Nautica Tackles Counterfeiters

NEW YORK - Timberland and Nautica filed a joint complaint in the Southern District of New York on Feb. 2, accusing Trendy USA Inc., a company operating in the heart of the city's Garment District, and its owner, Christine Yuen, of being "known counterfeiters.' Several members of Trendy's staff were also named as defendants, as well as a warehouse operation in Piscataway, N.J., where the counterfeit goods were allegedly stored. The complaint alleged violations on seven counts, including trademark and counterfeiting infringement and false designation of origin.-Women's Wear Daily

I think that it's a good thing that Timberland and Nautica are sueing Trendy USA Inc. Counterfeiter's have been steeling designers designs for years and it's about time that somebody started doing something about. Designers put so much time, money and effort into their work and it's not fair that these people think they can get away with stealing people's designs and selling them as their own. It's like cheating. It's not fair to the designers and people should have put a stop to it a long time ago.

-Gwen Rutkowski

Diane Von Furstenberg Sues Forever 21 Over Copyright

Diane Von Furstenberg takes her intellectual property very seriously. Her company has sued Forever 21 last week in Manhattan for copyright infringement. Her company alleges that Forever 21 produced dresses identical to her "Cerisier" and "Aubrey" dress designs and her "small dentelle" "mimosa" and "flower lace border" prints without authorization from DVF and have marketed, advertised, and distributed these dresses. It also said that the scale and color for each design was consciously infringed. Her dresses and prints that were copied were first shown by DVF in her spring 2006 fashion show in September 2005.

DVF asked the court to require Forever 21 to recall and remove from commercial distribution or display any items that infringe on its copyrights as well as any promotional materials related to those goods. The complaint also asked for unspecified financial damages. Von Furstenberg herself spoke recently with WWD about the implementation of a new program at DVF aimed at protecting the brand's intellectual property. The firm established a three-year strategy to address counterfeiting and intellectual property issues.

This is not the first time that Forever 21 has been sued for copyright infringement.

I think that Diane Von Furstenberg is one of the many designers stepping their game up to tackle counterfeiters. It's not fair to her and her company because she works so hard to design and copyright her prints and styles, and for a company to just make an almost identical imitation and mass produce it so easily is disrespectful to her. I'm glad that she takes her role as president of the CFDA very seriously and wants to crack down on counterfeiters of not only her brand, but every other major player in the fashion industry.



by Victoria Gutierrez
article from WWD
http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/114361