Hard claims from Germany: Did USM Haller copy its legendary design?

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They are a status symbol, furniture from USM Haller. There is hardly a law firm or practice that does not have luxury metal furniture. The Swiss manufacturer from Münsingen BE has a cult. And it always has to deal with counterfeit products. As “Spiegel” reports, it’s up to him now. A Nuremberg salesman wants to prove that the company has largely copied his famous design.

There is a risk of deep scratches on the paint of the Swiss legend. Switzerland launched a long-running lawsuit against a Nuremberg company in 2019, which has now gone through two lawsuits. It is currently pending before the German Federal Court of Justice. The parties do not give anything to each other. Michael Johner, 36, managing director of furniture retailer Konektra, is even threatened with a fine.

The parties to the dispute know each other

He sought contemporary witnesses and ancient prospectuses. And, as Der Spiegel writes, he believes USM can prove it’s copying its classics. Fight has everything. USM has a good reputation to lose. In the event of a supreme defeat in court, new imitators will likely spring up like mushrooms. And ruining the Bernese business.

Exciting: USM Haller and Michael Johner know each other. They have even done business together in the past. Johner joined a company called Swismobilia from Nuremberg (D) in 2016. Business models: Spare parts for USM Haller. And high quality copies. They were supposed to be 15 percent cheaper than the Swiss original.

Doesn’t just sell spare parts

Then he came for a spit. In 2019, USM attorneys contacted Johner. Blame: Swissmobilia sells completely new furniture in addition to spare parts and aggressively promotes it, sometimes with photos of USM originals. Test customers could receive individual parts lists for complete furniture, including assembly instructions on request. In fact, USM employees had made at least three trial purchases from Swissmobilia, according to court documents.

Johner is still in good shape today. After all, he tells “Spiegel” that the Supreme District Court’s decision states that its products are “at least fundamentally of the same quality” as those of USM. Actually a knighthood.

Source :Blick