Gucci vs. Guess | Schiffrin & Longo, P.C. Law Office (2024)

After a three year legal battle, a verdict has been reached in the Gucci vs. Guess copyright case. Gucci has been awarded $4.7 million over a Guess logo and pattern that Gucci claimed were direct copies of their trademark. While the luxury brand may have won, Gucci for $221 million in damages. As well as the monetary settlement, Gucci was awarded a permanent injunction that bans Guess from using Gucci’s patented Quattro G pattern, the green and red stripe and other square G marks on their products.

Gucci claimed that Guess was creating knockoffs of their trademarked logo in their shoe. The judge disagreed with this assessment. The judge found that Guess’ product was likely to cause trademark dilution, which could explain why the sum awarded was much less than the $221 million that Gucci asked for. Even though Guess doesn’t have to pay the full amount of damages, they say that they will continue to defend their rights to use their signature “G” in their clothing and accessory line.

While the case didn’t give Gucci a huge financial win, this case will have an effect on other areas of the fashion industry. This ruling will create stricter limitations on using patterns and stitching that are similar to other brands. Because of this, we can expect similar trademark infringement cases to surface.

Gucci vs. Guess | Schiffrin & Longo, P.C. Law Office (2024)

FAQs

Who sued who is the Gucci vs Guess copyright case? ›

This dispute began in 2009, when Gucci sued Guess, stating that it engaged in “a sophisticated and elaborate scheme ... to target Gucci, to create products that are similar in appearance to the most popular and best-known Gucci products, and trade upon the goodwill and reputation associated with Gucci and its high- ...

What was the Gucci vs Guess Judgement? ›

Gucci sued Guess in multiple jurisdictions like France, Italy, China and Australia. The judgement of the New York Court: The Court of New York held that Guess infringed the trademarks of Gucci because: “Guess'sQuattro G Pattern is visually similar to Gucci's Repeating GG Pattern”.

What was the conclusion of Gucci vs Guess? ›

Gucci claimed that Guess was creating knockoffs of their trademarked logo in their shoe. The judge disagreed with this assessment. The judge found that Guess' product was likely to cause trademark dilution, which could explain why the sum awarded was much less than the $221 million that Gucci asked for.

Which is better Gucci or Guess? ›

Gucci's brand is ranked #52 in the list of Global Top 100 Brands, as rated by customers of Gucci. GUESS's brand is ranked #365 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of GUESS. Their current market cap is $1.07B.

When did the Gucci vs Guess case end? ›

The New York case closed in 2012, finding in favour of Gucci and awarding the fashion house $4.7 million (£2.9 million), in damages for Guess' breach of its signatures - although this was later decreased to $456,183 (£290,199).

Why did Paolo Gucci get sued? ›

In 1980, Paolo secretly launched his own business using the Gucci name without telling his father, nor his uncle Rodolfo. When they found out, they were both infuriated and fired him from Gucci in September 1980. In addition, his father Aldo sued him, threatening to cut off any Gucci supplier who signed on with Paolo.

Who won the Gucci vs Forever 21 case? ›

On Monday, a United States District Judge ruled in favor of Gucci, dismissing Forever 21's complaint against the luxury brand. While Forever 21 has permission to refile, the court made it clear that they were “skeptical” of Forever 21's claims that Gucci's stripes were not protected.

How did Mrs Gucci get caught? ›

Patrizia's arrest came after an anonymous tip to police in January 1997. According to prosecutors, Patrizia—who was nicknamed the “Black Widow” in the media—had a motive to kill her husband due to the believed jealousy and resentment she had toward him at the time.

Did the Gucci family approve of the House of Gucci movie? ›

The family called the film an insult to its legacy.

Who was the genius behind Gucci? ›

The architect of modern Gucci's playful approach to fashion history is Alessandro Michele. Educated as a costume designer, Michele was born in Rome in 1972. He takes his first name from Italian master painter Alessandro Botticelli.

Why did Gucci fall apart? ›

Following Guccio's death in 1953, shares of the business were left to his three biological sons, Vasco, Rodolfo and Aldo. Looming sibling rivalries between the brothers turned into full-on feuds that continued into the next generation, which helped lead to the downfall of the Gucci family in the fashion industry.

