Herman Miller Files Motion Against Madison Seating
Herman Miller, a global furniture manufacturer recognized for its innovative design and corporate integrity, has filed a legal action in the Northern District of Illinois against Madison Seating for unauthorized use of its trademarks and improper marketing and sales of Herman Miller products, including the iconic Aeron® chair.
“Herman Miller vigorously supports our strong global brand to ensure that the products our consumers purchase exceed their expectations for quality, design, and performance. We also respect – and therefore protect – the reputations of the designers who develop these products, as well as our employees who take great pride in the products they make,” said Brian Walker, CEO.
While companies – and individuals – are able to sell used Herman Miller furniture, they must clearly indicate the condition of the product. Authorized Herman Miller dealers and retailers are required to be truthful and transparent in their advertisements to avoid confusion among consumers.
Herman Miller has a robust enforcement program in place to protect against deceptive businesses, including those that misrepresent the condition of products being sold, that confuse and mislead the consuming public, or that produce and sell counterfeit products. The company will leverage all methods of intellectual property protection to maintain the integrity of the brand, and encourages all companies that also produce and sell original, authentic products to do so as well.
“Misleading business practices are a scourge of the industry,” said Walker. “They negatively impact the entire category by confusing and frustrating customers and consumers, and damaging the brands and reputations of companies like Herman Miller and others that are committed to creating and selling authentic, innovative, high-quality products that last for generations.”
Herman Miller’s legal action is a motion to enforce a previous consent judgment between the company and Madison Seating’s Manager, Levi Cohen. Mr. Cohen previously owned LuxuryChair.com and has restarted his business under the name of Madison Seating. The consent decree explicitly prohibits Mr. Cohen from engaging in Madison Seating’s current infringing activities and imposes specific penalties for violating the judgment.
About Herman Miller
Herman Miller’s inspiring designs, inventive technologies, and strategic services help people do great things and organizations perform at their best. A past recipient of the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Herman Miller designs can be found in the permanent collections of museums worldwide. Innovative business practices and a commitment to social responsibility have also helped establish Herman Miller as a recognized global leader. Herman Miller maintains the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s top rating in its annual Corporate Equality Index and was named among the 50 Best U.S. Manufacturers by Industry Week in 2014. Herman Miller is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.
