The “Imported from Detroit” tagline used by Chrysler to launch its redesigned models last year has made many a headline; not always in the way intended, though.
Its award-winning 2011 Super Bowl commercial was copied by Audi in a German ad for its A6 Avant leading to a legal dispute with Eminem, while the Pentastar brand was also embroiled in a legal battle with a clothing company.
Chrysler sued Motown-based clothing retailer PureDetroit in March 2011 for copyright infringement as it started selling merchandise with the “Imported from Detroit” logo right after the Super Bowl ad aired.
The clothing company counter-sued saying that Chrysler, which had launched its own merchandise, had no intellectual rights over the message. Pure Detroit won the first round after a Federal Judge ruled that Chrysler couldn’t have the phrase for itself.
Of course, this was far from over as the carmaker continued its legal battle against the clothing retailer. The latter, replied that Chrysler was misleading the public since its merchandise, as well as three of its models, are not even made in Detroit.
According to a DetNews report, after a year of legal battles, the two companies have agreed to a mediation session. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Hiuchaniuk gave both companies an April 3 deadline, by which they have to report whether the mediation process was successful.
