Rihanna Wins Lawsuit Against Topshop in U.K.

Rihanna must be all smiles as she recently won a lawsuit in the U.K. against fashion retailer Topshop.  Rihanna sued Topshop in May over Topshop's use of her image on a tank top which was taken from her "We Found Love" music video.    However, U.K. law doesn't recognize image rights.  In fact, if you legally purchase an image, you can use in any way you want to without royalty payments, unlike in the U.S.  So what makes this case so different?

Former Tiffany Exec Pleads Guilty to $2.1 Million Jewelry Theft

The former executive at Tiffany & Co. plead guilty to stealing $2.1 million in necklaces, bracelets, and earrings made of diamonds, platinum and gold less than a month after being charged.  Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun, in her position as vice president of product development, was given permission to "check out jewelry from Tiffany for reasons that included showing items to potential manufacturers for cost production estimates."  However, instead of bringing the jewelry back, Lederhaas-Okun reported them missing or damaged and resold them. She was charged with one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. So how did Tiffany finally find out?

Looking for that It-Bag? Try Sears.com!

Celine Luggage Tote on Sears Marketplace

I recently googled the Celine Luggage Tote, last year's It-Bag that hasn't dropped in popularity at all.  I've been eyeing it forever but just couldn't bring myself to splurge on one.  I googled it just to see where it was still available for purchase while I debated with myself more.  I expected my search to take me to retail websites like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Net-a-porter, etc. but to my surprise my search returned multiple links to Sears!! - the department store known for appliances and cheesy Kardashian clothes.  I was so confused but clicked on the link anyways which displayed prices lower than the MSRP and were also sponsored listings from Google.  I was intrigued.  Is Sears trying to be like eBay and Amazon? Did Sears secretly get a luxury makeover? or both?

Louboutin and Charles Jourdan Settle Lawsuit Over Red Soles

Photo: Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin SAS v. Charles Jourdan Fashion Footwear LLC has been settled out of NY federal court less than one and half month after the case was filed.  Louboutin alleged that Charles Jourdan along with discount shoe retailer DSW infringed on Louboutin’s trademarked red soles when it offered for sale, Charles Jourdan shoes with similar red soles.  According to WWD, Louboutin referred to Jourdan’s shoes as “counterfeit” versions of its own shoes, and claimed that it supplied the infringing product to select DSW stores in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Versace Counterfeit "Victory" is Disputed by Griffith Suisse Luxury Group

In May, it was widely reported that Versace had won a counterfeit lawsuit against Griffith Suisse Luxury Group after four and a half years of litigation.  Since the announcement, the alleged counterfeiter, Griffith Suisse has disputed Versace's victory stating that the matter was settled "wherein both parties agreed not to pursue legal action against each other."  With respect to the 2011 lawsuit filed against online auction house, eBay over similar matters - that is being appealed after California state trial court dismissed Griffith Suisse claims.  Read Griffith Suisse's statement after the jump.

Juicy Couture Founders Seek to Buy Back Company

The founders of Juicy Couture, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, who transformed velour tracksuits into a sexy must-have piece in the early 2000's are looking to take back their company.  The founders sold Juicy Couture to Fifth & Pacific Cos. (f/k/a Liz Claiborne) around the peak of the craze in 2003 for $226 million.  However, now with the label faltering and the parent company secretly shopping the label to buyers, it's clear that consumers are tired of "juicy" plasters on their behinds and change is needed.  

Michael Kors Sues Costco Over Misleading Ad

Michael Kors Holdings has filed a lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corp. in New York federal court on July 11th.  The lawsuit stems from an advertisement seen above which MK says falsely advertises MK bags for sale. The ad shows handbags with MK's signature pattern and gold logo.  The problem is, Costco has never been an authorized retailer of the designer.  Further, that MK handbags were never available for sale and MK alleges Costco used MK's handbag images to lure customers into the store.  According to WWD, the ad was distributed via emailed on April 16th to promote a selection of designer handbags for Mother's Day.  

U.S. Retailers' Safety Plan for Bangladesh Announced, Falls Short

The U.S version of the plan for improving factory safety in Bangladesh was formally announced today and will be signed by 17 major North American retailers such as Wal-Mart, Macy's, Target, Sears, Nordstrom, and Gap.  The plan will be known as "Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety" which will provide low-cost financing for factory owners to improve conditions, an anonymous hotline for workers to report issues, and funding the training of workers and inspection.  But not everyone is celebrating...

Current Owner of Versace Mansion Files for Bankruptcy

PHOTO: CASA CASUARINA LLC/AP

The current owner of the mansion once owned by Gianni Versace, Casa Casuarina LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to stave off foreclosure.  Casa Casuarina LLC is owned by Peter Loftin, a telecommunication magnate who purchase the home in 2000.  The mortgage to the property is held by VM South Beach LLC, which is owned by the family that created Jordache jeans.  

LVMH Takes Control of Loro Piana for $2.6 Billion

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton purchased an 80 percent stake in Loro Piana, costing LVMH €2 billion ($2.56 billion) and valuing the company at €2.7 billion ($3.48 billion).  Loro Piana, the Italian luxury clothing company best known for its luxury cashmere and wool goods where a cashmere cardigan will set one back $1,250 and cashmere lined rain coat, almost $11,000, has weathered the recession well and is expected to have sales of over €700 million this year.   LVMH CFO, Jean-Jacques Guiony said during a conference call, "We have a big respect for the brand and have been looking at [Loro Piana] for many, many years." 

French Regulator Fines Louis Vuitton $10 Million Over Hermès Stake

The French regulator, Autorité des Marches Financiers (AMF") fined LVMH €8 Million ($10.4 million) which is less than the maximum penalty of €10 Million ($13 million) which the company was facing.  The fine was due to LVMH's failure to disclose a large accumulation of Hermès stock under French securities laws. 

This is the largest fine ever imposed by the AMF, which noted in a press release that such fine reflects the "seriousness of the successive breaches of public-disclosure requirements which consisted in concealing each stage of LVMH's stake-building in Hermès" and that "circumvention of the rules intended to ensure transparency, which is so vital to orderly markets, must be punished to the same extent as the disruption it causes."