They sell fake products. Gucci is convinced of this, and has therefore sued a number of American retailers. In order: Sam’s Club, Century 21 and Lord & Taylor. “After a thorough investigation”, Gucci America Inc., the US division of the Kering-controlled fashion brand, filed three different lawsuits in the Manhattan court. The three retailers, Gucci claims, allegedly sold some of its counterfeit items. The fashion house bought bags on their portals. It examined them and discovered that they were not authentic. From there, warnings and complaints were triggered.
The evidence against the three American retailers
Gucci alleges that Lord & Taylor and the other defendants “manufactured, advertised, offered for sale, sold, distributed, imported and/or exported handbags bearing trademarks identical or closely resembling Gucci’s trademarks”. The brand claimed to have purchased some models from Lord & Taylor’s website. Once they arrived at their destination, it examined them and saw that they were not authentic. What did the brand do to protect its trademark? Gucci reveals it in the papers seen by WWD. “In June 2023, we informed the defendants of the counterfeit products offered for sale on Lord & Taylor’s website. Lord & Taylor’s lawyer responded by admitting that he was aware of the sale of counterfeit products, but then did not respond further to the communications”.
What Gucci is asking for
The fashion house is asking the court for an injunction and to force Lord & Taylor (in this case) to hand over the counterfeit products for “possible destruction, without compensation”. The lawsuits against Sam’s Club and Century 21 are very similar. “We expect our suppliers to provide authentic, quality products”, a Sam’s Club spokesperson tells WWD. “When Gucci informed us, we removed these products and put the brand in touch with the suppliers”. The culprit, as per established tradition, is always someone else.
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