Gucci Sues A number of Retailers, Alleging They Bought Counterfeit Merchandise

Gucci has gone to federal courtroom to guard its branded turf. 

The Italian luxurious model’s Gucci America Inc. division filed three lawsuits in Manhattan Tuesday afternoon, looking for to guard itself from what it alleges had been counterfeit items offered at Sam’s Membership and Lord & Taylor.  

Mark that as the subsequent battlefront for the Gucci model, which has repeatedly been the goal of counterfeiters and is energetic in defending itself. 

“After an in depth investigation, Gucci confirms it has taken authorized motion towards Lord & Taylor, Sam’s Membership and Century 21 for his or her function in advertising and promoting counterfeit Gucci merchandise,” the model stated in a press release. “Gucci stays dedicated to defending its prospects from retailers making the most of the sale of counterfeit items.”

Within the Lord & Taylor swimsuit, the model stated: “Annually, Gucci spends hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on promoting to advertise the products and providers provided below the Gucci marks in the US. Because of Gucci’s efforts and the attraction of the Gucci model, Gucci sells excessive portions of shopper items yearly in the US.”

Gucci is looking for injunctive and financial aid within the swimsuit, which alleges Lord & Taylor and different unidentified people infringed on the corporate’s trademark and engaged in unfair competitors. A consultant for Lord & Taylor didn’t instantly reply to a WWD question late Tuesday.

Lord & Taylor was among the many retail manufacturers to succumb to chapter throughout the pandemic. It was purchased by Saadia Group in 2020 and relaunched an internet site. 

Within the swimsuit, Gucci alleged that Lord & Taylor and the opposite defendants “manufactured, marketed, provided on the market, offered, distributed, imported, and/or exported purses bearing marks which might be similar to or extremely much like the Gucci marks.”

This 12 months, Gucci stated it bought a number of purses from the Lord & Taylor web site, together with a pink bag labeled because the “GG Marmont Matelassé Digicam Bag” listed at $1,555, and a black bag known as the “GG Marmont Shoulder Bag” for $2,400.

“After buy, Gucci examined the Counterfeit Merchandise, and confirmed that they’re non-genuine,” the swimsuit stated. 

“In June 2023, Gucci notified defendants concerning the counterfeit merchandise which might be provided on the market on Lord & Taylor’s web site,” the swimsuit stated. “Counsel for Lord & Taylor responded by admitting that it was conscious that it was promoting counterfeit merchandise, however then failed to reply additional to Gucci’s communications.”

Along with an injunction, Gucci additionally requested the courtroom to compel Lord & Taylor to show over counterfeit items for “impoundment and eventual destruction, with out compensation.” 

The fits towards Sam’s Membership and Century 21 made related claims. 

Gucci stated within the Sam’s Membership swimsuit that it bought “two purses from Sam’s Membership’s web site bearing the Gucci marks: one black purse, which was known as the ‘Gucci GG Marmont Matelassé Mini Bag in Black’ and had a listed worth of $1,100 on Sam’s Membership web site, and one pink purse, which was known as the ‘Gucci GG Marmont Matelassé Mini Bag in Dusty Pink’ and had a listed worth of $1,100 on Sam’s Membership’s web site.”

Neither Sam’s Membership or Century 21 instantly replied to WWD requests for remark.