-
Design Too Close to Longchamp Tote, EUIPO Finds
EUIPO Invalidates Rival Design for Lack of Individual Character The EUIPO’s Invalidity Division upheld Longchamp’s challenge to a registered handbag design, finding that it lacked individual character under Article 6(1)(b) of the Community Design Regulation. In its July 2025 decision, the Division concluded that the contested design was too close to an earlier version already…
-
AI-Generated Models in Fashion: The Risks of Replacing Real Faces
When Fashion Nova quietly introduced AI-generated models into its online store earlier this year, the world noticed. At first glance, they appeared like any others: curvy, well-posed and Instagram-polished. But users on TikTok and X pointed out glitchy hands, unrealistic skin textures and a ‘too perfect’ symmetry that gave them away as AI. The virality…
-
New York Fashion Workers Act: A New Era of Accountability
“As someone that’s been in this industry since a teenager, watching the Act take shape has been incredibly meaningful. I have been a victim of mistreatment and the pressure to accept things that shouldn’t be normal. This Act feels like a turning point. We matter. Our bodies are not for sale, and we deserve to…
-
Stronger ‘OFF’: Off-White Stops OFFPLAN
Decision date: 11 July 2025 In the fashion sector, a single word such as “OFF” can be sufficient to block another mark if the new sign covers the same or closely related product classes. The risk of rejection is high because the likelihood of confusion for fashion and accessories remains significant. Minor changes to a…
-
Louis Vuitton Counterfeit Case: Singapore Court Decision
On 2 July 2025, the High Court of Singapore in Louis Vuitton Malletier vs Ng Hoe Seng ruled on statutory damages for selling goods online that carried counterfeit versions of a luxury brand’s trade marks. Ng Hoe Seng, the person behind EMCASE SG, ran an Instagram store called emcase_sg which offered items described as “upcycled”…
-
Dupes Threaten Lululemon, Adidas, and Dr. Martens Designs
How Far Is Too Far? When Dupes Challenge Lululemon, Adidas, Dr. Martens That question sits at the centre of new lawsuits by Lululemon, Adidas and Dr. Martens, who claim Costco, Fashion Nova and Shein are selling lookalike clothes and shoes that test how far trade mark rights and settlement deals can reach. As more shoppers…
-
Lululemon vs Costco: Lawsuit Alleges Copycat Apparel and Trade Mark Infringement
Lululemon vs Costco Dispute Filed in California On 27 June 2025, Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc. and Lululemon USA Inc. filed a lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corporation in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The claim alleges that Costco has imported, marketed and sold garments that imitate the protected design features,…
-
EUIPO Rejects Champagne GI Challenge
EUIPO Clarifies Limits of Champagne Geographical Indication Protection, Rejects Attempt to Block “CHAMPAIGN” Grill Mark The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has clarified how far the protection of well-known geographical indications can reach. By rejecting the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wine, which oversees and protects the Champagne…
-
The History of Fashion Law: A Perspective from Ancient Greece to Modern Dress Codes
Fashion law is often described as a modern and highly specialised area of practice, usually focused on trademarks, design protection and brand enforcement. Yet rules about what people wear and how clothing is controlled have existed for centuries. This article does not present a purely technical history. Instead, it highlights how laws, social codes and…