Press Coverage October 12, 2025

Dupe Culture Disrupts Retail as Lawsuits Surge Over Copycats

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Karl M. Zielaznicki

Karl Zielaznicki, a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Health Care + Life Sciences Intellectual Property Practice Group, was quoted in the October 12, 2025 Axios article, “Dupe Culture Disrupts Retail as Lawsuits Surge Over Copycats.”

  • Lawsuits like Lululemon’s can backfire and “unintentionally endorse the quality of a dupe product,” Karl Zielaznicki, a trademark lawyer at Troutman Pepper Locke, told Axios.
  • …
  • The bottom line: “Trademark and trade dress cases hinge on demonstrating a likelihood of confusion,” Zielaznicki said.
  • “Consumers often recognize and seek out dupe products as cheaper alternatives rather than the original, making confusion unlikely,” he said.
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