Black Diamond Sends Walmart Cease And Desist Notice

Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., a global leader of innovative active outdoor performance equipment and apparel, today sent Walmart a cease and desist notice in response to news Monday announcing the launch of a new outdoor website on Walmart.com curated by Moosejaw.

The letter directed Walmart to cease and desist from use of the Black Diamond and diamond logo trademarks in a manner likely to confuse consumers into believing that Walmart is an authorized dealer of Black Diamond or that the new outdoor Walmart.com site is otherwise associated with or sponsored by Black Diamond.

The letter also demanded that Walmart cease its infringing use of several hundred copyrighted photographs, the rights to which belong exclusively to Black Diamond.

“We did not see or approve the statement which Walmart released Monday and have never sold to Walmart,” stated John Walbrecht, Black Diamond’s president. “Black Diamond remains committed to our specialty retail partners and we do not plan on deviating from this strategy.”

Moosejaw, a Michigan based retailer with ten stores and online presence was purchased by Walmart in February of 2017. Black Diamond has worked with Moosejaw for over 10 years.

On Monday Walmart.com launched the new Premium Outdoor Store curated by Moosejaw.

Eoin Comerford, General Manager of Outdoor, Walmart U.S. eCommerce and CEO of Moosejaw said "Through the Premium Outdoor Store, we’re introducing a completely new, outdoor specialty assortment that hasn’t been available to Walmart customers in the past. The Premium Outdoor Store will offer thousands of items from top outdoor brands, including Craghoppers, Deuter, First Ascent by Eddie Bauer, Gramicci, Jack Wolfskin, KLYMIT, LEKI, Stonewear and Tentsile. It will also carry the full range of Moosejaw-branded clothing, jackets and gear, and we plan to continually add new brands and products. The new premium assortment will complement the everyday camping assortment currently available on Walmart.com."