PolarOne takes action over customs seizure

Chinese eyewear company PolarOne Eyewear has hit back at allegations that it copied the designs of a rival company which resulted in frames being confiscated from its show stand during the Mido exhibition in Milan earlier this year.

Italian frame manufacturer Revert, owner of sunglass brand Polar, has begun legal action against Lidong Optics Group, claiming that its PolarOne label was a 'clear copy' of the brand. Italian customs officers confiscated the whole PolarOne line at the show (News, 30.04.10).

But Sam Shan, managing director of PolarOne Eyewear, said the company was not imitating Revert and pointed out that PolarOne had been registered as a trademark and had received certification of this from the EU and the Italian government. Shan claimed that despite producing this certification, 1,000 samples were seized from the show stand. As a result, Shan said that PolarOne was unable to display any sunglass samples at Mido, causing the cost of flights and hotels for eight staff members and the show stand at Mido to be wasted and also damaging the brand's image.