Audemars Piguet Sues Movado, Tommy Hilfiger

Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet filed suit against the Movado Group and Tommy Hilfiger, accusing the two noted brands of “blatant copying” of its Royal Oak watch.

The dispute is over the Tommy Hilfiger Eton watch, which Movado produces under a licensing deal with Hilfiger. Audemars Piguet claims the Eton is “strikingly similar” to the design of its popular Royal Oak watch. 

The company’s legal papers, filed Aug. 13 in Southern District of New York federal court, say that Audemars “has repeatedly protested, in writing” the sale of the watches. They charge that the greatest danger of consumer confusion could come post-sale, and with regards to sponsorship. The papers note the watch bears the Hilfiger logo, but says the labels are “small and not easily discerned.”

A comparison of the Royal Oak and Eton watches, which appeared in the Audemars Piguet legal papers.

The suit charges trade dress infringement, registered trademark infringement, and trade dress dilution. Audemars Piguet seeks an injunction against further watch production, the “destruction” of existing watches and ad materials, and unspecified punitive damages.

Movado declined comment. Hilfiger did not return a request for comment at press time.

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