Audemars Boca Raton
Audemars Piguet just won a lawsuit and was awarded over $9 million in restitution. A New York watch company was found to be selling a knockoff of the iconic Royal Oak design. Swiss Watch International Inc. which operates worldofwatches.com was selling a brand of watches called Swiss Legend Trimix. The watches are eerily similar to the Audemars Boca Raton Piguet Royal Oak. The Royal Oak line has watches that reach into the tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Swiss Legend was selling their Trimix for less than $200.
Audemars accused SWI of federal trademark infringement, common law unfair competition, and trademark dilution under New York law. As it turns out, SWI actually countered with a claim that the octagon shape is one of only a few shapes for a watch and therefore cannot be protected by a trademark. After the judge made his ruling in favor or AP he quoted “similarities between these watches remains striking”. The judge then went on to say “The court finds that the defendant’s Trimix watches are indeed quite similar to the Royal Oak design, in their octagonal bezel with eight flat screws spaced out around the bezel”.
The judge also noted that during several occasions SWI was confronted and told to take down signs and stop selling the Trimix line of watches. They were confronted at a BaselWorld show in 2011. Audemars also sent a cease and desist letter in 2012 regarding the brand. And because of the ruling, Michael Kors took a certain model of their watch off the market to prevent any further action.
Audemars Piguet did a good job in protecting their signature design. The shape of their watch is recognized by watch enthusiasts around the world. It is clear to me that the Trimix line was a direct intention to use Audemars Royal Oak design Inflatable Dream Castle.
by, Seth Marcus at Boca Raton Pawn
Related articles
