Heidi Klum Jewelry Lawsuit Dropped
Good news for model and Project Runway host Heidi Klum, a federal judge has dismissed a case filed against her and jeweler Mouawad over her jewelry line. Judge Shira A. Scheindlin ordered the case dismissed without prejudice after Mouawad and the plaintiff Van, Cleef & Arpels agreed to "to settle the controversy between them without any admission of liability." The suit had alleged that the jewelry, as shown on Klum at right, copied the quatrefoil design in Van Cleef's Alhambra jewelry.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
john Oct 9th 2008 10:45AM
Too bad for consumers who paid the exhorbitant prices of these pieces believing them to be originally designed by this famous personality. This case is not only between companies who undoubtedly cashed in through their propagandas. What about the buying publics' interest? Now people who bought these pieces will never be sure if it ever was worth their investment. Like 100 years from now, in an auction, what will the they say " A lovely piece of so and so designed by the legendary Ms. so and so going for this much price. But take note it was never really proven if she indeed originally designed these pieces."???
Eric Oct 9th 2008 10:21AM
Interesting point of view, but I have a bit of expierence with stars and the majority do not design, they get examples put in front of them and they say , Nice, color a bit darker maybe ect.. But the initial design or direction is more often than not from someone else.
Deidre Woollard Oct 9th 2008 10:50AM
That is an interesting point, I've always assumed that people were aware that most celebrities generally have more of an approval role than a direct design role in the products they lend their name to but I never thought about future value. I don't think many celebrity names will carry much weight down the road when it comes to jewelry with the possible exception of Liz Taylor, some of the limited amount of pieces from the House of Taylor jewelry line should stand the test of time.
mike Oct 9th 2008 2:52PM
i doubt that those buying this jewelry are buying it as an investment. they are probably buying it because Heidi Klum's marketing it and because they think it's pretty.
in any case, you'd be hard pressed to make a profit off of jewelry bought at retail (even fine jewelry).
The Truth Oct 26th 2008 10:34AM
You know, it is so interesting when a company thinks they own a design and anything similar to it. My initials are MLB, am I suing Major League Baseball ? Most designs are variations on something, they are inspired by an image. The clover image is one that can be easily done in way's that are so similar. There is a world of difference between the 2 CC's of Chanel's logo, Louise Vuitton's LV's and the interpretation of a clover, circle, square and such. There are only so many way's to interpret these with the basic elements of gold, silver & diamonds.