Levi Strauss Settles Trademark Lawsuit Against Brunello Cucinelli

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Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) and Brunello Cucinelli are moving on from their dispute over tabs.

The San Francisco denim giant settled a lawsuit accusing the Italian luxury company of infringing on its trademarked rectangular pocket tab.

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Reuters reported Wednesday that LS&Co. confirmed the settlement after the company notified a federal judge in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday that it was dismissing the case with prejudice. This means the case cannot be brought again.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Reuters reported.

In January, LS&Co. sued Brunello Cucinelli SpA and the company’s U.S. unit in San Francisco federal court for trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition. LS&Co. alleged that the Italian luxury company “misappropriated LS&Co.’s famous Tab trademark as a symbol for their own apparel products.”

In the suit, LS&Co. said Brunello Cucinelli refused to discontinue the tab and was believed to be increasing the production of garments with it.

At the time of the lawsuit, founder Brunello Cucinelli said that his namesake fashion house “has always valued the originality of its creations and the integrity of its business practices.” He added that the “decorative elements” are used sparsely and never feature the company’s brand name or logo.

“Our intention has never been, nor will it ever be, to exploit or violate the brands or ideas of others. We understand the value of intellectual property and respect the uniqueness of each brand on the market. While taking into account the concerns [that Levi’s] raised, we believe there is no risk of confusion for any customer in the world. The decoration we use is different in design and purpose and it is evident it is not a logo but an ornamental embellishment,” Cucinelli said.

Cucinelli is one of many fashion brands to have encountered LS&Co.’s litigious side. The company has sued Kenzo, Vineyard Vines, Barbour, Saint Laurent and others over similar trademark infringement claims.

LS&Co. is currently battling Australia-based Green Tab Clothing over trademark infringement of the Arcuate trademark, a stitching pattern used on the back pocket of Levi’s jeans, and Levi Strauss’ Tab trademarks. The judge recently granted the company’s motion for summary judgment, which is a tool used to resolve cases that have an obvious answer and thus do not need to go to trial, on some of the charges.

The other charges will proceed and may eventually make it to trial.