Despite the ever-continuing success of his brand, the last few months haven't been the most ideal for Alexander Wang. Since March his name has been in the headlines but for all of the wrong reasons after thirty of his workers filed a $450 million lawsuit against him for allegedly running a sweatshop. Based on recent developments, though, the dispute has come to an end.
This week a New York judge dismissed the lawsuit after both sides managed to reach an undisclosed settlement two weeks ago, WWD reports. 'We are gratified that this matter has been dismissed, as the allegations were unfounded and completely false,' Wang's spokesperson said in a statement, while the the lawyers of the two main claimants opted not to comment.
Earlier on this week a judge in France's final court of appeal upheld a 2011 decision in favour of Zara allowing them to sell red-soled heels despite claims of copyright infringement made by Christian Louboutin. Today the designer released a statement to clarify that they 'still very much own the trademark to their Pantone-18 'Chinese Red' soles despite the court's conclusion that the 'the terms of Louboutin's trademark registration were too vague'.
'We would like to respond to the recent commentary in various articles from newspapers and blogs regarding the French court decision in the Zara case. Much of the discussion either implies or states that through this ruling we have lost our rights to our world famous Red Sole Trademark,' the statement says. 'We would like to clarify that what has been disputed and canceled is only one French registration of said red sole trademark.' It continues: 'Christian Louboutin continues to own valid and enforceable trademark rights in its Red Sole Trademark, including in France itself as well as throughout the world.'
