FARFETCH
Brands
EU
Paris Judicial Court grants Lacoste interim relief against Shein
On July 9, 2026, the Paris Judicial Court issued an EU-wide interim order in proceedings brought by Lacoste S.A. against the companies operating the Shein platform from marketing products (namely, clothing, jewelery, and accessories sold through the platform) bearing a crocodile logo allegedly resembling Lacoste's logo. Without ruling definitively on trade mark infringement, the presiding judge found that Lacoste held a strong reputation in France and the EU, that Shein had likely sought to exploit this by selling garments bearing stylized crocodile images, and that there was a clear risk of consumer confusion amounting to likely imitation-based trade mark infringement.
As a result, the court prohibited the Shein companies from marketing any products bearing a crocodile logo across the EU for the duration of the proceedings. This measure was considered necessary given that Shein had continued to sell such products despite an earlier interim order dated April 3, 2025.
The court also ordered Shein to pay Lacoste a provisional sum of EUR110,000 and to publish the decision on its website homepage and applications for one month. Shein responded by noting that the order was interim in nature, that no final ruling had been made, and that it had co-operated by removing the products upon notification. The substantive proceedings remain ongoing.
EU
EUIPO reports on Joint Action Day Pirates 4 results
On July 27, 2026, the EUIPO reported on Joint Action Day Pirates 4, an international operation led by Frontex with EUIPO, Europol, EU Member States, and non-EU countries to disrupt counterfeit-goods networks.
Coordinated checks at border crossings, ports, airports, and logistics hubs across the EU, Serbia, Ukraine, and the U.K. resulted in seizures of over 1.7 million counterfeit and undeclared items with an estimated value of EUR17.4M.
EUIPO provided on-the-ground technical assistance on IP infringement and facilitated information exchange between rights holders and enforcement authorities through its IP Enforcement Portal.
Seized categories included:
- toys
- clothing
- perfumes
- cosmetics
- pharmaceuticals
- detergents
- e-cigarettes
- tobacco products
- electronics
- vehicle parts
- counterfeit non-alcoholic beverages, including 243,860 cans of suspected fake Red Bull.
The operation was implemented under EMPACT, and the EU border recorded 19.7 million detained articles in 2024 with an estimated value of EUR1.5B.
EU
EUIPO reports on the modernized EU design legal framework becoming fully applicable
On July 1, 2026, the EUIPO reported that the modernized EU design legal framework became fully applicable and operational, comprising the codified European Union Design Regulation, a delegated regulation on additional procedural rules, and an implementing regulation on application and registration details.
The framework replaces “Community designs” with “European Union designs”, expands “design” to cover animation, movement, and transition, and expands “product” to include non-physical digital items such as GUIs and spatial arrangements. It supports dynamic representations including 3D and video files, permits up to 10 static views, and allows consistent visual disclaimers.
Procedures are fully electronic, filing date requirements focus on clear identification, the application fee is due within one month, multiple applications may include up to 50 designs across different classes, and new refusal grounds include protected public emblems and signs.
It:
- tightens deferment rules
- clarifies entitlement proceedings
- limits protection to visible features
- extends rights to 3D printing and goods in transit
- introduces limitations for identification and for comment, critique, and parody
- confirms an EU-wide repair clause
- adds the Ⓓ symbol
- simplifies invalidity and fees
- references the Recast Directive transposition deadline of December 9, 2027.
Attorney advertising. The information contained herein is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice. Winston Taylor N.V. and WS SELAS are part of the Winston Taylor network as separate legal entities operating from its offices in the Netherlands and Belgium and France, respectively. Further information on Winston Taylor can be found on our regulatory page at: www.winstontaylor.com. Winston Taylor LLP Headquarters: 300 N. LaSalle Drive Chicago, IL 60654-3406. Phone: +1 (312) 558-5600.
© 2026 Winston Taylor LLP. All rights reserved.