9th Circuit swivels on trade dress functionality doctrine in favor of iconic Herman Miller office chairs | Hogan Lovells
Eames Chairs Aeron Chair Herman Miller sued Office Star in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for infringement and dilution of its registered and unregistered trade dress in the Eames and Aeron chair designs. A jury trial returned a verdict in favor of Herman Miller for its Eames design, finding that the Eames trade dress was non-functional and awarded nearly $3.4 million for willful trademark infringement and $3 million for dilution. The jury, however, found against Herman Miller for its Aeron design, finding that trade dress to be functional and not protectable, ...
Source: jdsupra.com