Finnegan prevails in U.S. trademark opposition for Emilio Pucci

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board granted judgment in favor of Italian design house Emilio Pucci (subsidiary of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy), finding that the defendant’s mark EMIDIO TUCCI for apparel and accessories is confusingly similar to the client’s long-used EMILIO PUCCI mark for fashion products. In response to submissions showing extensive use of EMILIO PUCCI since the early 1950s on a wide variety of clothing and other goods, the Board found that the mark had developed “substantial renown” in the field of apparel and accessories and become a “well-established brand.” Pucci defeated defendant’s argument that the expensive nature of Pucci’s products limited its renown to a small group of sophisticated purchasers (mostly women) by submitting extensive evidence showing broad public recognition of the mark.