Sterling Jewelers has sued Florida jewelry company Five
Dollar Store, alleging that the Fort Piece, Fla.–based store is selling pieces
that infringe on its Jane
Seymour line.
In court papers filed June 2, Sterling claims that the Five
Dollar Store has been “deliberately trading off the success of the ‘Open Hearts
by Jane Seymour’ jewelry collection, [and] has intentionally copied,
reproduced, distributed, and sold unauthorized copies of the copyrighted
designs.” The suit seeks an injunction against further sales and unspecified
damages.
Sterling said it learned about the jewelry in question
through a retailer that was selling the pieces, adding that the company sold the
items “to retailers in the weeks leading up to the 2011 Mother’s Day holiday in
order to capitalize on the popularity of gifts of jewelry on this holiday.”
Sterling has engaged in numerous
lawsuits over the copyright for its Jane Seymour line. The company says its
gross revenue from the line “has reached several million dollars.”
Five Dollar Store did not return a call from JCK for comment.
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