Furniture designer and distributor Core Products Limited, represented by intellectual property specialists Taylors Solicitors, has settled a claim for infringement of its design rights against VidaXL Marketplace Limited and HBI Commerce Limited.

Scottish-based Core Products Limited made its claim against the heavyweight retailers alleging that its Augusta Range of furniture had been copied by VidaXL and HBI Commerce Limited.

Tony Catterall of Taylors, an affiliate lawyer with Anti Copying In Design (ACID), issued proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court on behalf of Core Products Limited, who claimed for an injunction to restrain the Defendants from infringing Core Product Limited’s design rights and unregistered Community design rights in its Augusta Range, delivery up of infringing stock, recall of infringing stock from commerce channels and payment of compensation and costs.

The parties have reached a confidential settlement in the dispute.

Rebecca Horne, an I.P. lawyer at Taylors said, “We are delighted to have assisted Core Products in achieving settlement of this dispute. It is crucial for designers to be able to issue proceedings at economic cost in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court to protect their work from copying, especially against large multi-national corporations. Without the ability to do so, companies like Core Products Limited could end up being pushed out of the design market. We are pleased to have been able to agree a settlement for Core Products within weeks of issuing proceedings.”

Mary Wallace of Core Products Limited said, “Core Products are justifiably proud of our heritage of designing and developing furniture which has specific features especially tailored to UK flat packed furniture buying consumers. It is only by having this dedication and experience in the furniture trade that enables us to develop the pieces we sell and therefore feel the integrity of our products should be protected, the settlement of this case reflects this.”

Dids Macdonald, OBE ACID’s CEO said, “Infringement within the furniture sector is rife and Core Product’s proactive IP strategy has been helped by Taylor’s expertise to achieve their objectives to protect their IP at all costs. This sends a clear anti copying message.”