The UK fashion retailer whose designs were found by the Commercial Court to have been copied by Dunnes Stores said it was "delighted" by the court's judgment. Olivia Kellyreports.
The court yesterday found that Dunnes Stores had infringed the design rights of Karen Millen by copying and selling a woman's shirt and top.
Creative director of Karen Millen Gemma Metheringham said the drive of its parent company Mosaic Fashion to prevent "a copycat's charter" developing in the fashion industry had been recognised and vindicated.
"In 2006, Mosaic Fashions set out to protect the integrity of its designs and to ensure that Dunnes Stores could not sell replica copies of Karen Millen garments. Today's court ruling vindicates the position that Mosaic Fashions has adopted since the inception of this dispute."
The decision was a "a testament to our dedicated and talented team of designers" she said and added that the group was "delighted" with the decision which would benefit the fashion industry as a whole.
"A judgment in favour of the defendants would have provided a copycat's charter to imitate with impunity the designs of fashion retailers. The implications for the fashion industry would have been significant and would have called into question the need to employ talented designers," Ms Metheringham said.
When contacted a spokeswoman for Dunnes Stores said they would be making no statement on the outcome of the case or on whether the company intended to appeal the court's decision
Mosaic Fashions said it would make a substantial donation to the Marie Keating breast cancer awareness foundation from monies recovered from Dunnes Stores.