NEW YORK — Chanel Inc. filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court last week against Yellowstone Imports and unnamed individuals for allegedly infringing on its interlocking-C trademark for sunglasses.
Yellowstone Imports applied for a trademark registration and already has been using a mark on sunglasses that consists of interlocking circles, according to court documents. Chanel alleged the interlocking-C mark used by Yellowstone is confusingly similar to its own registered trademark.
“As a result of defendants’ sale of knockoff products designed to simulate Chanel’s eyewear bearing the CC monogram mark, Chanel is being irreparably harmed as the existence of such products lessens the value of Chanel’s mark and brand,” the company said in its complaint.
Chanel said in the legal papers that sales of eyewear and eyewear accessories bearing its CC monogram exceeded $25 million over the last five years. The company has registrations for the trademark for sunglasses, eyeglass cases, eyeglass frames, ski goggles and mobile phone straps.
Yellowstone Imports did not return calls seeking comment.
The complaint alleges federal and state trademark infringement and unfair competition. Chanel asked the court for a permanent injunction against the defendants and an unspecified amount of exemplary and punitive damages.