Legal news for New York business litigation attorneys. Coach Inc. filed a lawsuit against Target Corporation for allegedly copying two purse designs.
New York business litigation lawyers alert- Coach Inc. slams Target with a lawsuit, which accused them of copying handbag designs.
New York, NY—The American leather goods company, Coach Inc., filed a lawsuit against Target Corporation for allegedly copying two purse designs from the luxury handbag maker. The business litigation lawsuit was filed on Thursday, October 1, 2009 in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, New York, as reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
According to the lawsuit, Coach claims Target ripped off two signature designs, the Erago, which is marketed as ergonomically correct; and the patchwork design, which features patches of various fabric patterns. Coach released both of the designs in 2008, and the Target bags hit the shelves in or around the summer of 2009. Coach states the two handbag designs are “bearing exact and/or confusingly similar reproductions.” The luxury handbag designer is accusing Target of trademark infringement, and unfair competition. Coach claims the Target reproductions are likely to confuse and deceive consumers, which will hurt the high-quality leather good’s reputation. The lawsuit is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages, attorney’s fees, and all the profits generated from the sale of the knock-off handbags. In addition, the lawsuit is asking that Target be banned from using the Erago and Patchwork handbag designs.
This isn’t the first time Target has been sued for similar allegations. In 2006, Coach accused Target of manufacturing a lower-priced knock-off of a Coach handbag design. The similar trademark infringement lawsuit was eventually settled.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for New York business litigation lawyers.
