Architect Frank Gehry sued over namesake jewelry collection
AZ Central.com, AZ
Associated Press
May. 23, 2007 12:00 AM
LOS ANGELES – World-renowned architect Frank Gehry is being sued over a line of jewelry he designed for Tiffany & Co. that incorporates his trademark fish shapes and free-form aesthetics.
Circa Publishing Enterprises LLC of Culver City, Calif., contends that it had a deal with Gehry for the exclusive rights to produce, distribute and sell Gehry-trademarked jewelry and gift items.
The suit involves the Frank Gehry Collection, unveiled last year. Most of the jewelry, including earrings, rings and other items, range in price from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.
Gehry was out of the office and not immediately available for comment Tuesday, according to an e-mail from his representatives.
According to the lawsuit, Circa introduced Gehry and his Gehry Design LLC of Los Angeles to Tiffany to explore producing a jewelry line several years ago. Circa was supposed to receive half of the net proceeds from the sales.
But the suit, filed Friday in state Superior Court, contends Gehry and his company never provided Circa with a copy of the Tiffany agreement or sales and earnings figures, and thus Circa cannot determine how much it is owed under the original contract.
The suit seeks unspecified damages and alleges fraud, breach of contract and unfair business practices, among other things.
