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Global jewellery brand Tiffany & Co has won a landmark trademark dispute against Costco in the US.
The case concerned Costco’s claim that ‘Tiffany’ is a generic term for a pronged ring. The court found that Costco was liable for trademark infringement and trademark counterfeiting in its use of ‘Tiffany’ on signs in in its jewellery cases to describe certain engagement rings.
The US District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Tiffany ‘s motion for summary judgment in its entirety in Tiffany’s suit against Costco Wholesale Corporation.
Tiffany senior vice president, secreatry and general counsel, Leigh Harlan, said: “We are gratified that the Court found that Costco’s use of the Tiffany trademark infringed on our rights.” She added that the court’s decision meant Tiffany had “proffered uncontroverted evidence demonstrating the strength of its mark.
“We believe this decision further validates the strength and value of the Tiffany mark and reinforces our continuing efforts to protect the brand.”
The Tiffany setting has been sourced and manufactured to strict specifications, backed by a lifetime guarantee. The firm maintains an aggressive and rigorous intellectual property program, and regularly takes actions against counterfeiters and infringers.
