Intellectual Property – Lululemon Athletica Canada, Inc. v. Calvin Klein, Inc.

Intellectual Property Attorney Consultation Can Be Worth the Cost.
Investing in an initial conversation with a legal expert BEFORE you venture into using or creating intellectual property can save you valuable time, energy, and money. Getting clear on your long-range IP strategy for protecting your valuable content, ideas, inventions, and more, is likely the best business decision you can ever make.
Yoga Pants Lawsuit.
In a recent case, Lululemon Athletica Canada, Inc. filed suit against Calvin Klein, Inc. for infringement of three of Lululemon’s design patents in multi-waistband yoga pants.
Lululemon’s waistband features an overlapping compression design that makes wearers seem slimmer as well as enhancing athletic performance. The overlapping design has come to serve as a brand-identifier for Lululemon.
Smartly, Lululemon has protected its intellectual property with patents, and now they allege infringement on multiple design aspects of their skin-tight yoga pants. Their claim is that the waistband of Calvin Klein’s yoga pants is substantially similar to their own overlapping waistband.
Both parties have entered into a settlement agreement that will resolve the pending design patent litigation related to the three yoga pant designs.
Intellectual Property Protecttion.
You don’t have to be a giant well know company to have issues with intellectual property. Your small start-up can just as easily be affected. Play it smart from the beginning and speak to an intellectual property lawyer who can help protect you from infringements as well as lawsuits. There is just too much at stake for you to go it alone – but you don’t have to. Contact an attorney today!
Until next time, I’m Attorney Francine Ward helping you protect what’s yours.
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