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USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Lululemon is suing Costco over 'duped' athleticwear
The high-end athleticwear brand Lululemon is suing the member-only warehouse Costco for producing and selling clothing that looks like their own at slashed prices. Lululemon filed its lawsuit against Costco on Friday, June 27, alleging that the company infringes on intellectual property rights. Specifically, Lululemon claims Costco is stealing its SCUBA hoodies and sweatshirts, Define jackets, and ABC pants, using the designs for its own Kirkland brand. "As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary," a Lululemon spokesperson told USA TODAY. Costco did not immediately respond for comment when contacted by USA TODAY on July 1. See new hours: Costco to extend hours for Executive Members starting Monday A closer look at the clothing Lululemon alleges that an "ordinary observer" would not be able to tell the difference between the two brands. The lawsuit compares Lululemon's Scuba Hoodie to Costco's Danskin Half-Zip Pullover Front. For a price comparison, the Scuba Hoodie costs between $99 and $118 on the Lululemon website and the Danskin pullover costs about $8 on the Costco website. Both hoodies feature a half-down zipper, front pocket and are available in a similar teal color, as outlined in the lawsuit. Lululemon also alleges that Costco has "duped" its ABC Pants with its Kirkland 5 Pocket Performance Pant. The ABC Pants are around $128 on the Lululemon website and the Kirkland pants are around $10 on the Costco website. Both pairs of pants are made from synthetic, stretchy material. In addition to the articles of clothing, Lululemon alleges that Costco stole its "Tidewater Teal" color, a popular color offered among several of Lululemon's clothing items. However, no products offered in the color "Tidewater Teal" appear on the Costco website. What is Lululemon seeking? As outlined in the lawsuit, Lululemon wants Costco to pay "actual damages in the form of lost profits" or other damages that are at least equivalent to the royalties that would have been made from Lululemon's patent. Lululemon also requests that Costco agree to cease manufacturing of products similar to the Scuba hoodies and sweatshirts, Define jackets, and ABC pants and remove any marketing materials that contain such products. USA TODAY is mentioned once in the lawsuit as covering Lululemon products but is not an involved party in the lawsuit. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
a day ago
- Business
Lululemon sues Costco for allegedly selling dupes of its popular products
Lululemon is suing Costco, alleging the wholesale retailer knowingly sold knockoff versions or dupes of its popular products and allegedly acted in bad faith. The Vancouver-based athleisure company filed its lawsuit on June 27 in California. The suit alleges Costco "imported into the U.S., distributed, advertised, marketed, offered for sale and/or sold" products that were dupes of its "innovative, unique and high-performing apparel," including its line of ABC pants, Define jackets and Scuba hoodies and sweatshirts, all of which retail between $118 and $128 at full price on Lululemon's website. The lawsuit noted specific products sold by Costco, including Danskin's Half-Zip Pullover, Jockey's Ladies Yoga Jacket, Spyder's Women's Yoga Jacket, Hi-Tec's Men's Scuba Full Zip, and a 5 Pocket Performance Pant sold under Costco's in-house brand label Kirkland, all of which are significantly cheaper than allegedly similar versions sold by Lululemon. On Costco's website, the Spyder Women's Yoga Jacket, for example, is listed for $21.99. By selling the specified products, Lululemon claimed Costco "caused" and is "likely to continue to cause confusion, mistake, and deception among consumers." In a statement to "Good Morning America," a Lululemon company spokesperson said, "As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development, and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary." Lululemon is seeking unspecified damages "in the form of lost profits" or other "adequate" compensation for patent infringement. Lululemon's lawsuit follows the rise of the so-called "dupe economy," fueled by social media influencers who popularize affordable duplicates of high-end or brand-name goods. "Saving money on items is now becoming something that's a little bit in vogue. It's cool to be wearing something that is less expensive but looks like the expensive brand," retail analyst Hitha Herzog told "GMA" previously in 2024. Costco has 21 days to respond to Lululemon's complaint.
