Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent will start the New Year without a court feud rumbling on between the two brands, the Telegraph has learned.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final order on Thursday, December 27, in the Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent case, dismissing the lawsuit.
In the order, Louboutin acknowledged that it has no further claims in this case or otherwise arising from the trademark of Louboutin as modified by the Court of Appeals against YSL over red monochrome shoes.
In April 2011, French shoemaker Louboutin alleged that Yves Saint Laurent America Inc. violated its trademark by selling red-soled shoes.
Louboutin began his multi-million shoe empire in 1992 and stumbled upon the idea of his no iconic red sole when he painted red nail polish on the back of a pair of women's shoes because they "lacked energy".
In its Resort 2011 collection, the American branch of YSL featured red suede shoes with matching red soles, alongside purple shoes with purple soles, navy with navy soles and green with green soles, but it was the red soles which sparked the legal action.
A New York judge ruled against Louboutin's request that Yves Saint Laurent cease selling the red soled shoes in August 2011, however an appeal by Louboutin to the U.S Federal Court of Appeals in September this year ruled that Christian Louboutin could protect its iconic red soled shoes from copycats, except when the shoe itself is red.
A statement released by YSL's legal representatives today read: "YSL is pleased to see now completely closed this action that had put at risk the ability of fashion designers to trademark color, as well as to now have confirmation from the Court that it is entitled to continue to sell its unique and famous monochromatic red shoes."
So while YSL can continue making red shoes with red soles, should it branch out into purple soles with red soles ... Louboutin will furiously come a knockin'.
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