Christian Louboutin Makes Progress In Red Sole Trademark Battle With YSL

by Hilary George-Parkin | 3:57 pm, September 5th, 2012

Let’s hope Hedi Slimane wasn’t planning on sending red-soled pumps down the Saint Laurent Paris runway next month!

A New York federal court of appeals today granted Christian Louboutin trademark protection on his signature red soles, except in cases where the whole shoe is red, WWD reports. This is the latest in a lengthy legal battle between Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent, which began last year when the latter company a produced red-soled pump and their competitor sued, claiming the shoe violated the trademark protection they obtained back in 2008.

While judges for the lower level courts have thusfar ruled against Louboutin and brought up the question whether he should be able to trademark the color at all, the latest appellate ruling grants him protection in almost all cases, with the sole (ha!) exception of all-red shoes.

That’s great and all, but the problem is that the YSL pumps were indeed red all over, meaning the case is going right back down to the lower court again to (hopefully) be settled once and for all.

[WWD]

Christian Louboutin legal Red Soles Yves Saint Laurent Yves Saint Laurent