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Friday, 6 May 2016
Gucci apologises for sending warning letters to Hong Kong shops over paper handbag offerings
Luxury brand Gucci and its parent firm Kering have
apologised for sending letters to six Hong Kong stores earlier this week warning
them not to sell fake paper Gucci handbags and fashion items for the deceased.
Gucci apologises for sending warning letters to Hong Kong shops over paper handbag offerings
Italian luxury brand issues statement expressing ‘utmost respect’ for ‘funeral context’, says no legal action will be taken
Jessie Lau 06 May 2016
Luxury brand Gucci and its parent firm Kering have apologised for sending letters to six Hong Kong stores earlier this week warning them not to sell fake paper Gucci handbags and fashion items for the deceased.
In an abrupt and unexpected about-turn on Friday, the luxury group issued a statement expressing its “utmost respect with regards to the funeral context”.
The Italian fashion house said the stores did not have any intention of infringing intellectual property rights, and it would not pursue any legal action or seek compensation.
The brand drew criticism last week after it took its battle against fake goods to a new level – by sending letters to funeral shopkeepers in Hong Kong warning them to stop selling paper Gucci replicas, which they said infringed on Gucci’s trademark. Such paper items are traditionally burned at funerals both in the city and on the mainland as offerings for the dead.
On Friday, in the wake of the controversy, the company released a statement apologising for any offence caused by their notices.
“Gucci would like to reiterate their utmost respect with regards to the funeral context,” the statement said. “We regret any misunderstandings that may have been caused and sincerely apologise to anyone we may have offended.”
The statement went on to say that the warning letters were sent as part of the company’s efforts to protect their global intellectual property, and that Gucci would not be taking legal action against funeral store owners or asking for compensation.
“As highlighted in our letters, we trust that the funeral store owners did not have the intention to infringe Gucci’s trademark,” the statement said.
Charlotte Judet, a spokeswoman for Kering, told the South China Morning Post that the company recently had a “constructive dialogue” with the store owners and had received feedback from them.
Paper tomb offerings are traditionally burned at funerals as gifts for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife. Such items – ranging from paper phones to paper money – are also burned at festivals like Ching Ming, or tomb-sweeping day, as a way to symbolically pay respects to the dead. Many offerings are lookalikes of popular products in China, including cigarettes, luxury goods and even cars.
1 comment:
Gucci apologises for sending warning letters to Hong Kong shops over paper handbag offerings
Italian luxury brand issues statement expressing ‘utmost respect’ for ‘funeral context’, says no legal action will be taken
Jessie Lau
06 May 2016
Luxury brand Gucci and its parent firm Kering have apologised for sending letters to six Hong Kong stores earlier this week warning them not to sell fake paper Gucci handbags and fashion items for the deceased.
In an abrupt and unexpected about-turn on Friday, the luxury group issued a statement expressing its “utmost respect with regards to the funeral context”.
The Italian fashion house said the stores did not have any intention of infringing intellectual property rights, and it would not pursue any legal action or seek compensation.
The brand drew criticism last week after it took its battle against fake goods to a new level – by sending letters to funeral shopkeepers in Hong Kong warning them to stop selling paper Gucci replicas, which they said infringed on Gucci’s trademark. Such paper items are traditionally burned at funerals both in the city and on the mainland as offerings for the dead.
On Friday, in the wake of the controversy, the company released a statement apologising for any offence caused by their notices.
“Gucci would like to reiterate their utmost respect with regards to the funeral context,” the statement said. “We regret any misunderstandings that may have been caused and sincerely apologise to anyone we may have offended.”
The statement went on to say that the warning letters were sent as part of the company’s efforts to protect their global intellectual property, and that Gucci would not be taking legal action against funeral store owners or asking for compensation.
“As highlighted in our letters, we trust that the funeral store owners did not have the intention to infringe Gucci’s trademark,” the statement said.
Charlotte Judet, a spokeswoman for Kering, told the South China Morning Post that the company recently had a “constructive dialogue” with the store owners and had received feedback from them.
Paper tomb offerings are traditionally burned at funerals as gifts for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife. Such items – ranging from paper phones to paper money – are also burned at festivals like Ching Ming, or tomb-sweeping day, as a way to symbolically pay respects to the dead. Many offerings are lookalikes of popular products in China, including cigarettes, luxury goods and even cars.
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