Hurley Sues Old Navy For Allegedly Ripping Off Its Board Short Technology
Categories: Court
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| Old Navy |
| An example of the Old Navy shorts in question. |
All board shorts are not created equal. When Hurley tested its first pair of "Phantoms," constructed with patented technology, it was "like we just walked on the moon," one design exec said.
That was five years ago, and since then, the Costa Mesa-based surfwear company has hailed its Phantom line as "game changing." The shorts are super lightweight, water repellant and feature a firm waistband and "four-way stretch up to 120 percent."
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| Hurley |
| Hurley Phantom board shorts. |
Is Old Navy trying to ride that wave of success? Hurley thinks so, and filed a suit on Aug. 2 in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, claiming that Old Navy has illegally replicated its board-short technology.
"[Old Navy is] exploiting the innovative technology Hurley worked hard to develop," the lawsuit claims.
A pair of Hurley Phantoms run from $55 to $125, while Old Navy Board Shorts are now on sale for $10 to $17.
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