Ashley Furniture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is a privately owned manufacturer and importer of bedding and home furniture. It is estimated that in 2006 Ashley Furniture made approximately $3.1 billion in sales with over 11,000 employees internationally. Ashley Furniture was founded in 1945 by Carlyle Weinberger. The company is currently under the management of Ronald G. Wanek as chairman, Todd Wanek as CEO and Dwain Jansson as CIO. According to Ashley Furniture's website, they are the largest "home furniture manufacturing company." [1]
Ashley Furniture operates 296 "Ashley Furniture HomeStores" in the US, Canada and Japan. Ashley Furniture HomeStores stores sell exclusively Ashley Furniture products with the exception of the mattresses. They carry Sealy and Simmons mattresses. [2]
[edit] Legal Matters
In August of 2006, Chicago based bedding manufacturer Eastern Accents along with fabric companies American Silk Mills, Duralee Fabrics, Joan Fabrics, P. Kaufmann Fabrics, Quaker Fabric and Sunbury Textile Mills filed suit against Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. claiming copyright infringement on bedding and fabrics. Read full article here * Home Accents Today
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In May of 2006, American Century Home Fabrics, Inc. (“American Century”) filed a civil action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Ashley Furniture for injunctive relief and damages for the violation of the copyright laws of the United States. American Century claims that Ashley Furniture has directly copied one of their best selling patterns entitled “Union;” a pattern that was originally created by Art Cottage in 2002 and was assigned to them on July 31st, 2002. American Century registered the pattern and received a copyright on November 4, 2005.
This particular pattern has become a well know standard of American Century through out the fabric design and furniture industry. In August of 2004, Ashley Furniture (who used to be a customer of American Century) purchased a sample of the “Union” design directly from them. It is stated that based on "information and belief, Ashley then took that sample and shopped around for sources that could copy and manufacture an exact replica of the pattern." This practice clearly violates the laws set forth by the United States on copyrighted goods. There is very little if any visible difference between the two versions of the “Union” design. Ashley Furniture, has since then imported, manufactured or sold products with a copied version of American Century’s “Union” pattern.
In other legal matters, Ashley Furniture Homestore in Chula Vista,CA has been causing an uproar among customers who were not delivered their goods as promised. For example, one such customer, whom wishes to remain anonymous, purchased a bedroom set that cost over $3,000 in early September of 2006. The dresser piece has been returned nine times because it was delivered with various damages each time. The manager there, Steve, seems to mysteriously never be working the days we call to straighten things out with him. Remember, when it comes to Ashley Furniture Homestore in Chula Vista,CA buyer beware!
