Fashion | 03.07.2008
Marimekko Fights Dolce & Gabbana Over Famous Flowers
The Finnish textile design company is fighting Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana to protect a trademark on its signature "Unikko" poppy print.
D&G has filed an application at the European Union's agency for registered trademarks to declare Marimekko's Unikko trademark invalid, the Finnish company said in a statement on Thursday, July 3.
"Marimekko currently estimates that there are no grounds for Dolce & Gabbana's application for a declaration of invalidity and that the matter does not affect Marimekko's operations or the company's assessment of the outlook for the remainder of 2008," Marimekko added in the statement.
German court granted injunction
Unikko is a protected trademark in the EU, Norway and the US. Marimekko claims Dolce & Gabbana has been using its floral pattern without permission, and said it had filed suit against the Italian firm in Hamburg earlier this year to block it from using the design.
The district court had granted an injunction on sales and marketing of certain D&G products in Germany.
"Marimekko is considering further measures in the matter," the company said, adding that it planned to respond to the Dolce & Gabbana application before the deadline on Sept. 25.
The Unikko poppy pattern was designed by Maija Isola in 1964 for Marimekko, but experienced a resurgence recently when it was seen decorating a range of products from bags to shower curtains.
Marimekko designs also hit the high street this year when the Finnish company licensed several of its patterns to retailer H&M for a summer collection.
