Costco in big trouble for selling fake Tiffany rings

The New York Post reports:

Did you buy that Tiffany engagement ring along with six large cans of cling peaches the last time you made a run to Costco?

Well, a Manhattan federal judge said pretrial evidence has established that Costco, the largest US warehouse club chain, had infringed Tiffany’s trademarks by selling engagement rings — and that it confused consumers by using the word Tiffany in display case signs.

Manhattan federal court Judge Laura Taylor Swain rejected Costco claims that Tiffany’s trademarks were invalid because they sought to prevent others from using the word Tiffany as a generic description of a type of ring setting.

“Despite Costco’s arguments to the contrary, the court finds that, based on the record evidence, no rational finder of fact could conclude that Costco acted in good faith in adopting the Tiffany mark,” Swain wrote.

Mistakes were made.