France's Tefal files lawsuits against Russian designer, actor over trademark infringement PHOTO

Tefal, the renowned French manufacturer of household appliances and cookware, has initiated legal proceedings against Russian designer Artemy Lebedev and actor Vyacheslav Manucharov, seeking 2 million rubles (approximately $25,000) in compensation from each.

The lawsuits, both filed with the Moscow Arbitration Court in April, allege the unlawful use of Tefal’s trademarks and damage to the company’s business reputation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

In the case against Manucharov, Tefal is demanding 1 million rubles (approximately $11,000) for the alleged unauthorized use of two of its trademarks—both the Russian and international registrations—and an additional 1 million rubles for reputational harm. The St. Petersburg-based joint-stock company Neva Metal Tableware (Neva Metal Posuda) has been named as a third party in the case, though its precise role remains unspecified.

A parallel lawsuit was filed against Lebedev in the same month, with Neva Metal Tableware also listed as a third party. However, the specific circumstances and grounds of the claim against Lebedev have not yet been publicly disclosed.

At present, both cases are still under review, with court proceedings ongoing. No statements have been issued by the parties involved.

By Vafa Guliyeva