Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

UPDATE: Mistrial declared.

The federal jury currently deliberating whether Forever 21 knowingly copied Trovata's designs has told the judge that it is deadlocked.

The suit covers seven Trovata pieces from fall '05 and early '06 including cardigans, hoodies, shirts and a jacket. While Forever 21 admits that the garments were similar, it denies wrongdoing saying they did not infringe upon the brand's intellectual property.

Top row: Forever 21 shirts. Bottom row: Trovata shirts

The case's outcome (if decided) could have wide implications for an industry in which cheap runway knockoffs often appear in fast fashion chains before they even hit the designer's boutiques. The jurors will return today to try to come to a decision and avoid a mistrial.

[WWD]