What did Guess copy from Gucci? ›

“Gucci” is a registered trademark since 1969 and the brand was first used in 1953. Guess has been accused of specifically ripping off four designs: Gucci's green and red stripe; the interlocking “G” pattern; the square “G” and the brand name's delicate script font.

Who is the biggest competitor of Gucci? ›

Gucci's competitors and similar companies include Prada, CHANEL, Christian Dior and Armani. Gucci is a luxury fashion brand, manufacturing and distributing leather goods, shoes, ready-to-wear, silks, timepieces and fine jewelry. Italian luxury fashion house since 1913.

What level of luxury is guess? ›

Guess is a high-end fashion brand that offers clothing, shoes, handbags, and other accessories for men and women. The brand is best known for its trendy and stylish designs.

Why is guess so cheap? ›

Luxury brands often have limited production runs and are only available at select retailers, which adds to their exclusivity and appeal. Guess, on the other hand, is widely available at major retailers, department stores, and even discount stores. This wide availability makes it less exclusive than true luxury brands.

Where did the Gucci vs Guess case take place? ›

Gucci vs.

In Italy, Gucci accused the Americans of having copied their famous green-red-green stripe combination as well as several versions of their logo. But again a Milan court in 2013 ruled against Gucci, stating that Guess has used a different color combination and the logos were visually sufficiently different.

Has Gucci been going for 100 years? ›

An incredible hundred years have passed since Guccio Gucci founded the iconic fashion house in Florence in 1921. This year, Gucci continues its 100th anniversary celebration with the unique Gucci 100 collection.

When did Gucci decline? ›

In the fourth quarter, Gucci's revenue was down 14 percent on a comparable basis relative to the same period in 2021. In directly operated stores, sales dropped 15 percent from a very high base and were significantly affected by the situation in China during the quarter.

Does the Gucci family still have money? ›

According to Meaww, Alessandra and Allegra Gucci are worth $400 million after the death of their father, who was worth around the same amount when he died.

How much of Gucci did Paolo Gucci own? ›

Paolo Gucci (Jared Leto)

His father, Aldo, had given 10% of his 50% stake in the company to his three sons, allocating 3.3% to each of them.

Who owns Gucci now 2023? ›

Gucci is owned by the French holding company Kering, which purchased an $8.8 billion stake in the iconic Italian fashion brand in 2004. Artémis, the investment firm of the Pinault family led by François Pinault, is Kering's leading shareholder and holds a majority share in the company through its parent organization.

Did Gucci and Jeezy win? ›

It's 20 Gucci Mane songs versus 20 Jeezy songs. Let's get into it, shall we? Winner: Gucci. Jeezy played one of the more moving intros from a classic project, Trap or Die, but this round was more of a temperature check.

Who took over Gucci now? ›

Italian designer Sabato De Sarno is now the new creative director of Gucci. The 39-year-old has worked in some of the biggest names, having spent time at Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino.

Why did Gucci sue Forever 21? ›

Gucci responded to the lawsuit, alleging that Forever 21 was “brazenly” masquerading as a “victim of unfair competition in search of legal redress in the courts,” and that it was “bringing suit to cancel some of the most famous marks in the fashion world,” while “profiting handsomely by flaunting the law.” And still ...

What is Patrizia doing now? ›

The two are now married and reside in Switzerland. Surprisingly, Patrizia mentioned that her daughters cut ties with her and haven't visited as much since she was released from prison. Alessandra and Allegra haven't introduced their children to Patrizia and had cut off her financial support.

Do Patrizia's daughters talk to her? ›

Do They Still Keep in Touch With Their Mother? The short answer is, allegedly, no. Though the sisters were extremely close to their mother throughout childhood, over the years, their relationship has taken a turn for the worse. In a 2016 interview, Reggiani revealed that her daughters cut ties with her entirely.

Did Patrizia Gucci have children? ›

Did Patrizia really say Father Son and House of Gucci? ›

Lady Gaga first used 'Father, Son, House of Gucci' as a real, calming prayer before filming her scenes. Gaga reveals that she recited the line as a real prayer before filming her scenes, and that it then progressed into an ad-libbed line with Jared Leto later during production.

