26 Jun Converse sues Swedish shop over ‘fake’ shoes
Iconic US sneaker brand Converse has announced that it is suing Swedish retailer Coop alleging that counterfeit shoes have been sold in its stores.
The US firm, which is owned by Nike, is demanding 2.7 million kronor ($400,000) in compensation from Coop. It is furthermore demanding that Coop be prevented from selling shoes which resemble the original.
Coop had declined to comment on the latest move in the dispute.
“We want to read through the writ first,” said press officer Christine Kullgren.
Converse trainers have become popular again in Sweden in recent years and can be seen adorning the feet of all from hipsters to teens to toddler-toting mums despite their high retail price.
The firm asked a Swedish court in May for permission to search Coop stores after it noticed that Coop was selling its wares for about 399 kronor, half of the usual retail price of 799 kronor.
The company ordered some pairs and found the replicas lacked a number code that Converse uses to brand its genuine goods.
But Coop later rejected Converse’s piracy accusations, claiming that the shoes on sale at Coop Forum stores in Bäckebol, Norrköping, Skövde and Skara were the genuine articles.