Core Products, represented by IP specialist Taylors Solicitors, has settled a claim for infringement of its design rights against VidaXL Marketplace and HBI Commerce.
Scotland-based Core Products made its claim against the retailers, alleging that its Augusta Range had been copied by VidaXL and HBI Commerce.
Tony Catterall of Taylors, a lawyer affiliated with Anti Copying In Design (ACID), issued proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court on behalf of Core Products, which claimed for an injunction to restrain the defendants from infringing its design rights and unregistered Community design rights in its Augusta Range, delivery up of infringing stock, recall of infringing stock from commerce channels and payment of compensation and costs.
The parties reached a confidential settlement in the dispute.
Rebecca Horne, an IP lawyer at Taylors, says: “We are delighted to have assisted Core Products in achieving settlement of this dispute. It is crucial for designers to be able to issue proceedings at economic cost in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court to protect their work from copying, especially against large multinational corporations. Without the ability to do so, companies like Core Products Ltd could end up being pushed out of the design market. We are pleased to have been able to agree a settlement for Core Products within weeks of issuing proceedings.”
Mary Wallace of Core Products says: “Core Products are justifiably proud of our heritage of designing and developing furniture which has specific features especially tailored to UK flat-packed furniture-buying consumers. It is only by having this dedication and experience in the furniture trade that enables us to develop the pieces we sell and therefore feel the integrity of our products should be protected – the settlement of this case reflects this.”
Dids Macdonald, OBE, ACID’s CEO, adds: “Infringement within the furniture sector is rife and Core Product’s proactive IP strategy has been helped by Taylor’s expertise to achieve their objectives to protect their IP at all costs. This sends a clear anti-copying message.”
