Abercrombie & Fitch, whose entirely derivative faux-surf brand Hollister Co. has built a business out of appropriating surf iconography, is reportedly suing Florida-based retailer Surf Style because the company uses the image of a flying gull on several of its products, according to a story in Columbus Business First.
Abercrombie (NYSE:ANF), which declined to comment on the lawsuit, is seeking monetary relief and undisclosed damages and asking that Surf Style be barred from using the gull. . . This isn’t the first run-in between the two businesses over the gull design. Abercrombie said in the lawsuit it sent a cease-and-desist letter to Surf Style last May and that the chain agreed to quit selling the allegedly offending merchandise by September – but didn’t.
From now on designers will have to think twice before they put a bird on it.
[Link: Columbus Business First]
