New Zealand designers stitch up settlement formula
04 Jul '07
2 min read
Two New Zealand-based fashion designers, locked in a year-long legal dispute over use of their registered trademarks, reached a settlement last weekend whereby both the aggrieved parties would concentrate on their own projects.
Auckland-based designer Trelise Cooper, who has an annual turnover of $15 million, had filed a claim in the Auckland high court alleging that fashion designer Tamsin Cooper had breached the Fair Trading Act by registering under the trademark 'Tamsin Cooper'. This, said Trelise, was an infringement on her own trademark.
According to the settlement reached, Tamsin will continue to work under her current trademark without restriction and all legal proceedings will be withdrawn by Trelise.
In a joint statement released today, the designers said, "With the amount of media attention the case has attracted, we feel customers now have a better understanding of our respective brands."
Tamsin, who works from her home in Arrowtown and has a turnover of $250,000 through sale of fashion accessories, said Trelise approached her with a proposition last month according to which both parties decided to continue their work under their individual trademarks.
She added that though details of the settlement were reached on Friday night, they were embargoed until today.
Both Trelise and Tamsin realized that to continue with the case was neither productive nor beneficial for their individual brands and future success.
A delighted Tamsin told mediapersons today that she was 'relieved the dispute was over', adding she would have defended her trademark till the end.
"The settlement means I can concentrate on my business," Tamsin said. She plans to develop an online store and looks to expand it to the European markets.
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