Tustin Sportswear Firm Seeks $5 Million in Copyright Dispute

An Orange County sportswear manufacturer filed suit Thursday against The Limited Inc., charging the Ohio-based retail chain with stealing five of its embroidered clothing designs.

Crazy Shirts in Tustin, the trade name of The Mainland Co. Inc., seeks $5 million in damages and an order to stop The Limited from selling more T-shirts with the designs, which Crazy Shirts says closely resemble its copyrighted patterns.

“I’ve seen this happen before, but I’ve never seen it from anybody of their size and reputation,” said Steve Moder, president of The Mainland Co.

Moder said his company filed the suit after one of its merchandise managers noticed a Limited store in the Brea Mall selling a sweat shirt embroidered with a row of ski boots. It was a close copy of a copyrighted Crazy Shirts design, except that the boots’ toes were pointed in the opposite direction, Moder said. Other disputed designs included a compass and a variety of skiing themes.

Executives at The Limited were traveling and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The specialty retailer, which operates more than 4,600 apparel stores, had revenues of $7.24 billion in 1994. In Orange County, The Limited has stores at South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, Brea and in Mission Viejo.

Privately held The Mainland Co. is owned in conjunction with Honolulu-based Crazy Shirts Inc. Together the companies have 900 employees, including 250 in Tustin. Operations there include administration, retail support and manufacturing.