How do you protect an iconic handbag? Milan court considers IP rights vesting in Longchamp’s Le Pliage
The IPKat's favourite Le Pliage When you have a handbag design bestseller with over 54 million copies sold around the world since its creation in 1993, the question concerning the IP rights vesting in it is not just an academic one. All this was at the centre of a recent decision of the Milan Court of First Instance ( decision 10280/2021 ). The case concerned Longchamp’s Le Pliage “cult” bag . The Milan court accepted to enforce Longchamp’s 3D EU trade marks (EUTMs) protecting the shape of Le Pliage , but refused to acknowledge that copyright protection could also vest in such a design. Background In 2019, Longchamp initiated proceedings for trade mark and copyright infringement, as well as unfair competition, against a company making and selling a bag design closely resembling that of Le Pliage , specifically Le Pliage 1623 Nylon . The characterizing elements of Le Pliage , according to Longchamp, would be the original combination o...