Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers fashion line is suing popular retail outlet Forever 21 for trademark infringement.
- Jul 18, 2007
AceShowbiz - Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers is not in love with Forever 21, literally. The singer, on behalf of her clothing line L.A.M.B., is suing popular retail outlet Forever 21 for trademark infringement, claiming the clothing chain allegedly stole designs from the Harajuku Lovers line, one of the clothing lines under her L.A.M.B.
In the papers filed in Los Angeles Federal Court on June 14th, representatives for Gwen's Harajuku Lovers claimed Forever 21 is marketing, promoting and selling products featuring a design "virtually indistinguishable" from Harajuku's signature heart/box logo.
The lawsuit claimed Forever 21 "changed a couple of words in the Heart/Box Trademark, which are inconspicuous and likely to go unnoticed by a consumer." It said in the papers that Forever 21 used the design but changed the word "Harajuku" to "Forever" and the word "Lovers" to "Love."
And since the trademark infringement has caused Harajuku "suffered and continues to suffer damage to its business reputation," not only it is seeking monetary damages but also entitled to Forever 21's profits and gains and punitive damages as well, alleging as they do that the company's wrongful acts were of a "willful nature."
