EU Trademark Court Upholds Ban on Mention of Lacoste by “Smell Alike” Perfume Manufacturer

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According to the International Law Office website, “the Alicante Provincial Court (acting as the EU Trademark Court) dismissed Equivalenza Retail, SL’s appeal against the Alicante Commercial Court Number 2 judgment of 13 February 2017, in which it had been sentenced for infringing various perfume trademarks owned by Hugo Boss, Gucci and Lacoste in the context of its smell-alike business.” Lacoste and several other brands had filed suit against Equivalenza for selling and marketing “smell-alike” perfumes and making unauthorised use of their registered trademarks both in comparison lists and orally in commercial speech.

The earlier judgement had ordered Equivalenza to:

  • cease and desist from marketing its perfumes using the plaintiffs’ trademarks.
  • withdraw and destroy its comparison lists and any other means of advertising containing the plaintiffs’ trademarks.
  • compensate the plaintiffs and publish the judgment.

You can read the details of the case here.

Lacoste Goes After Counterfeit Goods in India

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Lacoste scored a victory over counterfeiters in India. The World Trademark Review reports:

Lacoste S.A has prevailed in a counterfeit court case brought against two Noida-based firms for the sale of counterfeit Lacoste products. The win, in the Patiala House Court, marks the culmination of a three-year legal battle with the two infringing firms, which were ordered to cease the sale of counterfeit Lacoste goods and pay damages to the company on account of loss to goodwill and reputation suffered from the sale of fakes. The suit was filed against M/s Fashion Zone and M/s Export Hut, which were using the LACOSTE mark, along with the crocodile logo. The court accepted the suit and appointed the local commissioner to carry out search and seizure actions on the infringing firm’s premises.

One of the counterfeiters was fined one hundred thousand Rupees and both were required to forswear further counterfeiting.

Editor’s Note: As always, the counterfeit Lacoste keeps coming, so before you buy make sure you check out my articles on detecting fake Lacoste shirts and detecting fake Lacoste bags, or my detailed discussion of how to authenticate Lacoste.

 

Lacoste Agrees To Stop Using Mohair

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Plant Based News reports that in response to video footage shot by PETA Asia, Lacoste has agreed to stop using mohair.

PETA’s footage shows goats being dragged by the horns and legs, and being sheared so quickly, they are left with gaping wounds. Some are shown being killed – one animal has their head hacked off with a dull knife. 
“PETA’s exposé has pulled back the curtain on the violent mohair industry, and Lacoste has made the commendable decision to implement a total ban on the material,” PETA Director, Elisa Allen, said in a statement sent to Plant Based News. 
“In doing so, the company joins the ever-growing list of fashion brands that have realised that cruelty to animals is not in fashion.”

You can read more about Lacoste’s decision here.

Lacoste’s New Head of UK and Ireland Is Jamie Givens

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Lacoste BarcelonaAccording to Fashion United UK, Lacoste has confirmed the appointment of Jamie Givens as their new Chief Executive for the UK and Ireland:

Givens, who joins Lacoste from Levi’s, where he has spent 8 years in various senior positions in sales and marketing, has been tasked with accelerating the growth of the UK and Ireland business, whilst further strengthening Lacoste premium casual wear positioning, said the brand in a statement.

Lacoste added that Givens brings with him a “solid brand development expertise across various markets and channels,” as he has previously held both regional and global responsibilities across wholesale, retail and marketing for brands including Dockers, where he was commercial director for the UK, Benelux and Scandinavia, Tigi and Dim.

As Fashion United notes, this appointment follows that of British designer, Louise Trotter as Lacoste’s Creative Director