Trademark news and archive

Katy Perry wins trademark case: Fashion label 'Katie Perry' must be revoked

Pop star Katy Perry has won her long-running trademark case against Australian fashion designer Katie Jane Taylor, who brands her label Katie Perry. The legal dispute revolves around the rights to the brand name "Katie Perry", which Taylor registered in Australia in 2008. The court ruled that Taylor's trademark "Katie Perry" should be revoked...

Business

Asos reportedly hit by second lawsuit from Assos of Switzerland

Cycling brand Assos of Switzerland has launched what is now its second legal battle against British e-commerce giant Asos. According to City AM, the Swiss company has filed a breach of contract claim against Asos to the English High Court, to which Asos Plc, Asos.com and Asos France were named defendants. The exact details of the lawsuit are...

Business

Nike ordered to pay legal fees in trademark dispute with Lontex Corp

A Pennsylvania judge has reinforced a prior ruling requiring Nike to pay attorneys' fees to Lontex Corp following its defeat in a trademark infringement case over the "Cool Compression" mark. The case, originally filed in 2018, has been drawn out by Nike’s appeals, but the Eastern District Court’s ruling ultimately found that Nike knowingly...

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Now fashion week is over, what is next for your designs?

We’ve watched the new collections strut down the runway, but now that fashion week is over, what should designers be thinking about in terms of IP protection? Written by Emma Day (IA trainee) and Harriet Berridge (IA director and fashion lead), Stobbs If you need a recap on designs, Stobbs touched on registered and unregistered designs in a...

Business

Three stripes or four? Thom Browne wins German trademark dispute against Adidas

US fashion brand Thom Browne has won a trademark dispute with the sportswear giant Adidas in Germany. In its ruling of September 6, the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court ruled that the accusations of trademark infringement and unfair competition made by Adidas against Thom Browne are unfounded. The decision is not yet final and can still be...

Business

Adidas loses its lawsuit against Isabel Marant and Sandro

In a major blow for Adidas, the Court of Cassation, France's supreme court for civil and criminal cases, definitively ruled on June 26, 2024 in favour of Isabel Marant and Sandro, thus ending six years of litigation. The German sportswear manufacturer filed a lawsuit in 2018, accusing the two fashion brands of counterfeiting its famous three...

Business

Crocs settles legal dispute with Australia’s Mosaic

Footwear brand Crocs has settled its lawsuit against Mosaic Brand Limited, an Australian fashion retail group that it accused of intellectual property infringement. Crocs had first filed the case with the Federal Court of Australia in 2021, alleging that Mosaic's moulded foam shoes had infringed on its trademark-protected Classic Clog shoe. The...

Business

Adidas and Thom Browne continue trademark battle in UK court

In continuation of a long-winded dispute over trademarks, Adidas and Thom Browne have now taken to the UK’s High Court to once again battle it out over the use of stripes. Back in 2021, US designer Thom Browne had sued Adidas in London in a bid to cancel out several trademarks that featured the sportswear label's three-stripe motif. According to...

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The silent luxury giant Hermès and the loud legal battle over the Birkin bag

French fashion house Hermès has not only made headlines recently for its continued growth, but has also been in the public eye for its ongoing legal battles. The disputes surrounding the iconic Birkin bag not only delve deep into the digital realm, but also raise questions about artistic freedom and whether there is a right to luxury. Trademark...

Business

Fast fashion face off: Shein hit with lawsuit from competitor Oh Polly

Shein is, once again, facing legal troubles. This time, the Chinese fast fashion giant has been confronted with a lawsuit from a direct competitor, UK-based brand Oh Polly. The complaint, which was filed with England’s High Court, was registered on the Intellectual Property list and was issued by both Oh Polly and its sister brand Bo&Tee. This...

Business

Stripes on Nike sports pants violate Adidas' trademark rights

Sportswear brand Nike may no longer sell a particular pair of sports trousers in Germany because they are very similar to competitor Adidas' three-stripe design. This was decided by the Oberlandesgericht (a form of the higher court, ed.) Düsseldorf on Tuesday in an appeal case. In the case of four other trousers whose stripe design Adidas had...

Business

Dr. Martens sues Temu for trademark infringement

Footwear specialist Dr. Martens is preparing to take on Temu for alleged trademark infringement, launching a lawsuit in an attempt to halt the Chinese marketplace from using keywords associated with the brand. The legal action was taken to the UK’s High Court, according to a report by the Times, for which a case filing alleged that Temu had been...