Uniqlo, Anya Hindmarch Sued Over Alleged Trademark Infringement
A lawsuit has been filed against Uniqlo and designer Anya Hindmarch, accusing them of violating a registered trademark and engaging in unfair competition. The legal action, brought by Googly Eye Cru, alleges that a recent collaboration between the two parties infringed upon their trademark rights for the iconic Googly Eye motif.
Googly Eye Cru, which has been selling products featuring eye designs since 2003, holds a registered trademark for its distinctive Googly Eye motif. The lawsuit names ten unknown individuals as co-defendants, along with Fast Retailing, Uniqlo's parent company, and Anya Hindmarch's holding company. The complaint alleges that the defendants have been selling products featuring 'Anya Eyes', a design element strikingly similar to Googly Eye Cru's eye designs.
The lawsuit is a result of a 2023 collaboration between Uniqlo and Anya Hindmarch. This collaboration was part of Uniqlo's ongoing partnership with designers, which has seen the retailer team up with various fashion houses. However, this particular collaboration has now drawn the ire of Googly Eye Cru, which claims that the 'Anya Eyes' design infringes upon its trademark rights.
The lawsuit is ongoing, with no information available on the ten unknown individuals accused of violating the Googly Eye trademark. Googly Eye Cru is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further use of the infringing design. The outcome of the case will likely have implications for future designer collaborations and trademark infringement disputes in the fashion industry.
