Trademark news and archive

Levi’s defends iconic tab trademark in legal battle with Philipp Plein

Levi Strauss & Co., the denim giant, has long safeguarded its trademarks with the fervour of a company that understands the vital role of intellectual property in fashion. Now, the company has launched a case against Philipp Plein, alleging that the designer's use of a tab on garments infringes on Levi’s iconic and trademarked label, which has...

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What to know when using your name for your brand

When creating a new business or brand, one of the many issues to be considered is what to call it. For a designer, the most obvious naming choice is to use their own name, or a variant of their own name. It is common practice within the fashion and cosmetics industries for a designer or founder to name the brand after themself, and there can be...

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Birkenstock loses lawsuit against Aldi over sandal design

Shoe manufacturer Birkenstock has lost an appeal in its dispute with Aldi over the design of a sandal from the supermarket chain's range. The Bavarian Supreme Court in Munich today confirmed the lower court's earlier verdict, a spokesman said. The case involved a sandal with a large buckle, for which Birkenstock's complaint was dismissed. The...

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Thom Browne wins another trademark case against Adidas in London

US men’s fashion brand Thom Browne has celebrated another success in its long-running trademark dispute with the German sporting goods manufacturer Adidas AG. On Saturday, the label, which belongs to the Italian Ermenegildo Zegna Group, announced that it had won a case at the London High Court. In a ruling published on Friday, the judge in...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...