Fashion Law

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Fashion Careers

A Former Intern is Suing Harper’s Bazaar and Wants to Create a Class Action Suit Against Hearst

In news that is really only surprising because it’s never happened before, a major fashion magazine is getting sued by one of its former interns.

According to the New York Times, Xuedan Wang interned at Harper’s Bazaar from August 2010 through December 2011 for 40-55 hours per week and today filed a lawsuit against Hearst (the fashion glossy’s publisher) accusing them of violating state and federal wage and hour laws by not paying her when she was doing the work of a paid employee.

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Fashion Law

Madonna Will Stand Trial Next Month to Defend ‘Material Girl’

It’s been a little over a year since apparel manufacturer L.A. Triumph slapped Madonna with a lawsuit, claiming that her “Material Girl” line for Macy’s threatens their own “Material Girl” juniors clothing line that they have been selling since 1997. We thought it sounded crazy, considering the fact that Madonna invented “Material Girl,” the song (well, writers did, but you know what we mean), in 1984.

However, we learned last August that L.A. Triumph actually had a leg to stand on, because while Madonna may have the copyright to the name of the song, she doesn’t have the trademark, since she hadn’t yet sold any products bearing the name (several missed opportunities there if you ask us!)

Madonna, understandably, was hoping they didn’t–she requested that the court throw out the lawsuit, which the judge has denied.

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Fashion Law

Zooey Deschanel Sues Steve Madden for $2 Million

According to a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles, Zooey Deschanel is suing Steve Madden for $2 million. Here’s why:

According to the lawsuit, in August 2010 Deschanel’s agent at CAA and Steve Madden made a binding, oral agreement stating that the starlet would be paid $2 million by the company to front a line of shoes, tentatively called “Zooey’s Shoes and Accessories.” She was told that she would be paid regardless of whether or not the items were actually produced, and that the payment would cover 13 days of work, including a photo shoot for an ad as well as press appearances.

A few weeks later, Steve Madden came back to the Deschanel camp, complaining that one retailer in particular was not keen on the collaboration, which meant they’d have to reduce the fee to $1.5 million. Deschanel’s agent agreed to the new fee. During this time, the actress refrained from entering into any similar contracts, as that was part of the oral agreement.

Except in October 2010, Steve Madden went back to Zooey’s agent and said that the deal was kaputt.

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