May 11, 2023
Architectural Brand, RBW, Sues “Knock-Off” Imitator
One project quote, two samples and then a stolen order with imitation products. Allegedly.
Rich Brilliant Willing, more commonly referred to as RBW in architectural lighting circles, has filed a lawsuit stemming from a lost lighting order for a California hotel, which according to RBW, was fulfilled by a company that sold imitation light fixtures at a lower price.
Hotel June, a luxury hotel in West Los Angeles, was undergoing a multi-million-dollar remodel 3-4 years ago and the stakeholders involved in the project selected the RBW Brim sconce as a wall-mounted light fixture in all guest rooms. According to the complaint, the project specification was written by interior design firm, Studio Collective. The procurement company involved in the project, Canoe Hospitality, engaged with RBW to explore the possible use of RBW’s LED sconce, Brim, to be used on the headboards in guest rooms.
Timeline:
May 2018:
RBW shipped two sample 300-lumen, 2700K, Brim sconces to Canoe Hospitality.
November 13, 2018:
RBW applied for a design patent with the USPTO
November 13, 2018: (Same day)
RBW provided a quote to Canoe in the amount of $111,402.13 for 599 Brim sconces and 21 Hoist sconces.
June 2020:
The USPTO granted the design patent to RBW.
April 28, 2023:
RBW filed a lawsuit against Canoe Hospitality, Studio Collective and Hotel June in U.S. District Court for the District of Central California.
RBW's Claims
RBW asserts that Studio Collective, while initially considering the Brim sconce for the hotel's interior design, eventually decided to create "knockoff" copies of RBW's patented design. These alleged copies, were purportedly offered for sale and installed in Hotel June's guest rooms.
Furthermore, RBW claims that Studio Collective highlighted RBW as a major contributor to the design of the Hotel June guest rooms in Premier Hospitality International Magazine. However, RBW asserts that the knockoff fixtures, rather than the authentic Brim sconces, were ultimately used.
RBW contends that Canoe and Studio Collective infringed on its design patent by importing, selling, and offering the knockoff sconces. RBW is asking the court for an accounting of profits from the defendants' sales and damages, including lost profits, resulting from the alleged infringement.
Court documents show that the defendants were served with the complaint, but haven’t yet filed their answer with the court. We reached out to Canoe and Studio Collective for comment and they did not immediately reply.
