Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Rings

[maccers]

Re: Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Ri

Most Canadians say 'pop'...to further derail this thread. Coke is not a catch-all -- it still means coca-cola.

 

[Circe]

Re: Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Ri

I'm sort of surprised so many people are assuming the worst of motives on Tiffany's part. There's a very big difference between selling a "Tiffany-style" ring and a "Tiffany's" ring. Just ask any of our vendors who sell secondhand pieces - it's a huge differential, profiting off of Tiff's very expensive ad campaigns and rep, and possibly hurting the latter if the ring turns out to be crap. Of course they're suing - it's actionable to the point of being textbook.

P.S. - I am as far from being a brand cheerleader as possible. Talk to me about the rage at "bezet" turning into the common descriptor for the oldest setting style known to man. Or "Rubedo." This just ... somehow seems like one of their few defensible decisions.

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Ri

I'm sort of surprised so many people are assuming the worst of motives on Tiffany's part. There's a very big difference between selling a "Tiffany-style" ring and a "Tiffany's" ring. Just ask any of our vendors who sell secondhand pieces - it's a huge differential, profiting off of Tiff's very expensive ad campaigns and rep, and possibly hurting the latter if the ring turns out to be crap. Of course they're suing - it's actionable to the point of being textbook.

P.S. - I am as far from being a brand cheerleader as possible. Talk to me about the rage at "bezet" turning into the common descriptor for the oldest setting style known to man. Or "Rubedo." This just ... somehow seems like one of their few defensible decisions.

Even if they caveat it with "Tiffany-style"? I get that its actionable when the Huntington Beach employees started calling them "Tiffany" rings, but you think its not okay to use the term "Tiffany style"? Circe, and I am not asking to argue, I'm asking because it sounds like you really know what is actionable...

 

[Circe]

Re: Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Ri

I'm sort of surprised so many people are assuming the worst of motives on Tiffany's part. There's a very big difference between selling a "Tiffany-style" ring and a "Tiffany's" ring. Just ask any of our vendors who sell secondhand pieces - it's a huge differential, profiting off of Tiff's very expensive ad campaigns and rep, and possibly hurting the latter if the ring turns out to be crap. Of course they're suing - it's actionable to the point of being textbook.

P.S. - I am as far from being a brand cheerleader as possible. Talk to me about the rage at "bezet" turning into the common descriptor for the oldest setting style known to man. Or "Rubedo." This just ... somehow seems like one of their few defensible decisions.

Even if they caveat it with "Tiffany-style"? I get that its actionable when the Huntington Beach employees started calling them "Tiffany" rings, but you think its not okay to use the term "Tiffany style"? Circe, and I am not asking to argue, I'm asking because it sounds like you really know what is actionable...

No, no worries - I like debating! If they were calling them tiffany-style, it would be completely legal (and even a backhanded compliment of sorts to Tiffany's). No, from what I've gathered, the problem is that they weren't, they were just calling them "Tiffany rings," and implying that they were produced by that venerable institution, etc., etc.

Even if it was just the one store, the parent corporation should still be liable, I believe. Like, even if only one Burger King claimed to be selling Big Macs (just as a random hypothetical), I would bet money their lawyers would have a field day.

 

[amc80]

Re: Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Ri

I asked DH what he would think if he saw the sign posted at Costco- his response was "it's a Tiffany style ring." FWIW.

 

[minousbijoux]

Re: Tiffany Sues Costco for Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Ri

I'm sort of surprised so many people are assuming the worst of motives on Tiffany's part. There's a very big difference between selling a "Tiffany-style" ring and a "Tiffany's" ring. Just ask any of our vendors who sell secondhand pieces - it's a huge differential, profiting off of Tiff's very expensive ad campaigns and rep, and possibly hurting the latter if the ring turns out to be crap. Of course they're suing - it's actionable to the point of being textbook.

P.S. - I am as far from being a brand cheerleader as possible. Talk to me about the rage at "bezet" turning into the common descriptor for the oldest setting style known to man. Or "Rubedo." This just ... somehow seems like one of their few defensible decisions.

Even if they caveat it with "Tiffany-style"? I get that its actionable when the Huntington Beach employees started calling them "Tiffany" rings, but you think its not okay to use the term "Tiffany style"? Circe, and I am not asking to argue, I'm asking because it sounds like you really know what is actionable...

No, no worries - I like debating! If they were calling them tiffany-style, it would be completely legal (and even a backhanded compliment of sorts to Tiffany's). No, from what I've gathered, the problem is that they weren't, they were just calling them "Tiffany rings," and implying that they were produced by that venerable institution, etc., etc.

Even if it was just the one store, the parent corporation should still be liable, I believe. Like, even if only one Burger King claimed to be selling Big Macs (just as a random hypothetical), I would bet money their lawyers would have a field day.

Then, unfortunately for the debater in you, we are in complete agreement about the viability of a lawsuit! But it sounds like Tiffany is implying that it was widespread and intentional, which sounds like their attempt to malign Costco...