Intellectual Property Law

Abercrombie & Fitch Sues in Seattle for Cybersquatting and Unfair Competition

By Michael Atkins

Screen shot from defendants’ Web site at www.aberceombie.com

Subtlety isn’t their thing.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. alleges that unknown defendants not only registered a truckload of domain names that are confusingly similar to its ABERCROMBIE and HOLLISTER registered trademarks, but those domain names resolve to Web sites that sell products that compete with Abercrombie & Fitch’s products, including products that allegedly are pirated from Abercrombie.

On December 10, Abercrombie filed suit in the Western District against John Does 1-10. Its complaint alleges cybersquatting, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.

Many of the domain names allegedly at issue include misspellings of ABERCROMBIE and HOLLISTER, such as aberceombie.com, abercromble.com, hollioster.com, and hiollister.com. 

Abercrombie alleges the Western District has personal jurisdiction over the defendants because they have conducted business engaged in torts here. 

Defendants have not yet appeared or answered the complaint.

The case cite is Abercrombie & Fitch Co. v. John Does 1-13, No. 10-1998 (W.D. Wash.).

Full post as published by Seattle Trademark Lawyer on December 12, 2010 (boomark / email).