Tory Burch legal spat over fake jewellery gains pace

Jewellery designer Lin & J International has accused fashion designer Tory Burch of "persecuting women-owned small businesses" and is trying to mobilise public support against the fashion brand.

The acrimonious legal wrangling between the two companies kicked off last year when Tory Burch's eponymous company filed a series of lawsuits in New York accusing several organisations - including Lin & J and several of its distributors - of involvement in widespread counterfeiting of its designs.

Specifically, Tory Burch accused of selling earrings, necklaces, and bracelets with similar designs to its products that copied the brand's double-T logo. Lin & J promptly countersued, arguing that the called counterfeit items are original designs inspired the Coptic cross, an early Christian symbol, and that Tory Burch was the party infringing trademarks.

The jewellery designer accuses Tory Burch of "using sham lawsuits to conceal her copying of its jewellery designs" and says it has launched a petition to try to stop a "campaign of litigation and intimidation."

Howard Myerowitz of Song Law Firm, attorney for Lin & J and several of distributors, maintains that Tory Burch's double-T logo is itself copying Lin & J's Isis Cross and the designer is trying to "corner the market" for the design. Tory Burch was awarded a trademark on its double-T motif last year.

Lin & J had sales of $2.2m in 2012 but says its business has been massively affected by the lawsuits. Tory Burch had not commented on the development at the time this article went to press.