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Converse in bid to ban 'fake' shoes in Sweden

The Local Sweden
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Converse in bid to ban 'fake' shoes in Sweden
Swedish shop accused of selling 'fake' Converse shoes

Legendary US sneaker brand Converse has asked a Swedish court for permission to search outlets of Swedish retail chain Coop in a bid to clear near-perfect pirated copies of the iconic shoes off the shelves.

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Shoemakers Converse - whose canvas trainers are popular with Hollywood stars like Kristen Stewart as well as with hipsters and toddler-toting mums - noticed that Coop was selling its wares for about 399 kronor ($60), half of the usual retail price of 799 kronor ($120).

The company, which is owned by Nike, ordered some pairs and found the replicas lacked a number code that Converse uses to brand its genuine goods.

Converse has now filed papers to a Stockholm court, asking it be granted permission to search through five of Coop's stores, in what is termed an investigative search warrant (intrångsundersökning).

The Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) daily has asked for comment from Coop, without a response.

Converse wants to get access to invoices that would lead them back to the supplier of the pirated shoes.

The company's Swedish lawyers further stated they wanted access to Coop's digital files in order to go through orders, deliveries, transport bills and other details that would "show the extent of the breach of Converse's rights".

Converse also wants to confiscate the replicas, which sport the brand's logo.

The Converse trend in Sweden has taken off in recent years. SvD reported that while for Swedes white Converse were de rigeur, the Danes favour grey and the Finns go for red.

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