Jury Finds Oregon Company Infringed on Coach Trademark

A federal jury has found that a Medford, Ore., company infringed on a trademark with a line of key chains that featured an insignia similar to that of the luxury purse maker Coach Inc.

The Portland jury this week ordered Siskiyou Buckle Co. to pay Coach $75,000.

Coach argued the key chains featured its recognizable sideways “C” logo. They were ordered from a Chinese manufacturer for Siskiyou’s largest customer, The Hillman Group, and were sold to retailers Wal-Mart Stores and Lowe’s Companies.

The Oregonian reports that Coach already had sued and settled with the retailers and Hillman.

Siskiyou’s lawyer denied the company had infringed upon Coach’s trademark. According to statements by Siskiyou co-owner Ken Stringer, the Oregon company made no profits from the key chains and in fact incurred losses of $131,000 on the deal.