Thursday, September 24, 2009

Very interesting -- but where are the designs now?

Drapers Online is one of many sources which reports that British fashion chain Next has alleged that giant retail outlet and online trader Tesco illegally copied up to five separate clothing lines, including shorts, trousers, sandals and shoes, as well as two of Next's design motifs. Undaunted, Tesco is reported to be counterclaiming that, on four occasions in late 2008 and early this year, Next made ungrounded threats to bring infringement proceedings against it.

Next says that Tesco’s Cherokee shoes are based on its own Trekker sandals and that its Strike Babes trainers, crocodile shorts, a hooded cardigan, combat jeans plus two "tractor and a car" clothing motifs have also been unlawfully appropriated. Tesco, itself a significant intellectual property owner, has declined to make specific omment on the infringement allegations.

Class 99 notes that, while this news item has been reported widely in the UK press, none of the reports carries any illustration of Next's products or Tesco's alleged infringing goods. A brief internet image search of both Next's and Tesco's sites proved equally unsuccessful. Can any readers help?

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