Following heated allegations of trademark misuse and the news published yesterday of the misleading free shipping advertisement levelled against Williams-Sonoma, the company itself has now filed a lawsuit against Dupe.com, a startup that gained popularity by offering consumers cheaper look-alike furniture options.
The lawsuit accuses Dupe.com of false advertising, unfair competition, and copyright infringement, claiming the platform falsely represents Williams-Sonoma's pricing and uses its images without permission.
Photo: Dreamstime.
Dupe.com, started as a tool to find discounts but shifted to helping users discover similar-looking products at lower prices. For instance, a search for an Eames lounge chair priced at $5,795 on Williams-Sonoma's site may yield alternative options as low as $800 from other retailers, with Dupe.com earning commissions on these sales.
The dispute intensified when Williams-Sonoma alleged that Dupe.com misrepresented its brands in social media posts. In one example, Dupe.com suggested that a West Elm chair was overpriced, offering a cheaper alternative, though the actual price of the West Elm chair was significantly lower than Dupe.com claimed. Williams-Sonoma argues that Dupe.com falsely portrays its business practices and inaccurately implies that its products come from the same factories as competitors.
Williams-Sonoma is seeking to stop Dupe.com from using its copyrighted images and prevent further misleading marketing, as well as to obtain unspecified damages. So far, Dupe.com has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
Source: www.businessofhome.com