Target Accused of Selling Counterfeit Goods Again
Thursday, December 24th, 2009Selling fakes that look just like the real thing, under somebody else’s trademarked brand name, is called counterfeiting. A short time ago Target was accused of selling counterfeit Coach bags.
Now America’s number two retailer, which aligns itself with famous designers like Todd Oldham, Michael Graves, and Marcel Wanders, is blatantly selling fake “Le Corbusier” chairs and sofas.
Only Cassina S.p.A, the world famous Milan furniture manufacturer, makes authentic Le Corbusier® furniture. Cassina’s production of Le Corbusier designs is protected by an exclusive, worldwide rights license drawn up in 1964, granted by the Fondation Le Corbusier and the co-authors. According to the Fondation Le Corbusier “all pieces of furniture which do not bear the logotype Cassina, the signature of Le Corbusier and the production number are counterfeits”.
The furniture being sold by Target is not made or licensed by Cassina, and is not authorized by the designer’s estate.
Target seems to think only their own trademarks count
Let’s be clear about the name: “Le Corbusier” is not a person’s real name (not that it would matter), it is pseudonym invented by Swiss architect Charles Jeanneret. Today it is a registered trademark owned by Fondation Le Corbusier and licensed exclusively to Cassina for the production of “furniture, including armchairs, chairs, sofas, desks, ottomans, cabinets, footstools, tables, [ metallic or ] non-metallic filing cabinets, bookcases”.
In other words it is illegal for anyone to sell furniture under the name “Le Corbusier” in the United States unless that furniture is made or sub-licensed by Cassina. Knowingly copying another’s trademark is considered counterfeitingand is a felony punishable by fines and imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 2320.
Hey Target, this is part of the public record. Aren’t you supposed to have people who look for things like this?
