Burberry Sues J.C. Penney For Selling Knockoff Jackets, Scarves

Burberry Group Plc (BRBY.L), the British luxury fashion brand, sued J. C. Penney Co (JCP.N) on Tuesday, accusing the U.S. retailer of trademark infringement for selling outerwear that featured exact copies of its famous “Burberry check” pattern. In a complaint filed in U.S. district court in Manhattan, Burberry accused J.C. Penney of illegally selling “quilted jackets” with the pattern, as well as “scarf coats” in which scarves carrying the pattern were sold with matching coats. Burberry said it has used its check trademark since the 1920s, in its original red, camel, black and white color combination as well as other combinations. It said J.C. Penney kept selling its infringing products for two months after the Plano, Texas-based retailer learned of Burberry’s objections. The Levy Group, a Manhattan distributor accused of supplying the infringing merchandise, was also named as a defendant. Read more at Reuters.