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Jaguar Land Rover vs Jiangling: A Case for Protecting Automotive Design
Jaguar Land Rover has won a pivotal case against Jiangling Motors Corp., over the Landwind X7 SUV, which was found to have copied key elements of the Range Rover Evoque’s signature design. The court’s decision is more than a win for Land Rover, it highlights that originality in design is not something brands can afford
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Fur Real? Burberry sues value chain B&M for trademark infringement
Burberry has officially launched legal action against B&M, alleging trademark infringement and claiming that B&M has misrepresented its products as associated with the renowned luxury brand. The lawsuit was filed in London’s High Court on December 2, 2024. The conflict centers on B&M’s sale of a range of pet accessories labeled “Furberry.” Burberry contends that
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Christian Dior Sues Café Dior for $2 Million Over Trademark Infringement
On April 9, 2024, Christian Dior Couture filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Café Dior, a café operating in Springfield, Massachusetts. The luxury fashion brand alleged that the café had wilfully infringed upon its trademarks by using a name strikingly similar to its own and ignoring numerous
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The Ritz-Carlton Fined $535,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations in California
Environmental regulations have long been non-negotiable, and luxury hotel brands are no exception. In 2022, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, renowned for its high-end accommodations, faced a $535,000 civil penalty for mishandling hazardous waste across its eight California properties, including its Rancho Mirage location in Riverside County. Court Judgment Highlights Mismanagement A judgment issued by the
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Ferrari vs. Philipp Plein: The Price of Trademark Missteps
Ferrari has made its position unmistakable, its trademarks are not open to reinterpretation. A dispute involving Philipp Plein’s unauthorised use of Ferrari’s trademarks has led to significant penalties, drawing attention from the fashion and automotive industries. Rulings by Italian courts highlight the serious consequences of misusing trademarks, particularly those tied to luxury brands. The Instagram
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Levi’s Strikes Again: Philipp Plein’s Tab Trademark Troubles
Levi Strauss & Co. has once again taken legal action to defend its iconic tab trademark. The denim brand has filed a lawsuit against Philipp Plein International and Philipp Plein Americas, alleging that Plein’s use of black tabs with the word “Plein” on their apparel infringes on Levi’s trademark rights. The lawsuit, filed in December
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Walmart’s Wirkin: Is It Crossing the Line of Fashion Imitation?
Walmart’s “Wirkin” bag has caused a stir because it looks so much like the famous Hermès Birkin. The Birkin is seen as the peak of luxury, with prices starting above $12,000, and is known for being hard to get unless you build a relationship with Hermès. Many buyers spend a lot on other Hermès items
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Piaget’s Timely Action: Securing the Brand One Domain at a Time
Piaget, the Swiss luxury brand renowned for its high-end watches and jewellery, faced a domain name dispute involving the protection of its trademark. The conflict centered on two domain names, piagetwatch(dot)com and piagetwatches(dot)com, which were deemed confusingly similar to the Piaget trademark. The Complaint Richemont, the Swiss luxury group behind Piaget, alleged that the domain
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Montblanc’s Fight to Protect Its Name: The Case of the Counterfeit Pens
Counterfeit products have plagued luxury brands for decades, threatening their reputation and customer trust. In one such case, Montblanc, the renowned German manufacturer of luxury writing instruments, successfully defended its trademark rights against a group of counterfeiters operating under the guise of a legitimate e-commerce platform. The Case at Hand Montblanc, a German brand known
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ISSEY MIYAKE’s BAO BAO Bag Protected by Tokyo Court in Design Dispute
The Tokyo District Court has ruled in favour of ISSEY MIYAKE in a dispute concerning the well-known BAO BAO bag, awarding damages of JPY 71 million against Largu Co., Ltd. The case confirms a clear legal position in Japan: creative design, once commercially distinctive, is protectable under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. BAO BAO: Not
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Levi’s Blank Tab: The Subtle Art of Trademark Protection
Levi’s Blank Tab, one of the most frequently copied trademarks in the world! Levi Strauss & Co. has built its reputation on durable denim and innovative branding. Central to this legacy is the trademarked Tab, a small but very important element of the Levi’s brand. Today, we are discussing the blank Tab or plain tab
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Gucci vs Guess Dispute: From Lawsuit to Resolution
The gucci vs guess trademark dispute offers a clear view of the challenges involved in protecting brand identity in fashion. What began with Gucci’s decision to take legal action over the alleged imitation of its distinctive design features developed into a prolonged conflict across multiple jurisdictions. While Gucci secured favourable rulings in some courts, the
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Rolling Into Trouble: Vans vs. MSCHF and the ‘Wavy Baby’ Sneakers
The Vans vs MSCHF dispute over the Wavy Baby sneakers was anything but straightforward. Vans alleged that MSCHF had copied the Old Skool design, pursuing claims of trade dress infringement. MSCHF pushed back, framing the sneakers as a parody and invoking First Amendment protections. The dispute goes beyond a sneaker’s design, involving the safeguarding of
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Valentino vs Valentino: The Fight Over a Name
Valentino vs Valentino. One Name, Two Legacies, Endless Confusion. If you have ever spotted a Valentino handbag and hesitated, wondering which Valentino it belongs to, you are not alone. For decades, two Italian fashion houses have competed under the same name, creating a confusion that extends from courtrooms to shop floors. This is not just