NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co. has won its trademark lawsuit against Costco. On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in Tiffany’s favor, ordering Costco to cease its use of Tiffany’s name and logo in its marketing and merchandising of jewelry.
Tiffany first filed its suit against the Costco Corp. in February 2013. The fine jewelry retailer alleged that Costco committed trademark counterfeit by using “Tiffany” in store signage to describe specific engagement rings — which were not produced by the jewelry firm. Costco countered Tiffany’s argument by claiming that the word “Tiffany” could be considered a generic term for a pronged, solitaire-style ring.
Southern New York’s District Court refuted that claim and has held Costco liable for trademark counterfeit. The ruling now enables Tiffany to take Costco before a jury and seek damages, including lost profits.
On Tuesday, Tiffany & Co. senior vice president, secretary and general counsel Leigh Harlan said “We are gratified that the court found that Costco’s use of the Tiffany trademark infringed on our rights….We believe this decision further validates the strength and value of the Tiffany mark and reinforces our continuing efforts to protect the brand.”
Executives at Costco were unable to provide comment or shed light on the possibility of an appeal.