Plaintiff accuses former contractors of copyright infringement

A North Carolina-based company is taking legal action against two businesses for allegedly infringing on its copyrighted fire alarm system designs. On November 25, 2025, DrawFire, LLC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against Taylored Control Systems, LLC and Hernandez Consulting Inc., accusing them of copyright infringement and other related violations.

DrawFire, LLC, a veteran-owned business specializing in fire alarm system design and consultation services, along with its owner Paul J. Inferrera, claims that Taylored Control Systems (TCS) and Hernandez Consulting (HC) unlawfully altered their original designs for projects at Camp Lejeune Marine Base. The lawsuit alleges that TCS and HC modified DrawFire’s plans without consent and presented them as their own to the United States government. “Defendants have passed off DF’s work as their own,” states the complaint, emphasizing the unauthorized changes made to critical safety features like carbon monoxide detectors.

The plaintiffs argue that these actions not only violated copyright laws but also posed significant safety risks to military families residing in the affected facilities. They assert that Defendants removed DrawFire’s registered trademarks from the altered plans while retaining Inferrera’s professional credentials to mislead government officials into believing the modifications were approved by a certified technician. This deception allegedly allowed TCS and HC to secure government contracts under false pretenses.

In response to these alleged infractions, DrawFire is seeking various forms of relief from the court. They are demanding actual or statutory damages for copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 504 and compensation for any harm caused by the removal of copyright management information as per 17 U.S.C. § 1203(b). Additionally, they request treble damages under North Carolina’s unfair competition laws and attorney fees under both federal and state statutes.

Representing DrawFire in this legal battle are attorneys Thomas G. Varnum and William A. Robertson from Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard L.L.P., based in Wilmington, NC. The case has been assigned Case No. 7:25-CV-1579 with proceedings overseen by Judge Terrence W. Boyle.