The man behind the those infamous red soled shoes has finally had enough of copy-cats trying to steal his signature style and has decided to file a trademark application to protect his work. Christian Louboutin is currently taking legal action against footwear brand Oh... DEER! after the company claimed all of its styles would "possess the ever-popular red soles". Deer Stags, the brand's parent company, deny copyright infringement and have filed an opposition with the US Trademark Office.
A favourite among the Hollywood A-Listers, Louboutin's highly sought-after red soles have even inspired manicurists to invent the 'Louboutin manicure' - a flash of red is painted under the nail tip. Indeed, it is said that the shoe master himself came up with the idea for his red soles after he accidentally applied red nail polish on a whim to "energise" his design in 1992.
This latest move follows similar actions taken by Diane Von Furstenberg, and other designers, who have lobbied in Washington for changes to copyright laws in the fashion industry. It has also prompted some to predict that this unprecedented crackdown in the US may spread to the UK where high-street retailers could be banned from selling Louboutin-inspired designs.