H.P. fabric maker sues two firms over copyright

Tag : Upholstery Fabric

Culp Inc. is suing two out-of-state companies, alleging they violated acopyright design on its fabric.
High Point-based Culp, which makes upholstery and mattress fabrics,filed the suit in the middle district of North Carolina U.S.District Court late last month against Marriott International Design & Construction Services Inc. and Florida-based Valley Forge Fabrics.
In it, the firm says it developed its “Strongest Link”fabric in 2002. As part of an exclusive agreement between Culp andNew York-based Duralee Fabrics Ltd. (which was to produce and sellthe fabric), Duralee submitted the fabric in a bid to MarriottInternational Design in 2005.
But because Marriott wanted rights to the fabric if selected, andDuralee would not agree to it, Duralee was excluded from the bid,according to the suit.