Supreme Court Declines to Hear Hallmark Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday without comment refused to hear Hallmark Cards Inc.’s appeal of an injunction that bars it from making and distributing greeting cards at issue in a lawsuit filed by a small Colorado firm.

The ruling is the latest development in the legal dispute between Hallmark, the Kansas City, Mo.-based greeting card giant, and tiny Blue Mountain Arts of Boulder.

At the center of the dispute is Blue Mountain’s contention that Hallmark copied a line of cards featuring watercolor decorations and long free-verse poetry.

Hallmark contends that the market should be open to competing versions of the cards. Blue Mountain, on the other hand, is bent on protecting what it believes is a unique creation.

“This legal battle is emotionally draining and is tiring us out, but we are strongly committed to this fight for artists’ rights,” Bob Gall, general manager of Blue Mountain Arts, said.

Blue Mountain Arts had filed a lawsuit against Hallmark accusing the company of copying the cards. The case is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 2 in Denver U.S. District Court.

Hallmark has denied the “copycat” allegations.