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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
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Beth
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I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Report: Williams-Sonoma Sues Target
MINNEAPOLIS (December 18) -- Williams-Sonoma has filed a lawsuit against Target Corp. for copying its designs on a variety of goods, from Christmas stockings to candleholders, according to The (Minneapolis) Star Tribune.
The lawsuit, filed by Williams-Sonoma “suggests that Target hides behind its vendors, insisting they indemnify the corporation from such lawsuits, at the same time it specifies precisely what products look like,” the paper reported.
The retailer said the stocking infringement is part of a “long-standing pattern of copying by Target of [Williams-Sonoma] designs for rugs, linens, tableware, furniture, lamps and other products.”
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Posted 12/18/06 4:22 PM  |
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Lauren
Very Happy!
Member since 10/06 3917 total posts
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
That's very interesting!
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:24 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Williams-Sonoma would also include Pottery Barn
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:25 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
But is Target actually designig (copying) the items, or is it the vendors? It will be interesting to see the outcome of this.....
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:26 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Posted by dpli
But is Target actually designig (copying) the items, or is it the vendors? It will be interesting to see the outcome of this.....
Target has there own private label company called TSS- based out of Minn.
( Target Scourcing Services)
they used to use a NYC company- that does the bloomindales stuff- AMG
I know with the Calivin Klein type bedding from a few years back- Target won- but that was before they were scourcing there own products
I think Target will win this one also- this kind of stuff is VERY hard to prove-
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:29 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7537 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Hmmmmmmm - so that's why the stuff at Target is so nice 
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:29 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Maybe Williams Sonoma can stop charging $20 for 1 mug and then this wouldn't be an issue 
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:33 PM |
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Smileyd17
kids
Member since 5/05 20997 total posts
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Mommy
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Maybe Williams Sonoma can stop charging $20 for 1 mug and then this wouldn't be an issue
So true!
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:34 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7537 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Maybe Williams Sonoma can stop charging $20 for 1 mug and then this wouldn't be an issue
And $18 for hot chocolate and $32 for a chocolate cake that I have to COOK myself! 
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:34 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Posted by MrsNYPDsGirl
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Maybe Williams Sonoma can stop charging $20 for 1 mug and then this wouldn't be an issue
And $18 for hot chocolate and $32 for a chocolate cake that I have to COOK myself!
seriously! I always want to buy everything in there- but then I remind myself that I am not even a good cook- and leave!
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:36 PM |
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
target even seems to copy the adds of pottery barn and crate and barrel
not an easy suit for wilma sonoma to win - designs are not as protected as other things
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:40 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Posted by Beth1210
Posted by MrsNYPDsGirl
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Maybe Williams Sonoma can stop charging $20 for 1 mug and then this wouldn't be an issue
And $18 for hot chocolate and $32 for a chocolate cake that I have to COOK myself!
seriously! I always want to buy everything in there- but then I remind myself that I am not even a good cook- and leave!
 awww Beth! you are so cute 
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:40 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
I find the infringement stuff interesting. I do think that if someone designs something, they should have exclusive rights to it, but I do see it as different target markets. Generally, I am not buying much in Williams Sonoma because it is too $$$ for me.
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:43 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
Posted by dpli
I find the infringement stuff interesting. I do think that if someone designs something, they should have exclusive rights to it, but I do see it as different target markets. Generally, I am not buying much in Williams Sonoma because it is too $$$ for me.
unfortunatley- it doesn't work that way- recently one of products was a victim of this- and there really isn't anything we can do- unless you have a patent on everything- but that is not possible
if you put the two products next to each other- they almost look the same- and they are at the SAME store!
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:46 PM |
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evnme
My little lamb
Member since 8/05 12633 total posts
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aka momma2b
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
hmmm.....
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:50 PM |
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TheLorax
LOVE
Member since 2/06 5581 total posts
Name:
Suzanne / SuzBride
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
SOOO true. Our duvet cover is from PB, and we saw one at Target that was a spitting image. I was a little POed cause it was WAY cheaper, but alas.....
Message edited 12/18/2006 4:58:24 PM.
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| Posted 12/18/06 4:58 PM |
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
that is correct - because at best designs only have copyright protection if you do not file dor a design patent - design patents take about a year to get
the problem with copyright protection is you are not protected against someone creating the same thing without seeing your design - and anything that is functional is not covered by copyright or design patent - so all these companies have to do is let one set of deseigners look at crate and barrel products, wil,a sonoma, and pottery barn - say features such as color, christmas decoration - descriptive terms and give to a group who have not seen the design and they create the same thing - reverse engineering
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| Posted 12/18/06 5:01 PM |
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lululu
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 9511 total posts
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
LNT's also copies pottery barn and crate and barrel.
I got stocking holders from target that look just like some that are sold in pottery barn - for about 25% of the price.
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| Posted 12/18/06 5:27 PM |
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alnem
This is gonna be a good year!
Member since 2/06 9562 total posts
Name:
Emily
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Re: I thought the stuff at Target looked Familar!
so funny! cause whenever i'm in WS or PB i find stuff i love and DH will always say to me "you'll find the same thing at target for cheaper"!
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| Posted 12/18/06 8:42 PM |
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