Under dispute, Zuo's Lider Conference Chair

SAN LEANDRO, CA —

Zuo Modern states it has settled a year-long trademark infringement lawsuit with Herman Miller Inc.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, on April 2010 by Herman Miller, is related to Zuo’s selling of its Lider, Lider Hi-back, Lider Conference, Espia, Nexos, Director and Director Hi-back office chairs.

As part of the June 3 settlement agreement, the contemporary furniture company said it will stop selling the chairs in the United States by Aug. 23. Until then, they are available on Zuo’s website and in its catalog, with the following disclaimer: "Zuo Modern Contemporary, Inc. is not affiliated with Herman Miller, Inc. and its products are not affiliated with Herman Miller, Inc. and its products are not affiliated with Eames Aluminum Group or Softpad products."

According to court documents, the lawsuit was originally scheduled to have motion hearings completed by Sept. 2, 2011, with a trial date of Oct. 17, 2011.

Zuo Modern has offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Brazil. The company will exhibit at the 2011 NeoCon in Chicago, booth 8-2046.

Herman Miller will be exhibiting in showroom 321 at NeoCon. One of the largest contract furniture manufacturers, the company recorded $1.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2010. Herman Miller is headquartered in Zeeland, MI, with locations worldwide.