Alexandria, VA -- Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P. has obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on behalf of their client, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally, Washington, D.C., Inc., as a preemptive strike against alleged copyright infringers from selling unlicensed and infringing goods during the upcomingMemorial Day Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally in Washington, D.C. Known as the “Run,” the event honors prisoners of war and military service members still missing in action.

“This year’s Run is expected to draw tens of thousands of motorcyclists, spectators and supporters, and that provides fertile ground for unauthorized vendors to sell T-shirts, hats, and other items featuring Rolling Thunder’s copyrighted images,” says Jeffrey Kaufman, a partner with Oblon Spivak and lead counsel for Rolling Thunder. “Each year, artwork is specially designed and copyrighted for the event and money raised through the sale of items featuring the copyrighted work directly benefits veterans andtheir families. When knock-offs enter this revenue stream it only lines thepockets of counterfeiters, and we are trying to stop that.”

The preemptive lawsuit will allow local law enforcement to identify and seize infringing merchandise by those who are selling unauthorized products. Without this court order in place, Rolling Thunder-DC would have no other way to prohibit the sale of infringing merchandise.

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Rolling Thunder has become theworld’s largest single-day motorcycle event to promote awareness of American Prisoners of War and servicemen Missing in Action (POW/MIA) and to encourage the public’s support of veterans from all wars. The event begins on Sunday, May 27 at noon at the Pentagon and continues across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, past the Lincoln Memorial, east on Constitution Avenue toward Capitol Hill, crosses the National Mall on 3rd Street before heading back toward the Lincoln Memorial on Independence Avenue.

Assisting clients for more than 40 years, Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P. (www.oblon.com) is one of the largest intellectual property specialty firms in the United States. The firm provides a full range of intellectual property services, including litigation matters in all courts.