The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: Hermès Tries to Bag Digital Designer Selling MetaBirkin NFTs
Part Two: Christopher John Rogers on Pragmatic Glamour and Finding His Voice
Part One: Christopher John Rogers on Pragmatic Glamour and Finding His Voice
Stealth Lawyer: Loni Edwards, Fashion Startup Founder
According to Forbes Magazine, a majority of younger generations (59 percent of Generation Z and 57 percent of Millennials) are buying upcycled products. This growing trend has transformed the fashion industry, blending...more
Nike recently filed suit in Federal Court in the Southern District of New York claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition by its former licensee, S2, Inc., owned by a popular shoe customizer named Dominic...more
We continue to monitor lawsuits that lie at the intersection of street art, fashion and advertising. Previous issues of Kattison Avenue and Katten Kattwalk have covered the risks that generally come with using street art on...more
The draft bill, circulated with bipartisan Senate support, would codify right of publicity protections for artificial intelligence (AI) creations that replicate any individual, not just those with commercially valuable...more
When a retail brand has a consistent, unique look and seeks enforcement against a too-similar competitor or a brash counterfeiter, trade dress protection under the Lanham Act provides the muscle. But part of what makes trade...more
Your interest in brands and fashion dates back well before law school and your time as a Katten associate. Tell us about what led you to Authentic Brands Group and how your role has changed since we last interviewed you in...more
In the world of fashion, few things are as iconic as Christian Louboutin's signature red-soled shoes. Since Louboutin painted the sole of a shoe with his assistant's red nail varnish in 1993, the red-bottomed sole has become...more
Tell us about your career path from Aeropostale, Inc. to SPARC Group LLC. - When I joined Aeropostale, Inc. (Aeropostale) in February 2007, I would not have imagined that my career would become what it is today. I was the...more
As one of the pioneers of "fashion law" as a practice, Karen Artz Ash has a unique perspective on the multitude of legal issues involved in the fashion industry. Successful brands rely on counsel adept at navigating a myriad...more
For better or worse, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming the way we live and work. Retail and fashion companies that fail to embrace AI likely risk losing their current market share or, worse,...more
Welcome to the summer issue of Katten KattWalk! We have an issue chock full of developments and pressing issues for fashion and brands. Associate Cynthia Martens starts with a look at “superfakes” and how the rise in...more
Establishing a successful clothing company presents numerous unique challenges and legal intricacies. To achieve lasting success, it is crucial to find the right balance between business, legal, and creative considerations....more
With regards to popular or unique quality clothing styles, imitation often occurs. For such imitation, it is difficult to regulate from the perspective of trademark infringement, and when claiming copyright infringement, it...more
Consider this scenario: you worked hard for many years and spent thousands of dollars building your brand. You even took the proper precautions and registered your trademark with the U.S. Trademark Office. Thanks to all that...more
The battle between Thom Browne and Adidas over a striped design dates back to 2007. For over 20 years, Thom Browne has been a force in luxury fashion, bringing a unique and distinctive design aesthetic that combines classic...more
Can you copyright that new shoe or hoody design that you believe will change the fashion world forever? Likely yes, but it’s complicated. Clothing and apparel have always been deemed “useful articles” because, by their very...more
In early 2023, a federal jury found an opportunistic meta-artist infringed on a luxury fashion house’s iconic handbag trademark. Digital artist Mason Rothschild created 100 unique “MetaBirkin” non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”)...more
The luxury fashion brand Hermès has won a lawsuit against artist Mason Rothschild, who produced non-fungible tokens (NFTs) he called “MetaBirkins.”...more
Regardless of whether your business has any current plans to develop digital goods, including “non-fungible tokens” (NFTs), a recent verdict in a first-of-its-kind case involving trademark rights and digital assets should...more
In a closely watched trademark infringement case involving non-fungible tokens ("NFTs"), a jury found that the sale of digital images of Hermès's Birkin bags as NFTs infringed and diluted Hermès's trademarks....more
On February 8, 2023, a federal jury awarded Hermès International and Hermès of Paris, Inc. (“Hermès”) $133,000 in its trademark lawsuit against designer Mason Rothschild. Hermès sued Rothschild for selling non-fungible tokens...more
In a case with clear implications for non-fungible token art-based projects, a federal jury in the case of Hermès International, et al. v. Mason Rothschild, 1:22-cv-00384 (SDNY), found in favor of fashion brand Hermès in its...more
A jury verdict Wednesday morning in a closely watched dispute between an iconic fashion house and a creator and seller of NFTs is a dramatic new development in the ongoing dialogue over the question “What is an expressive...more
We’re delighted to welcome in 2023 with our second crossover edition of Katten Kattwalk/Kattison Avenue. In this combined winter issue, we cover top issues affecting brands in fashion, retail and advertising. On the hot...more
Louboutin v. YSL - Christian Louboutin (“Louboutin”), the designer of the famous red bottom shoes, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against fashion house Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) claiming YSL infringed on its red...more