Christian Louboutin Sues YSL for Making Red Soles

There's a different kind of trademark infringement suit happening in the world of fashion. Normally, it's a designer and a no-name copycat going to battle, but this time two fashion giants are in a dispute.

Yves Saint Laurent's spring 2011 collection features some red pumps with matching red soles. In a fierce display of red-sole entitlement, Christian Louboutin is suing YSL for this. Christian Louboutin accuses fellow Parisian fashion powerhouse Yves Saint Laurent of counterfeiting and infringing on his brand's trademark look: the red sole. The lawsuit cites four specific YSL models that all have scarlet soles.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think one designer should be able to claim trademark rights in all red soles, everywhere. That would be a huge design limitation to put on other shoemakers. Plus, come on, YSL is a big enough deal that it isn't trying to steal goodwill from Louboutin - it has plenty of its own goodwill! More here and here.