UNIQLO Sued For Supposedly Infringing Trademark In Quirky Collection
Image via UNIQLO
All eyes are on UNIQLO as New York-based lifestyle brand Googly Eye Cru has filed a trademark infringement suit against Fast Retailing, the parent company of the Japanese everyday wear retailer, along with Anya Hindmarch’s parent firm, in the US District Court Southern District of New York. The dispute revolves around UNIQLO’s similar use of Googly Eye Cru’s distinctive ‘Googly Eye motif’—those playful black and white eyeballs—in its 2023 winter collection collaboration with Hindmarch.
Googly Eye Cru, which has been selling products adorned with the quirky emblem since 2003, argues that these marks are central to its brand identity. The label claims that consumers and retailers alike recognize Googly Eye Cru as the sole source of these distinctive googly-eyed products, which include T-shirts, hats, and various accessories.
Images via UNIQLO
According to the complaint, since the release of the UNIQLO x Anya Hindmarch collection in 2003, the defendants have prominently used the purported Googly Eye mark on their knitwear and accessories. Googly Eye Cru contends that this usage has created confusion and infringes upon its established trademark.
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UNIQLO has been on both sides of legal battles this year. In January, the retailer filed its own copyright infringement claim against Shein, alleging that a bag from the Chinese e-commerce fashion giant closely replicated its TikTok-viral shoulder bag.
Googly Eye Cru is seeking a jury trial and an unspecified amount in damages. Its attorney, Jeffrey Gluck of the Gluck Law Firm, mentions that the exact amount of damages is still to be determined. Additionally, it is requesting an injunction to stop UNIQLO and Anya Hindmarch from further using the Googly Eye mark in their marketing and sales.
Representatives for UNIQLO and Anya Hindmarch have not responded to requests for comment.
