A few years back, The Onion ran a spoof article in which it claimed that Microsoft was trying to copyright ones and zeros, in an attempt to corner the market on binary code. Of course, the problem with satire is, just when you think you've hit the jackpot on ridiculousness, reality trumps you.Recently, Juicy Couture Inc. filed a lawsuit against Victoria's Secret, claiming that the lingerie giant had stolen many of its marketing gimmicks and design features. Among other things, Juicy stated that Victoria's Secret had copied:
- Juicy's packaging, which resembles candy (Lingerie disguised as candy?!? Didn't Spencer's Gifts come up with this idea somewhere around 1978?).
- Juicy's most popular color scheme, which revolves around the color pink (Pink? For girls? Clearly, Juicy's designers are underappreciated revolutionaries!).
- Juicy's most popular design, in which its logo is emblazoned across the backside of the wearer (I wonder if Juicy's next step will be to go after all the lower-back tattoo wearers out there. Tramp-stampers, beware!).
Still, as a luxury item, lingerie is probably not selling all that well right now. Maybe Juicy needs the dough?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-07-2008 @ 8:14PM
Josh said...
T-Mobile Owns Copyright in the US and Europe for the color Magenta.
5-07-2008 @ 8:16PM
Bruce Watson said...
Josh-
That's absolutely ridiculous!
Thanks for the info, though!
5-07-2008 @ 8:50PM
william lindblad said...
For all the lamebrains out here - you CANNOT patent or copyright something that already EXISTS. For what it is worth - there are 3 kinds of patents. Utility, Design and Plant. (Plant means botanicals), not factories. To qualify for design it must be an aspect that cannot be readily identified by someone off the street taking a quick look. Utility means it has a function (they don't ask if it works). No. You cannot patent NYC - geographic places are out too.
5-07-2008 @ 8:57PM
Bruce Watson said...
William-
I'd like to believe that you're right, but I'm afraid you're not. For example, Corning claims to hold a trademark on the color pink. I'm sure, however, that even Corning pink exists somewhere in nature.
The illogic of this blows my mind.
5-07-2008 @ 9:36PM
Will Ashworth said...
Bruce:
Your last comment, "Still, as a luxury item, lingerie is probably not selling all that well right now. Maybe Juicy needs the dough?" makes little sense.
Juicy sells very little lingerie. Here's the extent of it:
http://www.juicycouture.com/store/catalog/catalogPage.jhtml?tid=P9&itemId=cat1701&parentId=cat104&masterId=cat103&cmCat=cat000000cat103cat104cat1701&index=3&tid=C3
Victoria Secret's are the lingerie people.
5-07-2008 @ 9:37PM
Bruce Watson said...
William-
Fair enough. Could we agree, at least, that Juicy is a luxury brand?
5-07-2008 @ 9:39PM
Will Ashworth said...
Victoria Secret's should be Victoria's Secret. My mistake.
5-08-2008 @ 2:34PM
Heather said...
Thanks for the laugh Bruce, I love your sarcasm!
5-08-2008 @ 2:35PM
Bruce Watson said...
Heather-
Back at you--it's nice to get positive feedback!
5-14-2008 @ 9:35AM
danielle said...
i love victorias secret!! i get all of my flip-flops there!! they got really cute clothes too! i am 11 years old and thank u for letting me write!!