Ralph Lauren facing patent claim over LED handbags

A US designer has sued Ralph Lauren for patent infringement in a case that centres on the fashion brand’s handbags with an illuminated interior.

In a lawsuit filed at the US District for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, Jimmy Bryan has accused Ralph Lauren, alongside handbag company Leoht and crowdfunding website Kickstarter, of infringing two of his patents.

The case centres on two patents, US numbers 6,340,235 and 6,637,909, which both cover “electric accessory systems” that light up and can be used to charge electric devices.

The ‘235 patent was granted in 2002 and the ‘909 patent in 2003.

Bryan’s complaint centres on Ralph Lauren’s Ricky Bag With Light, which contains LED lights and a USB port.

According to the complaint, filed on August 19: “Ralph Lauren has infringed and continues to infringe the [patents] by making, using, offering to sell, selling, distributing, and/or importing into the US its Ricky Bag With Light.”

Bryan’s complaint added that Leoht’s handbag, the Leoht Tote, with a built-in battery, chargers, interior lighting and wireless recharging, also infringes the patents.

Leoht has infringed and continues to infringe the patents by making, using, selling, distributing, and/or importing [the product], the complaint said, adding that Leoht used Kickstarter to generate funds for the product.

The complaint said that Kickstarter has infringed or otherwise “contributed to and/or otherwise induced Leoht to infringe” the patents by providing the “means, methods, and platform” for the design and marketing.

Bryan is seeking both injunctive relief and damages.

“Plaintiff is entitled to recover damages adequate to compensate it for defendants’ infringing activities in an amount to be determined at trial, but in no event less than reasonable royalties, together with interest and costs,” the complaint said.

Kickstarter declined to comment.