| Dunnes sued by rival over claims
of design copying
 Lawyers for Ireland’s Dunnes Stores
have held talks with legal representatives from one of Britain’s
leading fashion retailers over a multi-million pound High Court battle.
Mosaic Fashions which controls 1,700 stores in 27 countries is suing Dunnes
claiming the Irish retail giant is producing copies of its designer garments.
But both parties are keen to resolve the case without it proceeding to
a full hearing.
Mosaic Fashions has taken three separate court actions against Dunnes
through its subsidiary retailers – Coast, Karen Millen and Oasis.
The retail chains are claiming Dunnes has infringed intellectual property
rights by allegedly producing garments which are identical to their own
designed goods.
The British retailer is claiming it had secured a conditional undertaking
from Dunnes to withdraw the garments pending further investigation and
without prejudice to admission of liability. The retailer claims it has
suffered loss and damage as a result of the dispute.
Mosaic owns brands such as Oasis, Warehouse, Principles, Nine West and
Bertie.
The group has about 1,700 stores in 27 countries and an annual turnover
of more than ?1.2billion.
An increasing number of retailers are suing each other over alleged copying
of designs.
In recent years Penneys has been sued under its British name Primark by
Monsoon and H&M while Louis Vuitton has sued the Aldo Group.
The legal actions are seen as a growing trend by designers to protect
their intellectual property rights. |
