Oh, how the tables have turned in the world of copyright infringement. The company with perhaps the most hatred for knock-offs of their designs, Louis Vuitton just released an official apology to a Dutch graphic artist for… ripping off his design!
The contorted women that spelled out “VBLV” (which stands for Vanessa Beecroft Louis Vuitton,) with only their naked bodies in the Louis Vuitton store at Champs Elyseés back in 2005 were not the mastermind idea of artist Vanessa Beecroft, but of Anthony Beeke, who created the inspiration for the spectacle back in 1970 with his “Naked Ladies Alphabet.” But nobody asked his permission or gave him any credit.
Both Vanessa Beecroft and Louis Vuitton have agreed to back off from using the design ever again, but we’re kind of wondering what this does to their ongoing argument against people knocking off their designs- will this affect their credibility?