Breaking news (or it was when I originally posted this on my previous blog on 4/25/11): J.Crew is being sued by Duquette Inc. for alleged trademark infringement. Why? Here’s the story, broken down:
1. Tony Duquette is a designer. He used to design costumes for MGM musicals, and then moved on to open his own design firm. In the 50s he used leopard print on everything - fabric, wallpaper, clothing, furniture, carpet - and it became like his signature, synonymous with his work.
2. Duquette died in September 1999, and his business partner, Hutton Wilkinson, currently runs Duquette Inc.
3. So where does J.Crew come in? Well, this season they produced and marketed a “J.Crew Duquette Factory Leopard Print” sweater/cardigan. The lawsuit alleges that J.Crew “knowingly and willfully used the Duquette trademark without permission or license in connection with a leopard print product because of Tony Duquette’s unique association with leopard print in the company’s designs and products” (Racked.com).
We’ll wait and see what happens with the lawsuit…
[Originally posted on my previous blog on 4/25/11]
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