Cost Plus Seeks Name Change at World Market Center

June 17, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on June 2007 Cost Plus, Oakland, Calif., is trying to prevent World Market Center in Las Vegas from using the “World Market” in its operations and promotions.

Cost Plus Management Services said in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in February that World Market Center infringes on the name of its chain of Cost Plus World Market stores, which total 286 stores in 35 states according to court documents.

Cost Plus said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued 23 federal registrations to World Market for World Market and Cost Plus World Market that include “World Market,” “World Market & Globe Design,” “Cost Plus World Market” and other variations.

Cost Plus World Market’s complaint seeks statutory damages of up to $1 million on each “counterfeit mark per type of services and/or goods sold or offered for sale by the defendant.”

A Cost Plus spokesman did not return a phone call Friday requesting information, and World Market Center declined to elaborate on the ongoing issue.

“We are actively engaged in efforts toward finding resolution of the matter; and therefore, it would be inappropriate to make any further

comment at this time,” said Dana Pretner Andrew, director of marketing and public relations at World Market Center via e-mail.

In December, World Market Center itself filed a complaint in Clark County District Court against Las Vegas retailer Dreamscape Inc., alleging the retailer sent a letter to customers indicating the store would change its name to “World Market Liquidators” and provide WMC products to the public at wholesale prices.

WMC sought an injunction against Dreamscape’s use of the “World Market Center” and “World Market Center Las Vegas” marks.