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Footwear designer Deckers Outdoor Corporation has filed a design patent infringement complaint against an online retailer for unauthorised use of the UGG brand.
California-based DB Shoe Company was accused of copying Deckers’ “outsole design” in an effort to exploit Deckers’ reputation in the market.
The lawsuit was filed at the US District Court for the Central District of California on Monday, April 17.
The case involves US design patent number D500,400, which covers the outside sole of the shoe.
Deckers claimed that DB Shoes sold products in the US featuring “substantially similar” soles, “in total disregard of Deckers’ right to control its IP”.
Founded in 1978, UGG is a well-recognised comfort shoe brand.
“As a direct and proximate result of defendant’s infringing conduct, Deckers has been injured and will continue to suffer injury to its business and reputation unless defendant is restrained by this court from infringing Deckers,” said the claim.
In December, TBO reported that the footwear company had hit out at online retailers for selling counterfeit UGG boots.
In that claim, Deckers said a statistics report on IP seizures showed that the retail value of fake Deckers goods seized by the US government in fiscal year 2014 was more than $1.23 billion.
Deckers owns registrations for UGG trademarks in more than 100 countries.
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