Amazon Can't Duck Williams-Sonoma Suit Over Furniture Sales

Judge says trademark-infringement claims are a ‘close call’
Issue is whether consumers are confused by Amazon listings

Amazon’s “Rivet” line includes products that are “strikingly similar” to Williams-Sonoma’s West Elm brand, including a $300 orb chair the household goods maker introduced two years ago, according to Williams-Sonoma’s complaint.Source: Court Documents

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By Robert Burnson

May 2, 2019 at 11:01 PM UTC

Updated on

May 3, 2019 at 12:26 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Amazon.com Inc. failed to dodge a lawsuit that accused it of trying to trick shoppers into thinking it was an authorized reseller of Williams-Sonoma products.

Williams-Sonoma filed the trademark-infringement lawsuit last year to protest a section of the Amazon website that displays hundreds of its products and doesn’t make clear that the products aren’t coming directly from Williams-Sonoma.