Yesterday the retail behemoth Walmart announced its intention to begin carrying premium outdoor brands in partnership with Moosejaw, the Michigan-born company it purchased in February of last year. According to the announcement, Moosejaw’s role was to curate “the best outdoor brands from many sources.”
One of those brands was Black Diamond, whom was none too happy about being sold via the discount giant. In response they issued a cease and desist letter demanding Walmart stop using its brand “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,” read a statement released through the company’s communications firm Backbone Media.
— johndicuollo (@johndicuollo) August 28, 2018
It appears Walmart got straight to work. Browsing the “Premium Outdoor Store,” searches for the brand return few (and only out-of-stock) results, though the brand is featured prominently on the site. It’s Men’s Apparel and Jackets & Outerwear icons are even BD gear.
You can read the full statement from Black Diamond here.
*UPDATE: There is no longer any sign of Black diamond gear on the walmart.com website.