Court Rules in Favour of Louboutin to Protect Soles

Designer brand Christian Louboutin has been granted the right to protect its red-soled shoes due to the ruling of a US Court.

According to reports today the US Federal Court of Appeals has said that the brand is allowed to protect the red sole from being imitated by other brands.

This decision will be exactly what the shoemaker was hoping for considering he has been involved in legal proceedings against Yves Saint Laurent over a pair of similar red-soled shoes.

The shoe designer has been involved in a court case against Yves Saint Laurent.

Last year a judge denied the request from Louboutin for the shoes to be removed from the site but the appeals court has now overturned this decision to a certain extent.

Louboutin can protect the trademark red soles it has become famous for but not if the shoes themselves are red, which the Yves Saint Laurent shoes were.

So while the shoes over which the original case was brought would not be considered as an infringement, other brands will have to be wary from now on.

Speaking about the ruling Simon Bennett, partner at Fox Williams Fashion Law Group said: ‘It is good news for the fashion world that an iconic part of a brand has been granted protection in this way.’

The case will now go back to the district court for further proceedings but at least Victoria Beckham and co can rest easy now that their favourite red-soled heels are at least semi-protected.