ORLANDO, Fla. _ Wal-Mart Inc. and other companies have been accused in a federal lawsuit of appropriating a signature design by Rifle Paper Co.
The lawsuit, filed in Orlando, says Wal-Mart and a Canadian importer Beco Industries are intentionally selling sheets, blankets, throws, and bed pillows under the "Mainstays" brand, printed with its popular Spanish Rose Design � without permission.
Rifle was founded by Anna and Nathan Bond in 2008. It specializes in stationery invitations, cards, books and other gift items _ all emblazoned with Anna Bond's colorful artwork.
Rifle doesn't comment on litigation, but the company's branding director Mike Wilkie said success is breeding knockoffs.
"It's frustrating, but it's also somewhat flattering to know that people want to copy the work," Wilkie said.
Randy Hargrove, spokesman for Wal-Mart, said a full response to the allegations would be filed in court.
"We take this seriously, and we're reviewing a copy of the complaint," Hargrove said.
Beco could not be reached immediately for comment on the lawsuit.
Rifle, which reported over $20 million in revenue in 2016, says in the lawsuit that it has sold more than 350,000 products printed with Anna Bond's copyrighted Spanish rose design, to major national and international retail outlets, including Barnes & Noble, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Hallmark, Anthropologie, and Birchbox.
Rifle has also licensed the design to companies like Paper Crown and Paperless Post for use on fabric, phone cases and other items.
The lawsuit shows an image of a similar design on a product imported by Beco.
"Beco simply swapped the colors of the larger rose and smaller rose and removed the detail work in the leaves and baby's breath stems," the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit accuses Beco of helping other manufacturers use the knockoff design on all kinds of products under the "Home Logic" brand, including furniture, dishware, water bottles, shower curtains and wastebaskets.
Rifle says it sent a letter to Wal-Mart demanding that it stop selling the merchandise, but the retail giant hasn't complied, according to the suit.
Wal-Mart has been forced to settle trademark lawsuits in the past, including an undisclosed amount paid to settle a lawsuit by Adidas in 2008.
