TJ Hughes pays damages for selling fake T shirts

North West retailer TJ Hughes has had to pay undisclosed damages to iconic English fashion brand Fred Perry after it was found selling fake polo shirts on its website and its stores.

Counterfeit polo shirts bearing the words Fred Perry and the brand’s famous Laurel Wreath logo – both registered trademarks – were found for sale on the TJ Hughes website www.tjhughes.co.uk and in TJ Hughes’ stores.

TJ Hughes, which has its headquarters in Liverpool, has 20 stores in the UK.

The retailer accepted that it had infringed Fred Perry’s trade mark rights by selling counterfeit garments and paid damages and legal costs to Fred Perry. It has also agreed not to sell fake Fred Perry garments in future.

TJ Hughes admitted that it had sold just under 2,500 fake polo shirts before they were removed from sale. As part of the settlement TJ Hughes has delivered up a further 755 items to Fred Perry.

A Fred Perry statement read: “The Laurel Wreath is more than a logo to us – it’s a badge of honour that has always sat over the heart of everybody who wears a Fred Perry Shirt, and we will always protect it.

“We will not hesitate to enforce our intellectual property rights when they are infringed, and we will continue to take action against the sellers and manufacturers of counterfeit versions of our garments.

“We take pride in the quality of how all of our products are manufactured and will always take action against those who would damage our reputation and relationship with consumers by producing counterfeit goods.”

Andrew Stone

Andrew Stone, senior associate in the intellectual property team at Clarke Willmott LLP, who acted on behalf of Fred Perry said: “This action against Lewis’ Home Retail Limited t/a TJ Hughes highlights Fred Perry’s unshakeable resolve to ensure that its intellectual property rights are enforced.

“This case also highlights the fact that retailers must take all necessary steps to ensure the provenance of the goods which they offer for sale.”

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