Solid 21 and Pierce Bainbridge Go to War with RED GOLD Infringers

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Solid 21, Inc. ("Solid 21") and its counsel at Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP ("Pierce Bainbridge") have announced that they will continue to vigorously pursue any infringers of Solid 21's famous trademark, RED GOLD®.  Chris Aire, owner and founder of Solid 21, has used the RED GOLD® mark to brand his most prestigious line of jewelry and watches since 1989.  More recently, members of the watch and jewelry industries began using Solid 21's trademark in connection with high-end watches and jewelry without permission.  

On Friday, Solid 21 filed suit against Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, also known as Richemont, a Switzerland-based luxury goods holding company and its subsidiaries Baume & Mercier SA, IWC International Watch Co. AG dba IWC Schaffhausen, Montblanc International GmbH, and Officine Panerai-Firenze SA in the Southern District of New York.  In its complaint, Solid 21 alleges trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution and other related claims.

"Unauthorized use of the RED GOLD® mark has created confusion among consumers in the marketplace," says Pierce Bainbridge partner David L. Hecht. "Infringers, including members of both the watch and jewelry industries, have attempted to free ride on the renown of Solid 21's intellectual property – and we're here to stop it."

Added Aire, "Confusion regarding the origin of products obviously has a negative impact on my business."  Aire believes that reputation and perception is everything when it comes to his high-end clientele, which includes much of the Hollywood elite, from Angelina Jolie, to Halle Barry, to supermodel Liya Kebede, and hip-hop royalty Jay-Z. 

Aire further announced that he has selected Pierce Bainbridge to defend his intellectual property rights, exclusively: "For the past six months, I've had the pleasure of working with David Hecht and his team at Pierce Bainbridge.  They have demonstrated not only fine lawyering but keen business insight.  I sleep better knowing that I've got the best team I've had the privilege of working with on our side."

About Solid 21:
Forbes describes Mr. Aire, owner of Solid 21, Inc., also known as the "Iceman" and the "King of Bling," as an internationally famous master craftsman sought out for his handmade designs of dramatic diamond jewelry and watches.  Although Aire's family was successful in Nigeria, he came to the United States to pursue the American dream.  He started with nothing, fending for himself while paying his way through college. Not only has Aire built his own business from the ground up, but he is also very focused on giving back to those in need: Aire contributes a portion of all Solid 21 sales to philanthropic efforts focused on access to clean water and education to Nigerians.

About Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP:
Pierce Bainbridge is a top-tier business litigation law firm with offices in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C.  Pierce Bainbridge deploys cutting-edge technology and applies disruptive organizational principles to obtain the best litigation result on the modern-day litigation battlefield.  Due to the firm's unprecedented growth, the American Lawyer posed the question, "Is This the Fastest-Growing Firm in Big Law?"  David L. Hecht is co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Group and co-manages its New York office.

SOURCE Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP