Antik Denim Claims Knockoffs Being Sold at MAGIC
When Paul Guez heard the news, he could not believe it.
On the first day of MAGIC Marketplace, someone told the head of Los Angeles–based Antik Denim there was a booth inside the show selling blue jeans that allegedly had his exact same pocket design.
To make it worse, there was a huge poster hanging outside the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the trade show was taking place, urging buyers to visit the Vigoss Denim booth, where the jeans were being sold.
Guez wasted no time taking pictures of the alleged copycat jeans and contacting a lawyer.
“I was very upset,” said Guez, whose Blue Holdings Inc. designs and markets Antik Denim and Yanuk jeans.
By Aug. 31, two days after MAGIC had started, Las Vegas attorney Jason D. Firth went to U.S. District Court to show a judge the photos and copyrights of the pocket design. The judge issued a temporary restraining order, allowing the seizure of the jeans, which had a Vigoss label on the inside but no label on the outside.
Firth went to the booth with two U.S. marshals on Aug. 31 and confiscated two suitcases and five boxes of alleged Antik Denim knockoffs.
A day later, Firth went back and took away one suitcase filled with alleged knockoffs of True Religion Brand Jeans and one suitcase filled with alleged knockoffs of Ed Hardy Vintage Tattoo Wear T-shirts and sweat shirts. Firth has been retained by True Religion and Ed Hardy principals to join Antik Denim in any court action against Vigoss Jeans and its affiliate, AV Denim.
“On the second day, Vigoss voluntarily turned over the items that infringed on those brands,” Firth said.
A Vigoss salesperson contacted about the incident declined to comment.
The three Los Angeles apparel companies are going back to U.S. District Court on Sept. 7 to seek a preliminary injunction enjoining Vigoss and its partner from selling those blue jeans until a final hearing takes place.
—Deborah Belgum
