Blue Nile Sues Rival Over Alleged Diamond Photocopying

Blue Nile is suing a competitor, Victoria’s Diamonds, for allegedly copying diamond photographs off its website, Internet Retailer reported Wednesday. Blue Nile is asking a U.S. District Court for an injunction to prevent Victoria’s Diamonds from using the copyrighted product images.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington has scheduled a pre-trial hearing for April 26.

Blue Nile is seeking further compensation for any sales resulting from the use of its images as well as damages.

“No two diamond photographs are alike. As a result of diamonds’ qualities and the way they reflect light, every photograph of a diamond is as unique as a fingerprint,” Blue Nile states in the suit. “Furthermore, the qualities of cut diamonds and the way diamonds reflect light makes them extremely difficult, costly and time-consuming to photograph.”

Blue Nile also states that intellectual property is one of its most important and valued assets.

Victoria’s Diamonds did not comment.