Why doesn t Gucci family own Gucci? ›

His father, Aldo, had given 10 per cent of his 50 per cent stake in the company to his three sons, allocating 3.3 per cent to each of them. When Paolo aligned his interest with Maurizio's 50 per cent, he tipped the scales to begin the process that ultimately led to the family no longer owning the company.

What happened to Maurizio Gucci shares? ›

Maurizio was made chairman of Gucci in 1989, however he sold his remaining stocks for $170 million to Investcorp in 1993 after the company's finances were in the red from his leadership. The sale ended the Gucci family's association with Gucci. Maurizio and Patrizia married in 1972 and had two daughters.

Why did Patrizia Reggiani do it? ›

On 31 January 1997, Patrizia was arrested and accused of hiring the hitman who murdered Gucci. The trial garnered intense media interest, with the local press dubbing her the "Black Widow". According to prosecutors, Patrizia's motive was a mixture of jealousy, money, and resentment towards her ex-husband.

Was Paolo Gucci ever successful? ›

Following a trademark fight with his family, in 1987 Paolo was granted the right to use his name under his line. But, not long after he won the battle, Paolo sold his interest in the company for a whopping $45 million. Then, in 1993, the businessman declared bankruptcy, claiming debts of $90 million.

Who is the most famous Gucci designer? ›

Alessandro Michele

Why is Gucci no longer a family business? ›

Under the direction of Aldo Gucci (son of Guccio), Gucci became a worldwide-known brand, an icon of the Italian Dolce Vita period. Following family feuds during the 1980s, the Gucci family was entirely ousted from the capital of the company by 1993.

Why did Lady Gaga not meet Gucci? ›

"I didn't wanna meet her because I could tell very quickly that this woman wanted to be glorified for this murder, and she wanted to be remembered as this criminal," Gaga said. "I didn't wanna collude with something that I don't believe in," she continued.

Is Gucci losing popularity? ›

Gucci's focus on its wealthiest clients is a key element of its growth strategy after the brand's sales fell 14% in the last three months of 2022, dragged down by COVID-19 curbs in China and reduced appetite for its clothes in the United States - particularly among lower-spending shoppers.

What is the controversy with the Gucci logo? ›

The complaint filed by Gucci was that the stripe obscured parts of the letters that would have revealed them to read “CUGGL”, and that, given Gucci is an internationally famous brand – it was founded in 1922, has 500 directly managed stores around the world, including 97 in Japan – anyone seeing only the top halves of ...

What is the most expensive Gucci object? ›

At a whopping $250,000, the Gucci Stuart Hughes Belt is the most expensive item the brand has ever sold. While it might be made from the best quality leather, the belt still has only one outstanding feature: its double GG buckle.

What designer saved Gucci? ›

Ford saved Gucci from near bankruptcy and transformed it into a fashion powerhouse. His decade as the creative director was hailed as a "golden era" for Gucci.

What designer is cheaper than Gucci? ›

This much we know is true but even within the luxury fashion space, there is a list of brands that have a lower price range than the average designer brand. However, of all the brands most like Gucci, Miu Miu is the most affordable.

Which is better Dior or Gucci? ›

Dior. Dior is the most popular luxury brand online this year. Taking the number-one spot from Gucci, Dior tops our ranking of the best luxury brands online for the first time. The LVMH-owned house steadily grew, rising from #7 in 2019 to #5 in 2020, #4 in 2021, and #2 in 2022 to finally reach the first position in 2023 ...

Who makes more money Nike or Gucci? ›

What the Swoosh is worth, according to Brand Finance. In ranking apparel brands by their value, Brand Finance found Nike to be the world's most valuable, The Fashion Law reports.

Where does Guess rank in fashion? ›

GUESS is ranked #45 in Fashion and Beauty Brands.

Is Guess considered fast fashion? ›

What Are Fast Fashion Examples? Some examples of companies in fast fashion are Stradivarius, Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, Guess, Forever 21, and many other popular brands.

Why do people buy Guess? ›

The Guess products come with a higher price tag which in return you get a well-made, high-end product. They are good quality, stylish, on-trend pieces that are not definitely not classed as high-street or affordable clothing.

