Caught Red-Soled: Patent Injustice
I almost succeeded... it's really quite tragic. Let me take a sip of my imported Russian tea from my Swarovski diamond encrusted Waterford Crystal cup and I will begin.
In France and the United States I hold a patent on the red-sole, the feature that makes my shoes so special, so desirable, so worth $4,645 and the life of the alligator they were made from. This patent had generally been upheld. When Charles Jourdan (who, you may ask... do not waste your time looking him up) attempted to exploit my genius I settled with him and he has never sold a red-sole again. Though (Yves) Saint Laurent won the right to sell monochromatic red shoes, I have always maintained a monopoly over the beautiful, beautiful red soles until now.
ZARA. I lost to Zara and in France, at that.
Look at these, they are practically identical. I sued for counterfeiting and a judge who had obviously not skipped his IP law classes ruled in my favor. Then Zara appeals saying my patent is too vague. Too vague??? Then a court, which I have to assume was drunk, ruled my patent needed to specify an exact Pantone color.
Can't own an entire color? Why not? I MADE red.
The only sensible thing they said was that a pair of Zara trash could not be confused with an original Louboutin.
So obviously I have relented and issued a new trademark on the exact Pantone shade, which frankly should have already been named 'Louboutin Red'.
Now I have no choice but to rejoin my perenially laughing, glamorous friends who truly appreciate a red-sole.
