By Richard M. Barron,Staff Writer

HIGH POINT — Universal Furniture has won a lawsuit alleging that a New Jersey company copied and sold Universal’s furniture designs as its own.

Collezione Europa USA Inc. copied furniture from two lines sold by Universal, a judge concluded, and in some cases actually passed off Universal’s furniture as its own during High Point Market.


Universal officials testified and showed pictures that proved Collezione displayed actual pieces of Universal furniture at High Point Market, according to the ruling handed down Sept. 14 by Judge William Osteen of U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

The lawsuit involved the Grand Inheritance and English Manor collections, which were both copyrighted in 2003. Rhodes Furniture had been a major buyer of the collections.

But in 2004, Rhodes decided to look for a substitute vendor of furniture and contacted Collezione, which began introducing furniture substantially similar to Universal’s lines, according to the lawsuit.

Osteen plans to hold another hearing later to determine Universal’s monetary award in the case.