American Eagle Outfitters Takes Legal Action Against Amazon for Trademark Infringement
In a bold move to protect its brand integrity, American Eagle Outfitters has filed a lawsuit against e-commerce giant Amazon for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses Amazon of using branding from American Eagle’s popular Aerie clothing line in search results, leading consumers to believe they are purchasing “inferior quality knock-offs.”
American Eagle, founded in 1977, launched the Aerie brand in 2006 as a line of yoga pants, lingerie, loungewear, and other attire. The company has built a strong reputation for providing high-quality, fashionable clothing to its customers and is committed to maintaining the integrity of the Aerie brand.
Amazon’s Alleged Deceptive Practices
According to the lawsuit, when a shopper searches for Aerie products on Google, they are directed to Amazon’s website through sponsored and organic links. However, instead of finding genuine Aerie products, customers are presented with a selection of knock-offs and “dupes” that do not meet the quality standards set by American Eagle.
American Eagle claims that it notified Amazon of the infringing products over a month ago, but instead of removing them from the site, Amazon allegedly relabeled them with misspellings of the Aerie trademarks, such as “Aeries,” “Arie,” or “Aries.” This deceptive practice is intended to mislead customers into believing they are purchasing authentic Aerie products when, in fact, they are not.
Amazon’s History of Counterfeit Concerns
This is not the first time Amazon has faced accusations of selling counterfeit products on its platform. In 2016, shoemaker Birkenstock decided to pull its products from Amazon due to a surge in counterfeits. Similarly, German automaker Daimler AG sued Amazon after discovering knock-off versions of Mercedes-Benz wheels being sold by third-party sellers.
In response to these concerns, Amazon added a line to its annual financial filing in 2019 warning investors of the growing threat of third-party sellers peddling counterfeits on its site. The company has since taken steps to combat counterfeiting, including launching a team dedicated to pursuing criminal action against counterfeiters, filing lawsuits against infringers, and implementing tools to help brands protect their trademarks.
American Eagle’s Legal Action
American Eagle is seeking an injunction and financial damages from Amazon based on the alleged trademark infringement. The company is determined to hold Amazon accountable for its deceptive practices and protect the integrity of the Aerie brand.
In conclusion, American Eagle’s lawsuit against Amazon highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the e-commerce industry. As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, it is essential for companies to take a stand against counterfeiters and ensure that customers are able to purchase genuine products. By taking legal action against Amazon, American Eagle is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate the unauthorized use of its trademarks and will fight to preserve the reputation of its brand.
