Fendi Wins Injunction Against Filene's Basement in Counterfeit Handbags Case
Fendi wins court injunction against Filene's Basement. Photo: Getty Images
Earlier this week, Burberry took T.J. Maxx and Marshalls to court over alleged counterfeits. Now Fendi is going home with a courtroom injunction against Filene's Basement, reports WWD.
The two sides have been fighting tooth-and-nail in a drawn-out courtroom battle. The legal drama began in 2006 when Fendi filed suit in Manhattan federal court, accusing the discount retailer of selling fake Fendi bags even after Filene's Basement allegedly received cease-and-desist letters.
In March 2009, Filene's Basement appeared to be dragging its feet to turn over important legal documents. Later Fendi won a motion to impose fines on the retail chain for "denying the existence of certain documents."
But taking baby steps has paid off for the Karl Lagerfeld-designed label. Fendi won the important permanent injunction. Though no damages were assessed, Judge Richard Berman barred Filene's Basement from selling items bearing Fendi's logo, according to WWD.
Plus, Judge Sands was convinced that Filene's Basement was selling fake goods. He wrote that Fendi had proven that the defendant was selling items with counterfeit mark.
Filene's Basement may have lost this round, but the company that boasts its "where bargains were born" motto isn't throwing in the designer discount towel quite yet.
When we checked FilenesBasement.com today, the retailer was in the middle of a "Spring Designer Event" featuring brands such as Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Chloé, Gucci and Prada; there was no Fendi in sight.
You could say Fendi is having a trademark year. Burlington Coat Factory was ordered last month to pay a whopping $4.7 million to the Italian luxury label.
Filed under: Fashion, News, Designers & Brands, Shopping
Tags: Bags, Counterfeit Bags, counterfeits, courtroom injunction, fakes, Fashion Lawsuits, Fendi, Filenes Basement, Lawsuits
Tags: Bags, Counterfeit Bags, counterfeits, courtroom injunction, fakes, Fashion Lawsuits, Fendi, Filenes Basement, Lawsuits




Dennis Robart, 3-12-2010, 9:13PM
Strictly SNOB appeal... No HIGHBROW Brand name label on the handbag???? So what?? There are lots of other styles that don't have a glitzy name attached, GO BUY ONE of those instead-THAT will show the Italian SNOB designer who has the bigger degree of fashion clout here!
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