In Pandora Jewellery, LLC v. Chamilia, LLC the United States District Court for the District of Maryland ruled that the interchangeability of Chamilia and Pandora beads “only promotes competition and choice for consumers”.
Chamilia CEO Jeff Julkowski said the ruling has cleared any misinformation that might have previously kept retailers from adding Chamilia to their lines.
“We are thrilled with the court’s ruling and agree with Judge Blake’s assessment that this will promote greater competition and more choice for consumers,” he said.
“In addition to vindicating our long-held position, this ruling will enable Chamilia to serve even more retailers and allow consumers a greater ability to design and personalise their jewellery.”
Meanwhile, Pandora’s Australian brand manager Jeff Burnes said the US District Court ruling is not final as it is part of a larger ongoing case that is still before the court.
“We believe that this case will ultimately be decided at the highest level by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, DC,” he said.
Burnes said that in a similar case in February this year a Florida judge ruled in Pandora’s favour “which was the first step in finding that Biagi Jewellery may have infringed on the patented threading system of Pandora’s charm bracelet”.
He said Pandora anticipated “additional favourable rulings” in the ongoing case, which was also likely to be decided by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
He said the company would “do everything possible to ensure its products are recognised as the originals they are”.