After Converse sued 31 companies it accused of ripping off its classic Chuck Taylor sneaker designs, at least one competitor named in the suit has agreed to destroy all similar designs as part of a reported legal settlement.
According to a report in Women’s Wear Daily [via Fast Company] Ralph Lauren Corp. and Converse Inc. have worked up a settlement agreement and filed a joint motion to end the case pending before the U.S. International Trade Commission.
As part of that agreement, Ralph Lauren will trash all copycat products named in the complaint after an investigation by ITC, which includes a list of 36 different styles from washed canvas to Western leather.
It’ll have 30 days to destroy these products as well as all the parts, tools and molds used to make them, and all marketing and promotional materials and the packaging the shoes were sold in.
Ralph Lauren will also shell out an undisclosed amount of money to Converse, but as Converse said when filing the lawsuit, it’s not really about the money.
“The goal really is to stop this action,” Jim Calhoun, the Converse chief executive told the New York Times in October. “I think we’re quite fortunate here to be in the possession of what we would consider to be an American icon.”
Converse, Ralph Lauren Enter Trademark Settlement Agreement [WWD]
Ralph Lauren Forced To Destroy Its Converse Ripoffs [Fast Company]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
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