Copycat clothing retailer sues copiers of its own designs

A hip discount clothing retailer that has been sued several times for copying designs from other designers and outlets is suing another clothing copycat company for the same offences. 

As issue: ikat-print harem pants. 

Los Angeles-based Forever 21 filed its copyright infringement lawsuit against C. Luce Inc. and Cornerstone Apparel Inc., outlets and manufacturers of trendy women’s clothing, for copying its original designs of the pants, according to the complaint filed Jan. 23 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Fashion bloggers and industry insiders consider this ironic, as Forever 21 has been accused of copying other designs from other retails upward of 50 times, according to the blog TheFashionLaw.com. In 2015, for example, the “fast-fashion” Sweden-based H&M Group sued Forever 21 for copying its designs. 

As the most recent lawsuit reads, “in light of the success of Forever 21 and (its) clothing, as well as the reputation (it) has gained, Forever 21 and its products have become targets for unscrupulous individuals and entities who wish to unlawfully imitate forever 21’s copyrighted styles and designs.”

Forever 21 claims that the defendants “intentionally and knowingly” reproduced products that included “colorable imitations of Forever 21’s design.” The suit alleges that the defendants knew of Forever 21’s exclusive ownership in the design and “failed to obtain consent or authorization (from Forever 21) to utilize, manufacture, reproduce, copy, display, derive, commercially distribute or market in commerce” the design.

According to the complaint, Forever 21 wants the court to order defendants to destruct all of the infringing items and to pay the company all the profits the defendant made from the sale of the these items, along with attorneys’ fees.