The city of Portland, Ore., has its panties in a twist, so to speak, over Romtec Inc.'s Sidewalk Restrooms that mimic its copyrighted design. An Oregon federal court copyright, trade dress and unfair competition case notes the "enormous media attention" that followed Portland's December 2008 rollout of its loos, plus a Facebook page, awards and a documentary. The case claims Romtec's 2012 product has strikingly similar anti-graffiti and safety features, plus an exterior sink. Romtec previously specialized in restrooms built on concrete foundations for parks, but "it now seeks to usurp the urban market with its Sidewalk Restroom, which is an obvious knock-off of the Portland Loo," the lawsuit says. — Sheri Qualters
Americana
