Georges Marciano asking Guess to stop appropriating his name

By

Monica Karski

Published
Mar 19, 2015

Designer and businessman Georges Marciano, who claims to have founded Guess and then left the company in the 1990s, is initiating legal action to reacquire the right to use his name for the commercialization of new products.

This move comes just after the filing of a formal opposition by Guess with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office to prevent him from using the words "Georges Marciano" in his commercial activities.

The press release published on Wednesday by the law firm handling the case, Lecours, Hébert Lawyers Inc., states that back in 1993, when the designer transferred his shares to his brothers, Armand, Maurice and Paul, who is currently the CEO of the brand, Georges Marciano cancelled the "Georges Marciano" name under license and made sure to come to an agreement with them to be able to freely use his name in his own ventures.

In overstepping this agreement, Georges says that Guess is abusing its rights and putting the Georges Marciano business at serious risk.

The founder of Guess, credited with naming the company and directing the original clothing line, and often said to be the designer who brought denim to the forefront of fashion, Georges Marciano wants to continue using his name to offer consumers the style with which he is associated.

"I'm the founder of Guess, but I am first and foremost a fashion designer. My creations are recognized worldwide, so it is essential, both for me and for the public, that the style continue to be associated with the person who created it," asserts Georges Marciano.

In his motion, Georges Marciano, who was born in Marseille and has been established in Montreal for nearly a decade, demands to be compensated for the losses resulting from Guess' opposition to his use of the words "Georges Marciano" as part of his activities and restores the truth about the founding of Guess by stating that he is the founder of Guess with Mr. Georges Atlan.