Guess Wins Trademark Battle Against Gucci in French Court

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Guess Wins Trademark Battle Against Gucci in French Court
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For years, Gucci has been accusing Guess Inc. of trademark violations, claiming that the downtown L.A. retailer and fashion brand sold products, including wallets and shoes, which imitated Gucci designs.

In the latest chapter of the international battle between the Italian luxury retailer, which is owned by French luxury goods group Kering SA, and the California brand, the Court of Paris ruled in Guess Inc.’s favor, finding no trademark infringement or unfair competition, Guess said Monday in a statement.

The court rejected Gucci’s request for 55 million euros ($62 million) in damages and instead ordered it to pay Guess 30,000 euros ($34,000), Guess said. The court also invalidated Gucci’s trademark for three of its “G” logos.

“I continue to believe strongly that all these legal battles are a complete waste of time and this energy and money should be focused on business,” Guess Chief Executive Paul Marciano said in a statement.

Gucci said in a statement that the company strongly disagrees with the decision.

“Gucci will certainly and immediately bring an appeal against the decision,” the statement said.

The Florence company has taken Guess to court over similar claims in the United States and in Italy with mixed success.

In 2012, a New York court ruled that Gucci could recover $4.66 million in another trademark infringement case, but that was barely a dent in the $120 million sought by brand. Last year, a Milan appeals court accepted part of Gucci’s claims in yet another case, partially overturning a lower court’s ruling. The appeals court said that Guess Inc.’s “constant imitative attitude towards Gucci’s motifs” is clear and that “Guess’ initiative … in many cases is aimed at a systematic and massive exploitation of [Gucci’s] initiative and creativity.”

Shares of Guess Inc. fell 55 cents, or 3 percent, in Monday trading to close at $18.23.

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