Arvind to Pay Ralph Lauren $3.2 Million in USPA Settlement

Ralph Lauren Corp., the United States Polo Association and USPA’s Indian licensee appear to have reached a resolution in their longstanding trademark dispute. Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd. has agreed to pay $3.2 million to Ralph Lauren Corp. to settle the more than decade-long battle between the American designer brand, USPA and USPA’s Indian licensee. Arvind Ltd. informed the Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday that the settlement followed “good faith discussions” between the parties to resolve allegations that Arvind had failed to comply with a 2003 agreement calling for USPA merchandise to provide disclaimers indicating that USPA isn’t affiliated with Ralph Lauren. The settlement involved no admission of wrongdoing by any of the parties. Judge Thomas Griesa of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York last year rejected a complaint by Ralph Lauren Corp. against USPA and Arvind and sent the case back for arbitration in Bangalore before a three-judge panel. Griesa cited the 2003 settlement, which called for disputes between the parties pertaining to apparel to be resolved through arbitration rather than litigation and, in cases involving a licensee or sublicensee, for matters to be considered in the “principal place of business” of the licensee. The two firms have waged something

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