Hong Kong graphic designer sues British luxury leather brand Smythson over wallet design
Flora Leung Kei-yiu files writ at High Court alleging copyright infringement
A local graphic designer is suing British luxury leather brand Smythson over alleged copyright infringement.
Flora Leung Kei-yiu said in a writ filed at the High Court on Tuesday that the brand had copied her design and imported the product into Hong Kong.
A design for card slots in a wallet manufactured by the firm was said to be substantially similar to that of Leung’s products.
“In particular, [Smythson] has adopted a geometric design which is very similar to the signature design feature in the card slots,” according to her writ.
Leung, who launched her own brand “Matter Matter” in July 2013, claimed she was questioned by a handbag designer in Milan in February regarding the originality of the design of her products.
The handbag designer was said to have alleged that Leung’s design was copied from Smythson’s one.
Leung claimed it took her substantial time and effort to explain to the handbag designer that her products had come onto the market long before the British brand’s alleged infringing ones did.
The Hong Kong designer went on to say that a retailing outlet selling her wallet in April last year had stopped obtaining supplies from her thereafter.
The shop purportedly started to sell Smythson’s infringing products subsequently in the same year.
Leung said the British brand had denied infringement and claimed the design for the alleged infringing products was conceived by the firm months prior to the publication of her design.
She asked the court to order the British brand to stop copying the design, while claiming an unspecified amount in compensation.
According to its official website, the luxury leather manufacturer is a holder of three royal warrants, including one from Queen Elizabeth in 1964. To be bestowed the honour, the manufacturer met the requirement that it had supplied goods or services for households of the British royal family for at least five years.
Royal warrants are intended to demonstrate service, quality and excellence of the highest calibre and are highly prized.