a day ago
- Business
Lululemon files lawsuit against Costco, claims company selling 'dupes' of products
Lululemon has filed a lawsuit against Costco that accuses the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure clothing. Lululemon Athletica claims in its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that Costco has 'unlawfully traded' on its reputation, goodwill and sweat equity by selling unauthorized and unlicensed apparel that uses knockoff, infringing versions of its patents. Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, but that the company and the manufacturers don't tell consumers of the connection between them for many of the Kirkland-branded products. Because of this, Lululemon claims this leads at least some shoppers to believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the 'original' products. Lululemon claims Costco doesn't try to dispel the ambiguity. 'As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development, and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary," a Lululemon company spokesperson said in a statement. Some of the products Lululemon says Costco is making duplicates of include its popular Scuba hoodies, Define jackets, and ABC pants. Lululemon claims one of the duplicates that Costco sells is the Hi-Tec Men's Scuba Full Zip, with the lawsuit showing a screenshot image of Costco's website showing the item priced at $19.97. Lululemon sells several men's jackets that cost more than $100 each. Costco, based in Issaquah, Washington, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Lululemon is requesting a jury trial and wants Costco to stop selling the products that it considers to be duplicates. It is also seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages. Lulemon was in a similar legal dispute with Peloton in 2021. Two years later the companies announced a five-year partnership that included Lululemon becoming the primary athletic apparel partner to Peloton.
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
Lululemon sues Costco Wholesale for selling alleged dupes
Lululemon is suing Costco Wholesale, accusing the retailer of selling cheaper, unauthorized imitations of some of its popular clothing items. Why it matters: The lawsuit could signal a pushback from original creators trying to reclaim control over their product designs, despite the "dupe" economy thriving on social media. Costco didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. The big picture: In the lawsuit filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Lululemon alleges that Costco has infringed on its patents by selling athleisure products that closely resemble its own. Lululemon claims that Costco's Kirkland brand and other brands the retailer sells are offering knockoff versions of its products, such as the Scuba hoodies, Define jackets and ABC pants. Court documents cite examples including the Hi-Tec Men's Scuba Full Zip jacket, with a screenshot showing it priced at $19.97, while similar Lululemon items retail for over $100. The lawsuit claims that Costco and its manufacturing partners do not clarify their relationship to consumers, potentially misleading some into believing the items are made by Lululemon. What's next: The Vancouver-based athletic apparel brand is seeking a jury trial, a halt to the sales of the disputed products and unspecified monetary damages. Flashback: This isn't Lululemon's first legal conflict over product duplication.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Lululemon files lawsuit against Costco, claims company is selling ‘dupes' of some of its products
Lululemon has filed a lawsuit against Costco that accuses the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure clothing. Lululemon Athletica claims in its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that Costco has 'unlawfully traded' on its reputation, goodwill and sweat equity by selling unauthorized and unlicensed apparel that uses knockoff, infringing versions of its patents. Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, but that the company and the manufacturers don't tell consumers of the connection between them for many of the Kirkland-branded products. Because of this, Lululemon claims this leads at least some shoppers to believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the 'original' products. Lululemon claims Costco doesn't try to dispel the ambiguity. 'As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development, and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary,' a Lululemon company spokesperson said in a statement. Some of the products Lululemon says Costco is making duplicates of include its popular Scuba hoodies, Define jackets, and ABC pants. Lululemon claims one of the duplicates that Costco sells is the Hi-Tec Men's Scuba Full Zip, with the lawsuit showing a screenshot image of Costco's website showing the item priced at $19.97. Lululemon sells several men's jackets that cost more than $100 each. Costco, based in Issaquah, Washington, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Lululemon is requesting a jury trial and wants Costco to stop selling the products that it considers to be duplicates. It is also seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages. Lulemon was in a similar legal dispute with Peloton in 2021. Two years later the companies announced a five-year partnership that included Lululemon becoming the primary athletic apparel partner to Peloton. Chapman writes for the Associated Press.
