Cartier sues Tiffany for allegedly stealing jewelry trade secrets and techniques
Two of the world’s most effectively-regarded luxury jewelry brands are established for a authorized battle – with Cartier filing match against Tiffany & Co. on Monday more than statements that its rival stole trade secrets and techniques about a large-conclude product line by selecting one particular of its previous personnel.
Submitted in New York condition courtroom, Cartier’s grievance comprehensive an episode in which Tiffany’s higher management allegedly sought to deal with “disarray” in its superior-conclusion jewellery division by choosing one of Cartier’s junior administrators for a posture she was not competent to fill – a move the plaintiff reported was exclusively inspired by a want for info about Cartier’s “High Jewelry” collection.
The complaint alleges that the staff, recognized as Megan Marino, forwarded private information and facts about Cartier’s High Jewellery assortment to her individual electronic mail days ahead of she resigned from the firm. After she was employed by Tiffany & Co., Marino purportedly presented the details to executives at her new employer.
“Plaintiff Cartier has not only uncovered direct evidence of a former employee’s illegal having of Cartier’s precious confidential data and trade secrets, but through identified investigation Cartier has also opened a window into Tiffany’s disturbing tradition of misappropriating competitive details,” attorneys for Cartier mentioned in a court filing.
In an affidavit attached to the grievance, Marino admitted to forwarding confidential information about Cartier’s operation, together with pricing information and facts and interior presentations about the High Jewelry collection, to her individual email. The information and facts was later on presented to her manager at Tiffany.
Marino stated she gained a job present from Tiffany that involved “a income that was about 30% increased than my salary with Cartier, a indication on bonus, and a discretionary reward prospect, amid other things” – irrespective of what she described as a “lack of experience” needed for the role.
Tiffany fired Marino in February – just weeks just after she started at the business – soon after Cartier knowledgeable its rival about her conduct.
Marino included that she believed Tiffany management was “more fascinated in using the services of me as a resource of information than as a Large Jewellery supervisor.”
Cartier is trying to get damages, as very well as an injunction requiring Tiffany to refrain from utilizing the private information.
“Cartier fully respects the rights of competitors to pursue their professional objectives. In this situation, nevertheless, Tiffany’s industrial ambition crossed the line among the ordinary system of small business and unfair opposition,” Cartier said in a assertion on the lawsuit.
Tiffany pushed again on the allegations contained in the lawsuit.
“We deny the baseless allegations and will vigorously defend ourselves,” the enterprise mentioned in a statement, in accordance to Reuters.
With Article wires
