Shein says Lacoste legal battle continues after €110,000 court award
Shein says its trademark dispute with Lacoste remains ongoing despite a French court awarding interim damages and ordering provisional measures against the fast-fashion retailer.
SociapaHQ
Fast-fashion retailer Shein said its legal fight with French apparel brand Lacoste is far from over after a French court awarded damages to the crocodile-logo maker in a trademark infringement dispute.
Reuters said that recently the court ordered Shein to pay €110,000 (around $125,741) in damages and imposed provisional measures after Lacoste claimed that products carrying its iconic crocodile logo were being sold on the e-commerce platform.
Shein said the ruling, made on July 9, is limited to interim proceedings and does not represent a final judgement on the merits of the case. "The litigation is ongoing," the company said, adding that the underlying trademark infringement claims have not been finally determined.
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Trademark Battle:
Shein also reiterated its commitment to protecting intellectual property rights, saying it takes claims of trademark and copyright infringement seriously. Throughout the entire legal proceedings, the company stated that it complied with Lacoste and removed the disputed products shortly after being notified of the alleged infringement.
The case highlights growing scrutiny of ultra-fast fashion marketplaces as established global brands step up legal efforts to protect trademarks and intellectual property from allegedly infringing products being sold on online platforms.
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Lacoste, established in 1933 by French tennis legend René Lacoste, is known worldwide for its iconic crocodile logo, one of the most recognisable trademarks in the fashion world. The company is now owned by the Maus Frères group, a family-controlled Swiss group.
The interim decision is an early legal victory for Lacoste but the larger trademark battle is still being fought and will continue as French courts consider the substantive claims in this case.
