An eleventh-hour out-of-court settlement has brought to an end a long-running row between a Singapore firm and a Bradford textile company.

Prestigious Textiles, in Cross Lane, Westgate Hill Street, has spent two years fighting Yak Chon Ho, of Singapore-based Sin Chon Han over unauthorised copying of the firm's fabric designs and their illegal use of the company's logo and brand name.

The firm has been in operation for ten years and makes cloth for upholstery and curtain manufacturers.

The company employs 50 people in Bradford and a further 20 in other parts of the world.

Managing director Trevor Helliwell said the out-of-court settlement figure had not been agreed but confirmed the firm had won in damages from Mr Ho's company. He added: "I am completely satisfied with the outcome."

The firm exports 85 per cent of its cloth and has joint ventures in France, Germany and Belgium.

The problem arose when Yak Chon Ho bought small quantities of Prestigious fabrics, all with the company's brand name and logo, in 1996.

Mr Ho had copies of the designs produced in Indonesia and sold them wholesale to various retail outlets.

Bosses from Prestigious Textiles complained to Mr Ho's firm but their letters were ignored and a court order was obtained to prevent Mr Ho from continuing to illegally use the Prestigious brand and design names.

Prestigious then also issued a second case against Mr Ho because he claimed other fabric had come from the Prestigious factory when it hadn't.

But just before the case was set to go to full trial Mr Ho capitulated and Pretigious obtained permanent court orders preventing its brand name, logo and designs being misused.

Its legal team in Singapore were given the role of watching all the counterfeit fabrics being burnt and won damages and costs from Yak Chon Ho.

Mr Helliwell added: "The key to success in fighting counterfeiting is constant vigilance in obtaining information about illegally copied designs and other goods and then acting quickly through an experienced legal team prepared to take immediate action anywhere in the world."

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