Legal/privacy

Kering-owned Gucci is vigorously attempting to protect its brand trademarks in court, but the battle against Guess Inc. may not be worth the costs, experts say.

Richemont-owned Cartier’s recent win with a trademark infringement lawsuit against China-based companies indicates that luxury marketers should not ignore threats to brand equity in the country and send a message to counterfeiters.

Leather goods and silk scarves maker Hermès is fending off luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton from silently achieving a majority stake to keep the private brand’s traditional business model intact.

LVMH’s Bulgari had its assets seized by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza for alleged tax evasion, but this setback is not likely to permanently destroy the brand’s reputation, experts say.

Tiffany & Co.’s trademark infringement suit against Costco Wholesale Corp. and the wholesaler’s counterclaims could result in deeming “tiffany” a generic diamond setting and create challenges for the brand.

If passed, the Do Not Track Act will let consumers stop companies from gathering their personal information online, but experts agree that there is most cause for concern among mainstream brands rather than those in the luxury sector.

Richemont’s recent legal battle with counterfeit watchmakers will not be the end of legal confrontations between counterfeiters and luxury brands, experts say.

The court decision surrounding the YSL versus Louboutin trademark case awarded each fashion house a victory, but experts are wondering if this is something that should have been started in the first place since the footwear designer runs the risk of losing its trademark all together.

Hermès’ lawsuit against LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and the conglomerate’s subsequent complaint towards the French leather-to-ties-and-scarves giant is likely a power-play between industry personalities and not a game-changer for the luxury sector, experts say.

Experts doubt that Gucci has much to lose no matter what the outcome of its trademark-infringement battle with mass apparel brand Guess, but the question of whether or not the Italian fashion label is being overzealous is still up for debate.