This time, Derek Lam has thwarted Ivanka Trump’s “Cadie” wedge, which Mr. Lam has found to be identical to his Ayami sandal. Women’s Wear Daily reports that Lam’s attorneys have sent a cease and desist letter to Ivanka Trump footwear and its licensee, Mark Fisher Footwear, arguing that consumers may be confused by the similarity [...]

Get real.  That’s the holiday greeting that the White House is sending eager shoppers hitting the streets, and the Web, in search of the best holiday deals. It’s a sentiment echoed by the countless retailers, designers and manufacturers who lose billions of dollars every year due to the sale of counterfeit goods. According to a [...]

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) was recently introduced within the House of Representatives as an Act that greatly expands the power of copyright holders, as well as law enforcement officers to regulate copyrighted products, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property in general. While on its face the intentions of the bill seem legitimate, opponents of [...]

The Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act (the “IDPPPA” or “Fake Fashion Bill”) is a bill introduced by New York Senator Chuck Schumer intended to provide long-awaited copyright protection to original fashion designs, including apparel, handbags, and accessories.  The bill, brought in August 2010, is a compromise to its problematic predecessor, the Design Piracy [...]

Ever walk down Canal Street in Manhattan and end up bombarded by huge black bags full of counterfeit and knockoff purses?  Or hear the men slyly whispering “Gucci, Prada, Chanel” in your ear?  I know I definitely have.  While these peddlers do try to evade the police, they are out in the open and are [...]

From AM New York: “City officials have taken extraordinary steps to protect the iconic ‘NYC’ name and other city trademarks — including NYPD and FDNY — by filing lawsuits, firing off hundreds of cease-and-desist letters and cracking down on merchants mixed up with counterfeit goods.”

The always creative and outlandish Nicki Minaj seems to have gotten herself into some hot water during New York’s fashion week. Minaj apparently wore a “flagrant rip-off of another designer’s work.”  That designer, Jessica Rogers, claims to have sent photos of her designs to Minaj’s people. Rogers also claims to have coined the term “puff [...]

Treasury Secretary Geithner says that China is stealing intellectual property from the United States.  “We’re seeing China continue to be very, very aggressive in a strategy they started several decades ago, which goes like this: you want to sell to our country, we want you to come produce here … if you want to come [...]

I took a trip last Saturday morning to the new exhibit at the Mary Boone Art Gallery, at 745 Fifth Avenue – a gallery smack in the middle of all the glamorous, high-end designer boutiques.  They were featuring an exhibit by the talented artist Luis Gispert, entitled “Decepción.” Gispert does large photographic canvases of his work. The artist [...]

Where do the trendy girls-about-town go for that new Prada blouse or Isabel Marant boot? Why, Zara, of course! With their dedication to fast-fashion principles, it’s never a surprise to see high fashion runway pieces openly replicated in Zara store fronts. Stop by your local Zara – there are more than enough outposts to go around [...]