Portland, Ore., boutique Gilt is suing e-tailer Gilt Groupe, claiming the flash site has tarnished the reputation of the 20-year-old jewelry boutique.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 10 in Portland federal court, alleges trademark infringement, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment, and seeks to cancel many of Gilt Groupe’s federal trademark registrations, as well as unspecified damages.
A statement claims that customers often come into the store to return items from the site.
“[Owner Paula] Bixel’s boutique has been a fixture on the Northwest 23rd shopping scene for decades,” said Elizabeth Milesnick, attorney for Gilt, in the release. “When people walk by her storefront and mistake her unique store for a corporate giant or remark on all the spam they receive from ‘Gilt,’ it is heartbreaking for her.”
The site did not return a request for comment.
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