A stuff animal Manhattan-based designer filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Ralph Lauren Corp over illegal market of copied stuff teddy bears similar from her designs. The designer said she never permitted the company to copy her concept designs.
Samantha Goldberg's lawsuit claims, Ralph Lauren had been selling the copied teddy bear designs from imported Scottish cashmere by her company, Alvin & Sparky LLC since 2001, Yahoo News reported. Goldberg also says, she sells her "Big Teddy" for $195, while "Little Teddy" is priced with $170.
However, the stuffed teddy bear designer also claims, she found out regarding it sometime in September 2013, according to Reuters. The American corporation started to sell "substantially identical non-cashmere knockoffs at a fraction" pricing it with $24.50 to $49.50, she said. Goldberg added, the knockoff products were available on its stores, sold online, and even on retailers such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue.
She also claims on her lawsuit, that the corporation has also marketed cashmere top and pant set for baby boys with her bear design, which is sold $295, St. Louis Post Dispatch reported. Her designed stuffed animal were even sold on Harrods of London, on which she stated, she never gave Ralph Lauren a permission to copy her created designs. Her lawsuit which is filed in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York is seeking compensation as well as to "halt the alleged copyright infringement."
Ralph Lauren did not make a comment regarding the accusations. The said corporation is an American, publicly traded holding company, based in New York City. It also specializes in designs, markets and sells luxury apparels for men, women and children as well as accessories, fragrances and home furnishings around the world. It began to operate in 1967 founded by the Polo Ralph Lauren Company and owner, American designer, Ralph Lauren.
