Adventures in Copyrights: Bat Crazy

Jul 15, 2008 @ 12:58pm

luella topshop aic.jpg To be honest we were sort of waiting for this moment.

Ever since Luella's eclectic punk Spring 08 show, the collection has been making ripples through retail stores. First, there was the resurgence of floral ra-ra skirts, and the prominence of cat-eye glasses, then the sudden popularity of neon Docs. So it really came as no surprise when Topshop put up this replica of Luella's yellow and black batwing tee.

Besides the label, we really can't tell what the difference could be between the two - both feature black batwing shapes of exactly the same size up against the same shade of yellow. And between the rest of Topshop's collection (read: floral ra-ra skirts, neon doc martens, punked up prom dresses), the London shop seems to be taking a lot of 'inspiration' from Miss Bartley.

Then again, we're not exactly sure if Luella can claim rights to a superhero symbol that's been around for decades...Still, she got there first this season.

-- HAYLEY PHELAN

posted by screachingrat

Jul 15, 2008 1:10PM

Delias has one too
http://store.delias.com/item.do?categoryID=463&itemID=50102&sizeFilter=&colorFilter=&brandFilter=

posted by guest

Jul 15, 2008 1:11PM

the luella bats are positioned directly under eachother, whereas the topshop bats are diagonally below eachother.

posted by guest

Jul 15, 2008 1:13PM

So can I blame Luella for copying my brothers PJ's this season?

posted by guest

Jul 15, 2008 1:36PM

And why aren't you doing a whole Adventures for Luella ripping off Batman? Does it only matter if it's a mass market brand doing the ripping off?

posted by guest

Jul 15, 2008 3:32PM

uhhh, the batman movie is coming out soon

looks like they are all capitalizing on that

posted by guest

Jul 15, 2008 11:09PM

Well, I think the idea is that like can only "rip off" like, as in, topshop is copying luella because they are both manufacturing fashion/clothing. "Batman" is an enterprise that is not based solely, or even mostly, on fashion. People may see the luella shirt, but buy the topshop one instead, but no one who was thinking of buying a batman comic or even an official batman t-shirt, i daresay, is going to choose the luella top instead. We don't say Alexander McQueen is "ripping off" the tudor dynasty, or that ysl and every other designer "ripped off" people who go on safari, you know? So, accusing luella of ripping of batman is not quite right

posted by guest

Jul 16, 2008 3:07PM

The Batman t-shirt from Delia’s is by Junk Food, who makes many licensed t-shirts ,legally, like the DC Comics Batman ones. I love Luella but in a way she is the one ripping off DC Comics by using the Batman symbol.

posted by guest

Jul 16, 2008 3:25PM

Luella totally hit the mark this season, and everyone has been saying she's their favourite collection this season.

posted by guest

Jul 16, 2008 8:21PM

It's Luella who is courting legal action. Time Warner which owns DC Comics can be reliably expected to protect their trademarks vigilantly. That Batman symbol comes in many variations which are all most definitely registered trademarks. Unless Luella cleared it with DC beforehand, she could be looking at some serious litigation, or at least a major cease and desist order.

posted by HiFashionLvr

Jul 17, 2008 7:45PM

well i doubt Time Warner/DC Comics will get very angry at Luella. in fact, its likely Luella had permission. i mean, a lawsuit would be filed by now if there was 1. im incredibly ashamed to find two stores/brands i like (esp. Delia's, i hav a lot of Junk Food T's from there) producing knockoffs. even if they had permission to use the symbol, i doubt either company had permission from Luella to use it in a way so that u cud barely tell it apart from the their T.

posted by guest

Aug 19, 2008 11:31AM

Yeah the Delia's one is even on clearance