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Steve Madden and Intellectual Property Disputes: Understanding the Legal Context
Steve Madden has built a billion-dollar brand on a simple idea, make high-end designs affordable by copying them. The result? Madden’s shoes and accessories look like high-end designer pieces, and that resemblance has dragged him into court time and time again. Big names like Valentino, Ganni, Dr. Martens, and Converse have lined up to protect
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Inside Luxury M&A: Successes, Setbacks, and Regulatory Roadblocks
The luxury market, driven by both prestige and intense competition, is undergoing a wave of strategic activity through mergers and acquisitions. This article examines three recent developments: Mytheresa’s acquisition of YOOX NET-A-PORTER (YNAP), Frasers Group’s failed bid for Mulberry, and the blocked Tapestry-Capri merger. Together, these cases reflect the challenges luxury brands face in pursuing
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Adidas and the Stripe Wars: Struggling to Draw the Line of Defense?
Adidas, the global sportswear brand, is known not just for its three stripes on the track but also for its endless courtroom battles. Over the years, Adidas has taken legal action to protect its distinctive three-stripe design, filing cases against brands across the fashion industry, from high-street fashion to luxury labels. These legal battles are
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Dr. Martens and the Fight to Protect Its Yellow Stitching
Dr. Martens, the British footwear brand known for its durable boots and signature yellow stitching, has spent decades building a strong visual identity. Since 1960, the yellow stitching has symbolised the brand’s quality and individuality. But with growth came imitation, and with imitation, legal challenges. As Dr. Martens expanded, it found itself needing to defend
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Why Perfume Cloning is Legal: The Lack of Intellectual Property Protection for Fragrances
Perfume cloning is a common practice where lower-cost brands replicate the scent of high-end perfumes. This might seem unfair to luxury brands, but perfume cloning is generally legal due to how intellectual property (IP) laws view fragrances. Here’s why perfumes are not strongly protected by IP law, and why cloning is allowed. Perfumes Are Considered
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Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent: Clarifying the Role of Colour in Trademark Protection
The dispute between Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent raised important questions about how far trademark protection can extend in fashion. At issue was whether Louboutin’s red sole, widely recognised by consumers, could be protected as a trademark. The outcome shaped how distinctive design features, particularly colour, may be protected when used as a source
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Frasers Group’s £83 Million Takeover Bid for Mulberry Is Rejected Amid Financial Worries
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has made a £83 million offer to buy Mulberry, a luxury handbag maker facing serious financial problems. This proposal comes as Mulberry deals with challenges that raise concerns about its future in the luxury fashion market. Key Points: Mulberry’s Financial Problems Mulberry reported a £34.1 million loss for the year ending
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From Trademarks to Transparency How Fashion Law Is Evolving
The fashion industry is no stranger to legal disputes, but a significant shift is happening. Traditionally, fashion law has primarily focused on intellectual property issues, like trademarks, copyrights, and design rights. However, the future of fashion law is expanding beyond these areas, covering critical topics such as environmental practices, factory conditions, labor rights, and brand
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Ensuring Authenticity: Trademark Law in the Secondhand Luxury Market
The luxury market has changed a lot in recent years, with consumers now seeking environmentally friendly, affordable, and accessible options. Platforms like The RealReal, Poshmark, and eBay enable buying and selling secondhand luxury items. While this trend benefits both buyers and sellers, it raises legal concerns about product authenticity and the proper use of trademarks
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Tapestry and Capri Holdings: A Pivotal Moment for the Luxury Fashion Industry
The luxury fashion industry is facing a major change as Tapestry Inc., which owns brands like Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, plans to buy Capri Holdings Limited, the parent company of Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo. This merger, valued at about $8.5 billion, has sparked considerable discussion, especially since the Federal Trade Commission
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Rethinking Luxury: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
As the luxury market evolves, brands are dealing with big challenges and new opportunities. Global instability, changing customer expectations, and tougher regulations are reshaping the industry. To succeed, luxury brands must handle these complexities while staying true to their core values of exclusivity and craftsmanship. This article examines the luxury sectors, focusing on important topics
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The Hidden Reality Behind Italy’s Luxury Fashion Industry
Italy’s luxury fashion industry is celebrated globally for its refined craftsmanship and the prestige associated with the “Made in Italy” label. Yet behind this polished image lies a more troubling reality, one that involves the widespread exploitation of migrant labour in the production of high-end goods. Migrant Workers in Tuscany and Milan In industrial hubs
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Lacoste and Crocodile International: Trademark Disputes with Opposite Results
Trademark disputes can take years to resolve, and the cases between Lacoste and Crocodile International show how different courts can reach different conclusions on similar issues. While both cases involved the same brands and similar arguments, the legal outcomes in the Philippines and India highlight how trademark law can be interpreted differently depending on jurisdiction.
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Counterfeit Crisis in Fashion How Tech and Law Are Tackling It
The global market for counterfeit luxury goods continues to expand, posing serious challenges for designer brands, consumers, and the economy. In fashion and beauty, fake products not only erode revenue and brand reputation but also threaten consumer safety and public trust. The counterfeit industry spans online and offline channels, often linked to organised crime, making