beauty

Cambridge Satchel Company Wins Lawsuit Over Knock-Off 'Zatchels'

August 24, 2012 by Lauren Caruso
shefinds | beauty

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Ever since the Cambridge Satchel hit American soil during (don’t forget, we told you about them first), but with phenomenal success come the inevitable copycats. The company’s it-bag spawned multiple impostors, especially after the brand collaborated with big-name brands like ASOS and Doc Martens. This time, the British satchel company — who was betrayed by its own manufacturer when it used the company’s designs, patterns and leather to set up Zatchels in direct competition — found retribution after settling its case for infringement of intellectual property rights. Zatchels (what an awful name!) will have to pay up big. A big win for the (former) little guys!

A statement from Zatchels regarding the case said, “Whist we strongly consider the claim to be speculative and unfounded, with all of the costs and unpleasantness involved with a high court action, we have decided to settle the claim with a payment. This is to avoid a protracted and long drawn out litigation so that we are able to concentrate on our business, which continues to flourish.”

Zatchels went on to say that they’ll continue to do exactly what they’ve been doing, aka knocking off their former employers.

Considering the original company was founded by Julie Deane and her mother Freda Thomas in 2008 with just $950 and her desire to get her daughter out of the public school where she’d been bullied, Zatchels should certainly be ashamed. Besides, nobody can execute the ahh-mazing Fluoro Satchel like the original makers. If you’re wondering if you’ve been duped, be sure to check for the embossed Cambridge Satchel logo on the back.

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In the full statement, Zatchels said they are satisfied with the outcome:

Whilst we strongly consider the claim to be speculative and unfounded, with all of the costs and unpleasantness involved with a high court action, we have decided to settle the claim with a payment. This is to avoid a protracted and long drawn out litigation so that we are able to concentrate on our business, which continues to flourish. The designs we have been offering over the last few months will continue to be offered and are not affected by this settlement. It is not in any way relevant to our current trading position. The commercial reality of this type of litigation means it was more attractive to settle with a payment, than to continue to argue, which will serve to detract us as the directors from continuing to grow and support our very successful business.

There are no winners or losers in this case and that’s why it was settled at mediation months ago, and not in the High Court. We are very surprised that Cambridge Satchel have decided to release this statement now some months on. There are many manufactures in the UK of the traditional satchel all use the same original patterns that have been around for decades including Cambridge Satchel. Zatchels parent Company have been manufacturing with the same staff for many years and always made leather products and it is these skills that have been applied to making not only satchels but other products that Zatchels offer, and will continue to introduce in the future.

We are sufficiently satisfied with this outcome and now with this behind us we look forward to a long and successful future with Zatchels.

 

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