New Balance to Louis Vuitton - You Stole Our Shoe Design!
New Balance claims its 574 sneaker, above, has been copied by Louis Vuitton's Minstrel shoe. Photo: amazon.com (top) and louisvuitton.com (bottom)
New Balance claims Louis Vuitton's Minstrel sneaker is a copy of its men's top-selling 574 retro-style running shoe, according to a story in The Boston Herald.
The 574, on store shelves since the mid-'90s, retails for around $75. Louis Vuitton's Minstrel, which premiered last month, is $590.
According to the Herald report, New Balance says collaborations between the company and artists and designers on 574 special editions are typically sell-outs. Those past collaborations could lead customers to think Louis Vuitton's Minstrel is affiliated with New Balance, the suit notes.
"Indeed, it is possible that had New Balance authorized Louis Vuitton to design a special Louis Vuitton edition of the iconic New Balance 574 shoe, the Minstrel might have been a highly successful collaboration," the suit says.
Celebs who wear the 547s? Will Ferrell, Ludacris and Elijah Wood. Even "Gossip Girl" Blake Lively has donned the style.
We see the "N" has been traded for the "LV" logo on the Minstrel, but do you see any other differences? Leave a comment below!
Tags: blake lively, BlakeLively, lawsuit, logo, louis vuitton, LouisVuitton, ludacris, new balance, NewBalance, shoes, sneakers, will ferrell, WillFerrell






Joe Laslo, 9-11-2009, 5:15PM
This is a juvinile attempt for sales on NB's part. Though this is an iconic style for them, I have seen countless replicas, intimidations or similar models created by over 10 shoe companies I can think of and there is no history of NB suing those companies at all. I think NB is just going after the big buck company thinking they will settle though they have never sued any of those other companies who have replicated their style. You can't be picky, NB.... the case should get thrown out.
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