Court case 'lesson' to sellers of counterfeits

The original POLITE range which was copied by an Oldham woman.

AN OLDHAM woman was taken to court after illegally using someone else's trademark to sell goods on eBay.

Nicola Fletcher, managing director of Equisafety Ltd, contacted the Chronicle after Sandra Gibson copied the logo on her POLITE range of high-vis garments to flog online.

Gibson was ordered by Manchester County Court in June to pay £1,039.76.

Nicola said that she later had to get the bailiffs involved.

Nicola appeared on the BBC programme Dragons' Den in January 2015 and walked away with bids from two of the dragons.

Her company, Equisafety, is a prominent reflective sportswear company.

The POLITE range has been the fastest-selling high-vis range in the UK and has now become a global best-seller.

Nicola told the Chronicle that she wanted this to be a lesson for those selling illegal goods online, as well as wanting to warn her customers to be more vigilant.

"We seem to be getting a lot of people copying us - she was one of them.

"It damages our reputation.

"I got her to stop and sued her in county court.

"The judge said she had to pay me money by a certain date.

"She only paid £400 when she was supposed to pay more than £1,000.

"She refused to pay, so I got the bailiffs in to deal with her.

"She messed me around so much it took over a year to deal with it.

"People like her fill eBay with illegal fakes.

"It damages people like us.

"We've spent money on trademarks and designs. and then someone like her comes and does this."