匡威就山寨帆布鞋泛濫起訴沃爾瑪等
????耐克(Nike)旗下的匡威(Converse)表示,對于競爭對手明顯山寨其經典款運動鞋的行為,他們已經忍無可忍。 ????匡威本周二稱,公司已經對31家競爭對手提起商標侵權訴訟,這些競爭對手“存在批量生產、經銷或銷售山寨版的匡威Chuck Taylor經典款運動鞋的行為。”匡威已經向紐約聯邦法院提交訴訟,被告包括斯凱奇美國公司(Skechers USA)、沃爾瑪(Wal-Mart)、運動品牌FILA、埃德?哈迪(Ed Hardy)、廉價超市公司K-Mart和拉爾夫?勞倫(Ralph Lauren)等。 ????此外,匡威還對國際貿易委員會(International Trade Commission)單獨提出了投訴。 ????在宣布起訴的新聞發布會上,匡威表示,公司從1917年開始生產本案涉及的運動鞋,該系列也被稱為匡威All Stars、Chuck Taylor All Stars或Chucks。匡威指控多家競爭對手侵犯了該系列運動鞋的多種商標權,包括鞋頭上方的橡膠保護層和鞋底的菱形圖案。 ????Chuck Taylors采用帆布制成,是全球知名度最高的運動鞋之一。早在目前各種高科技鞋類和動輒數百美元的天價運動鞋誕生之前,Chuck Taylors帆布鞋便已面世。其中最著名的是高幫款,同時市面上也有低幫款。匡威并未就鞋上的星形標識提出侵權指控。 ????匡威CEO吉姆?卡爾洪在聲明中表示:“我們之所以決定起訴,是本著公正的原則,基于我們負有公認的保護匡威知識產權的權力和責任,以及我們承諾要避免給消費者造成困惑。數十年來,Chuck Taylor,或常被稱為‘Chuck’的運動鞋,獲得了數以百萬計消費者的青睞,其上個世紀在全球的銷量超過十億雙。我們歡迎公平競爭,但我們認為,沒有一家公司有權剽竊已被注冊的Chuck鞋外觀。” ????匡威補充道,事實上,“山寨Chuck”的情況在2008年便已經出現,在過去六年間,他們已經發出了超過180封與Chuck商標有關的禁止通知函。公司表示,周二提起的訴訟“是制止這種侵權行為的必要措施。” ????斯凱奇發言人稱,公司對該訴訟不發表任何意見。 ????2003年,耐克公司以3.05億美元的價格收購了匡威。(財富中文網) ????譯者:劉進龍/汪皓 |
????Converse says it is fed up with rival shoe companies selling what the Nike-owned company calls clear copycats of its iconic Chuck Taylor sneakers. ????The shoe company said Tuesday that it has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against 31 different rival shoemakers that Converse says “are mass-producing, distributing or selling sneakers that knock off the look of Converse’s iconic Chuck Taylor.” The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in New York, names Skechers USA SKX 1.09% , Wal-Mart WMT 0.54% , FILA, Ed Hardy, K-Mart and Ralph Lauren RL 0.13% as defendants, among others. ????Converse also filed a separate complaint with the International Trade Commission. ????The shoes in question – also known as Converse All Stars, Chuck Taylor All Stars or, simply, Chucks – have been manufactured by Converse since 1917, the company said in a press release announcing the lawsuit. Converse is suing over alleged infringement of multiple trademarks for the shoes, including the rubber cover on top of the shoe’s toe and the “diamond pattern” on their bottom soles. ????Chuck Taylors, which are made of canvas, are among the most recognizable shoes around. They harken back to the days before high-tech footwear and hundred dollar sneakers. The high top versions are perhaps the best known, but they come in low-tops versions as well. Converse is not claiming any infringement of the shoe’s star logo in the lawsuits. ????“Our decision to bring these lawsuits is grounded in the basic principle of fairness, our well-established right and responsibility to protect Converse’s intellectual property, and our commitment to prevent consumer confusion in the marketplace,” Converse CEO Jim Calhoun said in a statement. “For generations, the Chuck Taylor, universally known as the ‘Chuck’, has captured the hearts and minds of millions of consumers, selling over a billion pairs globally during the past century. We welcome fair competition, but we do not believe companies have a right to copy the Chuck’s trademarked look.” ????Converse added that cases of what it deems “knockoff Chucks” have really picked up since 2008, with the company claiming that it has served more than 180 cease and desist letters related to its Chucks trademarks in the past six years. The company says the lawsuits filed Tuesday “are a necessary step toward bringing a stop to this infringing activity.” ????A Skechers spokeswoman said the company does not comment on pending lawsuits. ????Nike paid $305 million to acquire Converse in 2003. |