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Levi’s Blank Tab: The Subtle Art of Trademark Protection
Levi’s Blank Tab, one of the most frequently copied trademarks in the world! Levi Strauss & Co. has built its reputation on durable denim and innovative branding. Central to this legacy is the trademarked Tab, a small but very important element of the Levi’s brand. Today, we are discussing the blank Tab or plain tab…
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Gucci vs. Guess Dispute: From Lawsuit to Resolution
The Gucci vs. Guess trademark dispute offers valuable insights into the complexities of enforcing intellectual property rights in fashion. What began as Gucci’s legal manoeuvre to protect its branding evolved into a prolonged global fight spanning multiple jurisdictions. While Gucci secured victories in several courts, the case ultimately concluded in 2018 with a confidential settlement.…
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Rolling Into Trouble: Vans vs. MSCHF and the ‘Wavy Baby’ Sneakers
The dispute between Vans and MSCHF over the Wavy Baby sneakers was anything but a smooth ride. Vans claimed that MSCHF’s shoes infringed upon its Old Skool trade dress, while MSCHF contended that the sneakers were a form of parody protected by the First Amendment. This case is not merely about shoes; it’s a legal…
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Valentino vs. Valentino: The Fight Over a Name
Two brands. One iconic name. Endless confusion. For decades, Mario Valentino and Valentino Garavani have battled over the rights to a name synonymous with Italian craftsmanship and elegance. If you have ever spotted a Valentino handbag and paused to wonder which brand it belongs to, you are not alone. This is not just a legal…
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Culinary Creations and Intellectual Property: Why Are Recipes Hard to Protect?
What protects a chef’s years of work on a dish if it can be copied without consequence? Culinary creations combine creativity, skill, and artistry, yet they often fall outside the scope of intellectual property protection. The laws designed to safeguard creative works do not always apply to the culinary arts, leaving chefs with limited options…
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Paul Smith vs. Judy Stabile: A Copyright Infringement Case Over Stripes
Stripes were at the center of this dispute, but it wasn’t another Adidas case. Instead, Paul Smith and The Rug Company faced a copyright infringement claim from Judy Stabile, who alleged that their Carnival Rug copied her paintings. This case focuses on two critical issues: whether the defendants had access to Stabile’s work and whether…
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The Uffizi vs. Jean Paul Gaultier: A Legal Look at Cultural Heritage and Fashion
In 2021, the Uffizi Galleries in Florence filed a lawsuit against French designer Jean Paul Gaultier for using Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus in his ‘Le Musée’ collection. While Botticelli’s iconic painting, created in the late 15th century, is no longer under copyright, this case does not center on copyright law. Instead, it focuses…
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Louboutin’s Red Sole Trademark: Legal Challenges Across Borders
Christian Louboutin’s red sole, known for its distinctiveness, has faced legal scrutiny across the globe. This analysis focuses on cases resolved in Japan and France, as well as the key ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), where courts evaluated whether the red sole should be recognized as a trademark or…
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Louis Vuitton and Unauthorized Refurbishment: Trademark Infringement Case
A recent ruling in the Patent Court of Korea has reinforced the critical role of trademark protection in the luxury goods market, particularly regarding unauthorized product alterations. The court ruled that a bag repairer must pay 15 million won ($10,745) in damages to Louis Vuitton Malletier for refurbishing Louis Vuitton bags without authorization and for…