Weave joins suit against Ashley
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, September 18, 2006
Brussels, Belgium — Fabric supplier Weave Corp. has joined other companies suing furniture maker Ashley Furniture Inds. and its Southwestern Furniture of Wisconsin top-of-the-bed division, claiming copyright infringement.
Weave CEO Roger Berkley said he learned a Weave design was among the fabric patterns allegedly copied and sold by Ashley and Southwestern.
The suit, filed in federal court in Greensboro, N.C., claims Ashley and Southwestern deliberately copied at least 14 collections from fabric suppliers American Silk Mills, Duralee Fabrics, Joan Fabrics, P/Kaufmann, Quaker Fabric, Sunbury Textile Mills and Weave, and home textiles producer Eastern Accents.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to order Ashley and Southwestern to stop selling the designs and to pay unspecified damages. Ashley did not respond to a request for comment on the case.
