Valentino Sues Steve Madden For Copyright Infringement

Valentino Summer Spring 16/17 Collection

United States - Valentino is currently suing Steve Madden for copyright infringement of handbag and strap design. Valentino filed the lawsuit in Georgia federal court on Friday. In the complaint, it alleges Steve Madden has copied its "double purse design" comprised of “a two-dimensional design that it applied to a handbag."

Valentino’s “Camubutterfly” purse strap [Left] is allegedly being copied by Steve Madden [Right] 

Valentino also claims Steve Madden knocked off its "camubutterfly" purse strap (shown above). According to the court papers, Valentino's handbag design retails for approximately $1,500 and the strap for almost $900. Whereas Steve Madden metal studded tote bag version $138 and additional strap retailing at $30, significantly less.

As WWD reports: “Valentino’s “Rockstud” accessories, including bags and shoes, have been wildly popular since hitting the street style scene in 2014, when Maria Grazia Chiuri was still at the design helm with Pierpaolo Piccioli. Chiuri is now leading design at Dior and Piccoli is flying solo at Valentino.”

The complaint alleges: "Valentino did not authorize any reproduction or distribution of the double purse design and camubutterfly strap design," and the Italian design house argues that Valentino’s “exclusive rights” have been infringed.

This is not the first time Steve Madden has been sued. The company is frequently pulled into court for intellectual property infringements, and Valentino joins a list of retailers seeking to enforce legal rights and to keep Steve Madden in line.

Last year Steve Madden settled a case with Sketchers who alleged Steve Madden used elements from its casual walking shoe the Go Walk for Madden's Setta campaign. Early last year, Italian luxury footwear brand Aquazzura Italia Srl sued the brand for trade dress infringement over three shoe designs, settlement talk are still on-going.

British brand Stella McCartney also settled a lawsuit last year after suing Steve Madden for producing a handbag allegedly “nearly identical” to the British designers iconic Falabella bag.