Tiffany Comes to Christian Louboutin’s Red Sole Defense
Plenty of fashion houses have signature shades: Hermès has orange, Louboutin and Valentino have red, Ungaro has fuchsia, and Tiffany has that instantly recognizable blue. But can they trademark a color?
Christian Louboutin’s fight to maintain the trademark of his signature red soles hit a wall in August when a New York court ruled that a designer may not have the exclusive use of any color. (The ruling was part of a legal battle between Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent, the latter of which was being sued for producing its own red-soled stiletto.)
But now, Tiffany & Co. is attempting to come to Louboutin’s rescue. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the jewelry company has filed a brief (called an amicus curiae, literally a “friend of the court”) supporting Louboutin’s appeal to reverse the decision.
Apparently, Tiffany has a trademark on its robin’s egg blue—though, like, Louboutin, that trademark could be in danger if the court’s decision against trademarking colors is upheld.
The Christian Louboutin vs. YSL case should be decided by early 2012.
And speaking of colors, check out Pantone's hottest hues for Spring 2012.
