Intellectual Property

Recent Posts

Tripping on the Red Carpet? Color Trademarks and the Fashion Industry in Loubotin v. Yves Saint Laurent
Posted on 19 Oct 2011 by Anne Gilson LaLonde

Christian Louboutin's gravity-defying high-heeled shoes are beloved by glamorous female celebrities. Their shiny red lacquered soles are well-known to casual celebrity-watchers and followers of fashion. The controversy began when Yves Saint Laurent... Read More

The Other Shoe Drops
Posted on 13 Jun 2012 by Ashlee Froese

By Ashlee Froese of Gilbert's LLP Zut alors! Christian Louboutin is not having a good year with the judicial system and must be seeing red! CanadaFashionLaw has extensively covered Christian Louboutin's dispute with Yves Saint Laurent... Read More

Breaking News Fashion Law: 2nd Circuit Delivers Opinion on Color Trademarks in Louboutin/Saint Laurent Red Shoes Case
Posted on 6 Sep 2012 by Copyright & Trademark Law Community Staff

Yesterday, the 2nd Circuit un-muddied the waters concerning fashion and color trademarks and closed another chapter in the red sole dispute between Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent. For a detailed overview of this breaking development... Read More

Trade-marks Heavy Hitter Comes Out Swinging for Christian Louboutin
Posted on 21 Nov 2011 by Ashlee Froese

By Ashlee Froese of Keyser Mason Ball LLP Not only has Tiffany thrown in its hat into the Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent show down, a trade-marks law international heavy hitter is also tossing its hat into the ring. That's right... Read More

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLPS: Second Circuit Digs Its Heels Into Louboutin Dispute; Finds "Red Sole" Trademark Protectable, But Limited in Scope
Posted on 28 Sep 2012 by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

By Tyler Baker and Ted Max On September 5, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its long-awaited and highly anticipated decision in Christian Louboutin S.A. v. Yves Saint Laurent Am. Holding, Inc . , Docket No. 11... Read More

How Strong is Your Trademark? – The Red Shoe Sole Design Saga
Posted on 19 Aug 2011 by Arina Shulga

On August 10, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York denied Christian Louboutin's motion to stop Yves Saint Laurent's ("YSL") use of red soles on their shoes, claiming infringement of its trademark... Read More

End of the Road for Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent
Posted on 17 Oct 2012 by Ashlee Froese

By Ashlee Froese of Gilbert's LLP It appears that fashion's most infamous case has finally come to a close. If you want to read up on the Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent case, you'll find a full summary here . Both parties seemingly... Read More

Red Shoes Take a Licking but Keep on Ticking: Christian Louboutin Argues against Including Yves Saint Laurent's Exhibits in Record on Appeal
Posted on 30 Aug 2011 by Copyright & Trademark Law Community Staff

UPDATE: On August 30th, Saint-Laurent filed a redacted version of its August 1st letter brief. The redacted version can be viewed here . The original version can be viewed here . In April, Christian Louboutin sued Yves Saint-Laurent for trademark... Read More

What Professionals Are Proclaiming about the Recent Louboutin vs. Saint Laurent Red Sole Trademark Decision
Posted on 14 Sep 2012 by Copyright & Trademark Law Community Staff

Louboutin vs. Saint Laurent reached its trademark apex a few weeks ago. That's made red shoes the talk of the town: Forbes notes that Louboutin's shoe monopoly isn't just about color; it's also about celebrities . Color... Read More

Louboutin v. YSL Forced to Agree to Disagree
Posted on 19 Sep 2012 by Ashlee Froese

By Ashlee Froese of Gilbert's LLP The fashion law community has been carefully watching Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent battle over red-soled shoes. CanadaFashionLaw has kept its readers in the know every step of the way. We're pleased... Read More

More Fighting Over Color: This Time It’s Not Red Soled Shoes but Light Blue Tennis Tape
Posted on 28 Nov 2011 by Travis Burchart

From high heels to tennis rackets we go, and all in the name of color. As the red mark war wages on between Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent, a recent decision from the Northern District of Georgia addressed the validity and infringement... Read More

Update on the Red Shoes Controversy: Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent
Posted on 2 Aug 2011 by Copyright & Trademark Law Community Staff

Christian Louboutin SA et al v. Yves Saint Laurent America, Inc et al., 1:11cv2381 (NYSD April 7, 2011) In April, Christian Louboutin sued Yves Saint-Laurent for trademark infringement, claiming that Yves Saint-Laurent's line of shoes infringed... Read More

Louboutin Blue over Red Sole Decision Favoring YSL
Posted on 15 Aug 2011 by Susan Scafidi

Reprinted with permission from Professor Susan Scafidi's Counterfeit Chic . Christian Louboutin has just suffered a slip in his previously surefooted journey to protect his trademarked red soles, in this case against the house of Yves Saint Laurent... Read More

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz: Appeals Court Rules that Christian Louboutin Has Trademark Rights in its Red Outsoles
Posted on 18 Sep 2012 by Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz

As fashion week begins in New York, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an important ruling [ enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers ] that may help fashion creators in their efforts to obtain intellectual property protection... Read More

The Battle of Red Shoes: Christian Louboutin Sues Yves Saint-Laurent for Trademark Infringement of Distinctive Red Soles
Posted on 26 Apr 2011 by Lee Berlik

Trademark Fight Ensues Over Lou's Red Shoes A new line of women's footwear now being sold by Yves Saint-Laurent has high-end French shoe designer Christian Louboutin seeing red. Louboutin's companies, asserting that a new line of... Read More