What’s in a name? Costco finds out

New York – What’s in a name? When that name is Tiffany, as Costco discovered, potentially some hefty financial penalties.



Federal judge Laura Taylor Swain has ruled in favor of Tiffany & Co. in a suit the luxury retailer initially brought against Costco Wholesale Corp. in February 2013. The civil suit sought damages for what Tiffany said were fake “Tiffany” engagement rings Costco sold at one of its stores in Huntington Beach, California.



Costco contested the suit, claiming the term “Tiffany” is used generically for a specific type of ring setting and was not an infringement on the Tiffany brand. However, Tiffany produced Costco emails asking designers to copy specific Tiffany ring designs, among other evidence.



Costco will have to pay any earnings it made from the rings since Feb. 14, 2007 to Tiffany. However, Swain ruled Costco does not have to provide any other fiscal information to Tiffany.