Coach took legal action against Gap on Wednesday, alleging that the retailer's Old Navy unit unlawfully sold T-shirts with the word "Coach."
Coach Files Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Against Gap
In a trademark infringement lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court, the luxury handbag maker and its parent company, Tapestry, said they never authorized Gap to sell the T-shirts and that the sale would lead to potential customer confusion.
According to Reuters, the plaintiffs highlighted the irreparable harm caused by Gap's unauthorized T-shirt sales. Coach emphasized that its trademarks represented "a unique blend of fashion, craftsmanship, [and] style," as seen in its "luxury lifestyle items," which are distinct from the T-shirts in question.
The lawsuit underscored Coach's commitment to protecting its brand identity, established in 1941.
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Coach Seeks Damages From Gap
According to Reuters, Coach, headquartered in New York, seeks unspecified damages from Gap in response to the alleged trademark infringement, counterfeiting, and violations of California's unfair competition law.
Coach also asked for the destruction of the unsold inventory of infringing clothing. This legal confrontation is among the lawsuits filed by many luxury retailers to combat the sale of alleged knockoffs.
However, unlike publicly traded firms such as Gap, the defendants are usually small businesses, importers, and website operators.
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