Rank Sues Pacific Sunwear Over Merchandise

Rank Group’s Hard Rock Cafe International unit is suing Pacific Sunwear of California Inc., a retailer of teenage clothing, for selling merchandise under the “Hard Rap Cafe” label. Rank’s Hard Rock has invested more than $50 million in promotions featuring its trademarked logos on merchandise that includes hats, sweatshirts and key chains, the company claims. Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts “have achieved a unique cult-like aura and popularity,” Hard Rock contends in its lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla. Anaheim-based Pacific Sunwear operates more than 500 stores. Hard Rock requests damages and that Pacific Sunwear stop selling its “Hard Rap Cafe” merchandise, which includes hats and sun visors. The lawsuit also names Gardena-based Colosseum Athletics Inc. for manufacturing the merchandise. Officials from Colosseum and Pacific Sunwear were not immediately available for comment. Shares of Pacific Sunwear rose 50 cents to close at $18.44 on Nasdaq. American depositary receipts of London-based Rank were unchanged at $4.63.