ORLANDO, Fla. – Winter Park company Rifle Paper Co. filed a lawsuit in federal court last week alleging retail giant Walmart ripped off its floral design.
From plates to wastebaskets, chairs, and tables, you can find a navy floral pattern on more than a dozen different products right now on Walmart.com and its "Mainstays" brand.
But for the past several years, you could also find these patterns on products with Winter Park-based Rifle Paper Co.
In a federal suit filed last week, Rifle Paper Co. claims Walmart infringed on the company's design and refused to stop selling products with the design after it sent Walmart a letter.
"These designs are remarkably similar and Walmart is going to have to find something other than the designs are different," said News 6 legal analyst Steve Kramer. "That defense is not going to succeed."
Kramer understands the challenges with the case and understands how the design of the flowers will be scrutinized, including placement of each petal and each arrangement, to see if Rifle Paper Company actually had a unique design.
"Walmart is probably going to try and defend this case and say, 'You didn't make anything new,'" he explained. "I think they're going to be digging through archives looking for floral patterns similar to the issue here."
The manufacturer of those Walmart products, Beco Industries, is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Representatives with Rifle Paper Company told News 6 they do not comment on pending litigation.
A spokesperson with Walmart told News 6 in a phone conversation they are taking the complaint seriously and will respond to the allegations in court proceedings.