Does anyone wear Guess anymore? ›

Regardless, yes, people do still wear Guess.

Is Zara better than Guess? ›

The results show that the Guess Eco collection lacked transparency and used the least amount of sustainable materials. The clothing from Guess was the most expensive but had the best quality. Zara's products were the worst in terms of quality and durability, but some items had textile certifications.

What rapper is getting sued for copyright? ›

Drake is being sued for reportedly using an unauthorised sample from Ghanaian rapper Obrafour on his 2022 album 'Honestly Nevermind'.

Has Gucci ever been sued? ›

Not surprisingly, the Gucci's – and their business partner Edward Litwak – were sued by the design house for trademark infringement and trademark dilution. The Gucci brand sought upwards of $3 million damages in connection with such claims.

Did Gucci lose trademark lawsuit to Japanese firm known for parodying logos? ›

Italian fashion giant Gucci has lost a trademark lawsuit to a Japanese T-shirt manufacturer that has a track record of mimicking internationally renowned logos. This is despite the specialist patent lawyer who won the case on behalf of Osaka-based clothing firm Parodys admitting he feels the present law needs work.

Is Guess vs Gucci copyright infringement? ›

Guess were barred from using most of the Gucci style designs they were using. They might not have had to pay out what Gucci wanted, but the copyright infringement was clear. Lessons were learnt and the importance of copyright protection became never clearer.

When was the Gucci vs Guess copyright case? ›

Gucci vs.

In 2012, the Italians filed a lawsuit against the trademark registration of the interlocking G logo of Guess before the EU court.

Is a Gucci bag fake if it doesn't have a serial number? ›

The leather rectangular serial number tag is typically found on Gucci bags made in the late 90s and onward. The shape and style of the tag also varies substantially in older vintage Gucci. If the bag is purportedly a newer model, and doesn't have a tag, this is an instant red flag of counterfeit.

How much can I get sued for copyright? ›

The law provides a range from $200 to $150,000 for each work infringed. Infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs. The Court can issue an injunction to stop the infringing acts. The Court can impound the illegal works.

What other artists get sued for copyright infringement? ›

From creating similar melodies to using samples, here are musicians who were sued by other musicians for copyright infringement — and how they fared.
  • Ed Sheeran vs. Marvin Gaye.
  • Sam Smith vs. Tom Petty.
  • Robin Thicke & Pharrell Williams vs. ...
  • Vanilla Ice vs. ...
  • The Verve vs. ...
  • 2 Live Crew vs. ...
  • Drake vs. ...
  • Led Zeppelin vs.
May 5, 2023

Who did Ed Sheeran sue for copyright? ›

Structured Asset Sales is owned by investment banker and “Bowie Bonds” creator David Pullman, and it owns part of Townsend's interest in “Let's Get It On.” It sued Sheeran, his label Warner Music Group and his music publisher Sony Music Publishing in 2018 after Townsend's heirs filed their lawsuit.

How did Gucci lose ownership? ›

However, by 1993, Maurizio's excessive spending and the company's outstanding debts forced him to sell his 50% percent stake to the business' investors, ending the Gucci family's ownership and control of the brand.

Did Gucci give permission for House of Gucci? ›

The family called the film an insult to its legacy. The Gucci family has watched House of Gucci, and the verdict is not good. Ridley Scott's highly anticipated biographical crime drama was met with a lukewarm reception when it hit theatres last week.

Who owns Gucci today? ›

Is reselling Gucci legal? ›

It is permissible to re-buy and resell handbags and authentic branded goods as long as they are genuine, legitimately purchased, none of the trademarks is changed, and they are not damaged.

Who controls the Gucci brand? ›

Gucci is owned by the French holding company Kering, which purchased an $8.8 billion stake in the iconic Italian fashion brand in 2004. Artémis, the investment firm of the Pinault family led by François Pinault, is Kering's leading shareholder and holds a majority share in the company through its parent organization.

What is the real logo of Gucci? ›

The iconic double G symbol of the luxury fashion house was created by Aldo Gucci, the son of the brand's founder Guccio Gucci, in the 1930s. Two interlocked letters in a modern sans-serif typeface make up one of the most recognizable fashion logos in the world.

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