K-Swiss to receive $30 million in trademark settlement
June 28, 2008
Collective Brands, Inc., which operates Payless shoe stores, agreed to settle a trademark infringement suit brought by K-Swiss, Inc., for $30 million. Story can be found here.
Two thoughts. First, damages for trademark infringement can be very difficult to prove. With this case settling so closely on the heels of the judgment against Collective Brands in the Adidas litigation, one has to wonder if Collective Brands was concerned about another huge judgment. Second, these cases further prove that a company’s intangible assets, e.g., its brand as represented by its trademarks, can be its most valuable assets.
As reported by Reuters, Elizabeth Arden allegedly is impermissibly selling an Oscar de la Renta fragrance in Wal-Mart stores.
