G Is For? Gucci Sues Guess

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 7th 2009 at 3:01AM

Guess has created handbags that ape the looks of designer bags for far less money for years but Gucci has had enough. Bloomberg reports that Gucci Group's U.S. unit is suing Guess? Inc. for trademark infringement. The companies both make ample use of the "g" logo and both do interlocking G pattens and embossed leather (or in Guess's case, vinyl).

Gucci's lawsuit claims that the knockoffs are no homage but are instead "part of a sophisticated and elaborate scheme to target Gucci, to create products that are similar in appearance to the most popular and best-known Gucci products." Gucci is seeking damages as well as a court order banning Guess from using the disputed designs and calling for surrender of all the existing bags in question.

Copying has become commonplace in the fashion world especially when a lower-priced line imitates a more expensive brand. It becomes a question of just how similar the designs are and whether or not the lookalike handbags and wallets are damaging the Gucci brand.

Gallery: Gucci or Guess?

Tags: gucci, guess, lawsuit

Filed under: Handbags

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

john May 7th 2009 10:16AM

Yes Guess have gone too far, it is already a giant in its own niche and has been doing the misleading design for quite sometime. Guess has no reason to immitate anyone's design as hommage. Clearly it is to profit and support its ever growing market through the heritage of others just cause their design house is running out of creative juices! I myself have a laptop bag that always gets mistaken as Gucci. Not to my detriment though! LOL! Further, the fashion industry is just cramming with brands now recycling designs over and over, making "art for the masses" which is not bad at all but as I've said, if the intellectual property of someone (Gucci in this case) is taken advantage of by someone who is clearly having a field day out of it, something must be done. Gucci is a legacy, Guess is depreciating it. Guess should look back to its roots and regain its originality. Bottomline, Marciano is not Guccio Gucci or Tom Ford.

David May 7th 2009 10:07AM

I've been waiting for this for a while....
look at this shoe from Guess:
http://shop.guess.com/ProductDetails.aspx?style=GMMELROSE&image=GMMELROSE-NATMU&root_category|1599=MEN%27S%20SHOES&category|1601=All%20Shoes&browse=1&rpt=Department.aspx&pt=ProductListing.aspx

and THIS shoe from Gucci:
http://www.gucci.com/us/us-english/us/spring-summer-09/mens-shoes/#0-920236-117711F40T08487

JJ May 7th 2009 2:47PM

whoa that's creepy omghh I really like Guess but damnnn

Anchamo May 7th 2009 3:06PM

ridiculous! never cared for fake designer bags sold on the corner. Guess is too big of a name to be doing this. embarrassing.

just me May 7th 2009 11:07AM

Their products are often very similar, making it necessary to really look at the product to know which one you're seeing. Since I don't buy Gucci or Guess, I think it's sort of fun, and funny. Sometimes even Coach looks like Gucci--it's all derivative. Those in the know will know if it's Gucci or Guess. "Oh, look at that nice purse. What's a twelve year old girl doing with a Gucci bag? Oh, it's just a Guess bag."

Jim May 7th 2009 3:14PM

Good God, Geeze... Great Griper.

Joe Papierz May 7th 2009 3:43PM

Ladies:
Gucci or Guess.............so what? It holds your stuff and isn't stained, torn or full of holes. The design, material and color compliment your outfit, that is what counts isn't it?

Guess should step away from the copies and develop their own identity recognizably different from Gucci. (Maybe work on a new logo? I'm guessing (pun intended) Gucci came first.)

Art May 7th 2009 4:38PM

Designer hand bags say one thing.......... " I was stupid enough to buy this over priced POS. They are for people with more money than brains!

Yarrou May 8th 2009 2:24PM

This is silly, they are fighting over the letters of alphabets. My God! These attorneys!
Sorry, I said God, starts with a “G”. Please don’t sue me. I will say My Lord.