Lacoste USA announced the seizure of more than $1 million worth of counterfeit Lacoste merchandise in surpise raids of retail and wholesale businesses across Puerto Rico. The raids netted counterfeit dress shirts, knit polo shirts, sweatsuits, hats, and jeans, as well as other counterfeit Lacoste merchandise and resulted in the filing of lawsuits against 27 defendants.
The raids, in 19 locations in Carolina, Ponce, Bayamon, and other cities were conducted with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto Rico. Lacoste was granted a restraining order and injunction from the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico, authorizing the company to seize the counterfeit fashion items. A hearing before the court held today granted Lacoste preliminary injunction against the defendants.
“We're sending a strong message to counterfeiters in the U.S. and its territories,” said Robert Siegel, chairman & CEO of Lacoste in the US. “We intend to aggressively police our brand and protect it from the work of counterfeiters who harm both the legitimate merchant and the consumer. We will work with the authorities to seek out and prosecute trademark violators wherever they operate.
“Without a doubt, the high quality and workmanship embodied in genuine Lacoste product is not duplicated in the counterfeit apparel,” Mr. Siegel added.
As Lacoste's popularity has soared, so too have the attempts at manufacturing counterfeit product. Lacoste has aggressively enforced its intellectual property rights in the United States and around the world and continues to take action against those who illegally use the crocodile trademark.
The only authorized means by which Lacoste offers its merchandise for sale are: (1) Lacoste boutiques; (2) Lacoste outlets; (3) authorized department stores; (4) authorized specialty stores; (5) corporate accounts. Lacoste DOES NOT offer its merchandise for sale through individuals, street vendors, house parties or unauthorized retail locations.
