Nordstrom must drop Charlotte apparel brand

Nordstrom Inc. was ordered by a judge to stop selling Quiksilver Inc.’s Charlotte-brand apparel to end a trademark lawsuit by a New York accessories firm.

The ruling in favor of GMA Accessories Inc., which makes apparel for chain stores under the brand names Charlotte and Capelli, was signed Sunday by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in New York. Quiksilver is still a defendant in the case.

Nordstrom is “permanently enjoined from the use of the word Charlotte or any marks likely to cause confusion with the word Charlotte,” Marrero said in the judgment. Nordstrom also dropped its counterclaim that GMA engaged in fraud at the patent office.

Closely held GMA sued in December, accusing Quiksilver and Nordstrom of violating U.S. trademarks for Charlotte that were registered by GMA beginning in 1999 for use on clothing, hats, footwear, bags and other accessories.

Quiksilver, based in Huntington Beach, started illegally using Charlotte in 2006 for various items in its Roxy line of women’s clothing, GMA said in the complaint. Nordstrom infringed on the trademark by selling the goods, GMA said.