Topshop Works With Freddy For Some Flashdance Inspired Workout Gear

Topshop will be releasing its collaborative line of workout wear with Italian designer Freddy Sept. 1, 2009. As you can tell from the photo of the line above, Jennifer Beals called and she wants her dancewear back. (Please see below)

Gwyneth Paltrow Enters the Fray

Gwyneth Paltrow has decided to enter the fashion industry's world with a collaborative effort for Zoe's Tees that will be sold exclusively in the UK for the retailer Matches .

I am just wondering whether it will bother her if her stuff gets knocked off like it did when Matt Stone appeared in a knockoff of her famous Ralph Lauren pink dress (please see above). Gwyneth has been pretty vocal about her annoyances about that singular dress being knocked off. The only question is; how does someone knock off boring grandma generic clothing? (please see her clothing line below).

LVMH Wins Damages In Counterfeit Suit

While this case may not be the most scintillating, it was a case that served as proof that when you get notice of a counterfeit lawsuit, you should probably respond! LVMH commenced a counterfeit lawsuit against Carducci Leather Fashions, Inc back in 2004 for infringing upon its Epi Leather trademark. As you can tell by the photo above, the Epi Leather trademark is the unique striations in the leather. The leather is cowhide that is dyed all the way through for a durable bag that lasts.

LVMH had settled their suit with Carducci back in 2006. LVMH discovered that Carducci was supplied these alleged infringing items by a company called Bonini Italian Handbags, Inc, LVMH added the corporation to the suit. While LVMH managed to settle out of court with Carducci back in 2006, Bonini failed to respond to the suit. As a result, a default judgment was entered against Bonini.

Judge John Keenan in the United States District Court in Manhattan entered the default judgment which included $100,000 per infringing item for a total of $400,000 in damages as well as close to $6,000 in attorney's fees.

The case was closed on August 19, 2009.

When Designers Can't Beat Them, They Join Them

Rachel Nasvik is a designer who has taken an unorthodox approach to piracy....she has joined forces with the pirates themselves. She has teamed up with certain purveyors of knockoffs in places such as Broadway and Canal Streets in order to sell her AUTHENTIC wares....at KNOCKOFF prices.

Ms. Nasvik works with her own marketing team in order to tell her followers on Twitter where her authentic wares will be for that day. While Ms. Nasvik suffered a loss for selling her own wares for ten dollars a piece, she was amazed at how many fans and followers she had. From the first tweet, it only took 8 minutes for her eight bags to be sold. That meant that there are a lot of people who are following Ms. Nasvik's tweets about her brand.

Her move also created brand awareness. The fact that people considered her line of bags well known enough to be knocked off is a marketing feat not accomplished by many.

You can check out Ms. Nasvik's line of bags here:

www.rachelnasvik.com

It Seems Like Everything You See In Vegas Is Fake

It seems that Chanel Inc. thinks that not all things in Vegas glitter with equal glitz and glam. They are slamming a lawsuit in Nevada against a Las Vegas based company called Top Modea Purses Inc.

Chanel Inc. says that Top Modea Inc. had infringed on its trademark through advertising and selling counterfeit purses that carry the Chanel trademark logo. The company also claims that there is likelihood of consumer confusion (potential Chanel customers may be scammed thinking that they are buying the "real deal") and also trademark dilution (the quality of the purses and wallets sold with the infringing logo are of inferior quality compared to the actual Chanel merchandise).

"Defendants' counterfeit goods are of a quality substantially different than that of Chanel's genuine goods," the document submitted by Chanel Inc claims.

"The net effect of the defendants' actions will be to result in the confusion of consumers who will believe the defendants' counterfeit goods are genuine goods originating from and approved by Chanel."

You can read the actual document submitted by Chanel Inc here:
http://media.lasvegassun.com/media/pdfs/blogs/documents/2009/08/06/chanel0806.pdf