TJ Hughes pays out damages after selling fake Fred Perry shirts

North West retailer TJ Hughes has been forced to pay damages to fashion brand Fred Perry after selling fake shirts.

Liverpool firm Lewis’ Home Retail Limited, which trades as TJ Hughes, was found to be selling counterfeit polo shirts bearing the Fred Perry name and the brand’s laurel wreath logo, both of which are registered trademarks.

The case saw TJ Hughes accept that it infringed Fred Perry’s trademark rights and agree to pay damages and legal costs. The company also committed to not selling fake Fred Perry garments in future.

TJ Hughes confirmed it sold just under 2,500 of the fake Fred Perry shirts.

The retailer has also delivered up a further 755 items to Fred Perry as part of the settlement.

A statement from the fashion brand read: “The laurel wreath is more than a logo to us – it’s a badge of honour that has always sat over the heart of everybody who wears a Fred Perry Shirt, and we will always protect it.

“We will not hesitate to enforce our intellectual property rights when they are infringed, and we will continue to take action against the sellers and manufacturers of counterfeit versions of our garments.”

It continued: “We take pride in the quality of how all of our products are manufactured and will always take action against those who would damage our reputation and relationship with consumers by producing counterfeit goods.”

Fred Perry is headquartered in Clerkenwell, London.

The firm was represented in the trademark case by Andrew Stone, senior associate in the intellectual property department at law firm Clarke Willmott LLP.

Andrew commented: “This action against Lewis’ Home Retail Limited t/a TJ Hughes highlights Fred Perry’s unshakeable resolve to ensure that its intellectual property rights are enforced.

“This case also highlights the fact that retailers must take all necessary steps to ensure the provenance of the goods which they offer for sale.”