Counterfeiting
Canada Goose faces major issues with its products being counterfeited. There have been a number of incidents in which counterfeit Canada Goose jackets are sold online through fake websites. Often times these fake coats use fur from dogs or cats instead of coyote fur. In addition, instead of using goose down in the coats, insulation called feather mulch is used. The insulation used in counterfeits is not as effective as goose down and it can often include bacteria and mildew.
To combat this issue, Canada Goose created a webpage outlining their concerns about counterfeiting and what the public can do to report a crime. In 2011, Canada Goose began sewing holograms into every jacket as proof of authenticity.
In January 2012, Canada Goose launched a lawsuit against International Clothiers Inc. in the Federal Court of Canada for trademark infringement. Canada Goose alleged International Clothiers Inc. of intentionally designing a logo and positioning it on jackets to mimic the Canada Goose Arctic Program trademark. The specific International Clothiers Inc. product lines in question were the foreign-manufactured Canada Weather Gear and Super Triple Goose.
Canada Goose claimed that unfair business practices were used including publishing print advertisements to promote the jackets as Canada Goose products. A settlement was reached in November 2012.
In October 2012, Canada Goose won a landmark legal battle against counterfeiters in Sweden. The Disctrict Court of Stockholm, in one of the most significant counterfeit cases in Sweden, found five individuals jointly and severally guilty of felony fraud, trademark infringement and customs offenses. The Court sentenced two of the defendants to serve time in prison and also awarded Canada Goose damages for a total judgement of 701 000 SEK (approximately $105,000 CAD).
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