim that the Josephs may have acted in bad faith when they registered the name despite already knowing about the group’s existence and success.

While the judge agreed to reopen the case, he criticized Ceide’s neglect and made it clear that the plaintiffs should not bear the cost of Zafem’s failure to respond earlier. The court ordered Zafem to reimburse the Josephs for the attorney fees and expenses they incurred while obtaining the default judgment and fighting the motion to vacate it.

In addition, the judge expressed concern about whether Zafem would be able to pay any future judgment. To protect the plaintiffs, he ordered Zafem to post a bond of one hundred thousand dollars within seven days. This bond acts as financial security and ensures that a future judgment will not be impossible to collect. The judge added that Zafem could request a lower bond amount if they provide detailed financial records, and the plaintiffs could request a higher bond if they can show greater risk.

The court also placed the plaintiffs’ contempt request on hold. They had argued that Zafem was violating the injunction by continuing to use the band name even after the default judgment. Judge Cogan said he will not address the contempt allegation until Zafem meets the conditions required for reopening the case.

For now, everything depends on whether Zafem pays the plaintiffs’ legal fees and posts the bond on time. If they do, the million-dollar judgment disappears and the case proceeds to full litigation. If they do not, the default judgment remains in place and the injunction stands.

The long-running trademark dispute centering around one of Haiti’s most visible musical groups is far from over, but for the first time, Zafem will be able to argue its case in court.

Yon Jij Federal Reouvri Dosye Mak Komèsyal Zafem nan ak Kondisyon Rigid

Yon jij federal nan Eastern District of New York deside reouvri pwosè mak komèsyal ki enplike gwoup mizik ayisyen Zafem, fondatè li Dener Ceide, ansanm ak demann ki fèt pa Wiss ak Marie Joseph, ki deklare yo posede mak anrejistre “Zafem World Entertainment.” Jij la te deja bay Joseph yo yon jijman defo ki te gen ladan li yon amann yon milyon dola ak yon lòd ki entèdi gwoup la kontinye itilize non Zafem. Kounye a jij la dakò pou l anile jijman sa a, men li mete kondisyon sevè pou pwosesis la ka kontinye.

Konflik la te kòmanse lè Joseph yo te depoze yon pwosè kont Ceide ak konpayi li a, Dener Ceide Productions, Inc., pou vyolasyon mak komèsyal. Joseph yo te anrejistre mak “Zafem World Entertainment” an 2021 e yo deklare yo te itilize li pandan prèske dis lane pou fè pwomosyon konsè ak evènman Ayisyano Ameriken. Men gwoup Zafem te kontinye sèvi ak non gwoup la depi li te fonde an 2016.

Paske Zafem pa t parèt ni reponn nan tribinal, Joseph yo te jwenn yon jijman defo an septanm pase a. Jijman sa a te bay yo yon milyon dola ak yon lòd ki entèdi gwoup la sèvi ak non an. Yon jou apre, Joseph yo te voye yon imèl bay Ceide pou fè l konnen jijman an. Se apre sa ke Zafem te depoze yon demann pou retire jijman defo a, epi pou pèmèt yo defann tèt yo.

Nan desizyon li, Jij Cogan di li kwè Ceide te resevwa papye ofisyèl yo, men gen dout pou konnen si li te konprann siyifikasyon yo, sitou akòz kantite fanmèl ak lèt li resevwa pandan li sou wout la kòm mizisyen. Jij la di echèk la te neglijans, men pa te fè espre. E paske tribinal yo anjeneral prefere tande ka yo sou baz merite, li bay Zafem avantaj dout la.

Joseph yo te di reouvèti dosye a ap fè yo pèdi avantaj yo genyen, men tribinal la pa dakò. Jij la di pa gen okenn pèdi prèv ni okenn difikilte nan faz dekouvèt ki ta lakòz prejidis. Reta sèlman pa ase pou fè yon tribinal bloke yon reouvèti dosye.

Jij la jwenn tou ke Zafem prezante plizyè defans ki kapab fè yo genyen si yo pwouve yo nan tribinal. Premyeman, gwoup la di yo te kòmanse sèvi ak non Zafem an 2016 e yo fè mizik ak fè konsè anba non sa depi lontan anvan Joseph yo depoze mak yo an 2021. Nan lwa mak komèsyal, yon moun ki sèvi ak yon non an premye ka genyen kont yon moun ki vin anrejistre li pita. Gwoup la di tou pa gen okenn prèv konfizyon nan mitan piblik la ant gwoup Zafem ak konpayi Joseph yo, paske “Zafem” gen yon idantite klè nan mizik konpa a.

Zafem deklare tou Joseph yo te aji ak move fwa lè yo te anrejistre mak la malgre yo te konnen gwoup la te deja egziste epi gen popilarite. Si gwoup la pwouve sa, sa ka annile mak komèsyal Joseph yo.

Menm si li dakò pou l anile jijman an, jij la pinisyonnen neglijans Ceide a. Li di Joseph yo pa dwe peye pou erè gwoup Zafem fè. Se poutèt sa, li bay lòd pou Zafem remèt Joseph yo tout frè avoka yo depanse pou yo te jwenn jijman defo a epi pou yo te lite kont demann Zafem la.

Jij la mande tou pou Zafem depoze yon garanti finansye san relach, yon bond 100 mil dola, nan sèt jou. Sa fèt pou asire ke si Joseph yo ta genyen pita, yo ka ranmase lajan an. Gwoup la kapab mande pou yo bese kantite lajan garanti a si yo bay prèv finans yo. Joseph yo kapab mande pou monte kantite lajan an si yo pwouve gen risk pou yo pa jwenn lajan an nan fen pwosesis la.

Tribinal la mete tou demann Joseph yo te fè pou kondane gwoup la pou mepri tribinal souantant. Yo akize Zafem ke yo kontinye sèvi ak non an malgre plent la. Jij la di li pap jere kesyon sa a jiska gwoup la satisfè kondisyon yo.

Pou kounye a, tout bagay depann de si Zafem peye frè avoka yo epi depoze garanti a a tan. Si yo fè sa, jijman yon milyon dola a anile e pwosè a ap kòmanse fèt sou baz merite. Si yo pa fè sa, jijman an ap rete an plas.

Konflik legal ki dire lontan sa a, ki gen youn nan gwoup mizikal ki pi popilè nan kominote ayisyen an nan sant li, lwen fini. Men omwen, pou premye fwa, Zafem ap gen opòtinite pou defann tèt li devan tribinal la.