ASICS SEEKS INJUNCTION AND DAMAGES FROM TARGET,
BLUE MARLIN, ROMA ATLETICA AND MOSSIMO
Contact:
Michael E. Zall
ASICS Vice President
General Counsel
(949) 727-7118
Irvine, CA (November 21, 2006) - ASICS® America Corporation (Irvine, California) and ASICS Corporation Japan (Kobe, Japan) announced today that they have filed two separate lawsuits in the US District Court, Central District of California, the first one against Target Corporation (Minneapolis, MN) and Mossimo, Inc. (Santa Monica, CA) and the other one against Target Corporation, Blue Marlin Corporation (San Francisco, CA) and Roma Atletica S.R.L. Unipersonale (Rome, Italy). Both lawsuits are for trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution and false advertising. ASICS is seeking permanent injunctions against these companies to prevent any future sales and distribution of shoes that bear a stripe design similar to ASICS famous stripe design. In addition, ASICS is also seeking damages, including profits and attorney fees.
ASICS discovered that Target is currently selling the Roma Atletica Gawain, the Mossimo Gareth and the Mossimo Gryph shoes in their stores and on their web site. All of these shoes have stripes on them confusingly similar to ASICS globally recognized ASICS Stripes. “These shoes are an obvious attempt to free-ride on the brand image and goodwill associated with our stripe mark that we have developed over the years.” says Michael Zall, Vice President and General Counsel for ASICS America Corporation. “ASICS has spent over 40 years building a world renowned premium brand and nurturing the goodwill represented by this mark. As demonstrated by the numerous lawsuits we have brought against infringers and the success we have achieved in the courts, we will not turn a blind eye to such wrong doing.”
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano – A Sound Mind in a Sound Body. ASICS Corporation, with more than 50 years of footwear manufacturing experience, offers a full line of performance-driven athletic shoes and technical active sports apparel and accessories. For more information, please visit http://www.asics.com.
