Levi’s sues Australian clothing brand Globe over ‘blatant copying’ of tabs on pockets

Global jeans giant Levi’s has launched legal action against Australian clothing company Globe and one of its brands for sewing tags on to pockets – which it says is “blatant copying” of its trademark design. The US denim giant made the same claim 15 years ago against the same brand, S-Double, founded by Shawn Stussy and owned by Melbourne-headquartered Globe. Levi Strauss and Co regularly files lawsuits over the small fabric tab on the outside edge of its jeans’ and shirts’ pockets, with Yves Saint Laurent and Brunello Cucinelli among the brands taken to court in recent years. Levi’s products have had pocket tabs since 1936, according to its website. Court filings in the northern district of California show Levi’s alleges the brand, S-Double, is guilty of trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, false advertising and “blatant copying”. Levi’s alleged it had lost sales and faced “incalculable and irreparable damage to [its] goodwill, reputation and standing with consumers”. It alleged the brands had targeted it by infringing its trademarks and that they knew their use of the pocket tab would harm Levi’s. “The Tab trademark is famous and recognised around the world and throughout the United States by consumers as signifying authentic, high-quality [Levi’s] garments,” the filing reads. …