Litigation filed by Mortar Net USA, Ltd. to protect trademarks

Words: Candice Carroll/Public/News/20120428160000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Mortar Net USA, Ltd., has filed a complaint in which Keene Building Products Co. is the defendant." />
Mortar Net USA, Ltd., has filed a complaint in which Keene Building Products Co. is the defendant.
Mortar Net USA, Ltd., has filed a complaint in the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division in which Keene Building Products Co. of Mayfield Heights, Ohio is the defendant.

The matter relates to Keene’s recent announcement to introduce and promote a mortar collection device using the “industry —recognized” dovetail (or keystone) shape that Mortar Net has established through nearly 20 years of sales and promotion, in addition to protecting it under U.S. Registered Trademark Numbers 3,571,383 and 3,571,384.

Gary R. Johnson, President of Mortar Net said, “Tom Sourlis, the founder of our company, created the category of shaped mortar collection devices for cavity wall construction and from its start Mortar Net has used the same distinctive shape in its advertising, corporate branding and products.” Johnson continued, “We have committed millions of dollars to associate the company and its products with this shape and have generated over $100 million of revenue from products associated with this shape. It is a valuable asset of the company and we intend to vigorously protect its value.”
Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma