June 27 (Reuters) - Canadian athletic wear maker

Lululemon sued Costco in California federal

court on Friday, alleging that the wholesaler sells "knockoff"

sweatshirts, jackets and pants that unlawfully copy its

products.

The lawsuit said that Costco's "dupes" violate Lululemon's

patent and trademark rights in its clothing designs and are

likely to confuse potential customers.

Spokespeople for Costco, and attorneys and spokespeople for

Lululemon, did not immediately respond to requests for comment

on the lawsuit.

The complaint said that Costco sells clothes under its label

Kirkland that copy Lululemon's Scuba hoodies, Define jackets and

ABC pants. It cited articles from The New York Times and

Washington Post calling Costco's products "dupes" of Lululemon's

and said that the similar designs could confuse buyers into

thinking that Lululemon made them for Costco's private label.

"Indeed, one of the purposes of selling 'dupes' is to

confuse consumers" into believing that they are the authentic

products, the lawsu it said.

Lululemon requested an unspecified amount of monetary

damages and a court order forcing Costco to stop selling the

clothes.

The case is Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc v. Costco

Wholesale Corp ( COST ), U.S. District Court for the Central District of

California, No. 2:25-cv-05864.

For Lululemon: Ali Razai and Brandon Smith of Morgan Lewis &

Bockius

For Costco: attorney information not yet available

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)