A new motion was filed last week in the ongoing battle over the rights to the interlocking CH design used by Chrome Hearts. Earlier this year, Chrome Hearts sued Shein, Fashion Nova, and over 100 other companies for trademark infringement. Due to the overwhelming number of defendants, Chrome Hearts is asking the court to streamline the discovery process and consolidate the cases into a handful of groups of similarly situated defendants. The motion was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on Thursday, September 1, 2023.
In January 2023, Chrome Hearts filed a trademark lawsuit in a California federal court against more than 100 companies, including Shein and Fashion Nova, for allegedly selling products featuring the brand’s interlocking ‘CH’ logo without authorization.
The new motion seeks to consolidate the 100-plus lawsuits into groups of similarly situated defendants for more efficient and streamlined discovery. This will ease the burden of discovery for both Chrome Hearts and the defendants.
The proposed consolidation would categorize the defendants into smaller groups based on factors such as the nature of their alleged infringement, their relationship to each other, and their geographic location. For instance, the consolidation will merge all defendants who operate online marketplaces, those that primarily sell counterfeit goods, and those based in a specific region.
Chrome Hearts’ goal is to cut down on duplicative discovery by allowing similar defendants to collectively respond to discovery requests on behalf of their group, saving time, effort, and resources for all parties involved and avoid unnecessary litigation costs.
This consolidation is also supported by the fact that the defendants are all accused of infringing the same trademark, the interlocking ‘CH’ logo. By consolidating the cases, the court can address the infringement claims efficiently and comprehensively.
The judge has yet to rule on the motion, but a hearing is set for October 6, 2023, to discuss the consolidation further.
Chrome Hearts’ aggressive approach to protecting its trademark is in response to the surge in counterfeit products flooding the market in recent years. Counterfeit goods not only damage the brand’s reputation, but they also deprive the company of revenue and undermine consumer trust. The new motion to consolidate the cases demonstrates Chrome Hearts’ commitment to combating trademark infringement and safeguarding its valuable intellectual property. This case serves as a reminder to all businesses of the importance of protecting their trademarks and taking swift action against infringers to prevent further damage and preserve brand integrity..
