Rafting Goldstar wins the legal battle against Birkenstock. Germany’s Supreme Court has rejected the German brand’s appeal (hinging on an alleged procedural defect) and ordered it to pay retribution. This event ends a nine-year legal battle in courts halfway across Europe. Meanwhile, Louboutin and Vinci Leather are reaching a settlement agreement to resolve the legal dispute that began a year ago.
Goldstar wins with Birkenstock
“This is just the latest of a set of positive endings in court ruling for our company”, comments Rafting Goldstar CEO, Margherita Montanari. The brand is controlled by Romagna-based Silver1 group, owned by the Silvagni family, which also owns the Valleverde brand. Montanari says that “This is a definitive confirmation of the integrity of our business practices and the originality and identity represented by our brand”.
No more
The ruling by the “Bundesgerichtshof” (the Federal Court of Justice, the German equivalent of the Italian Supreme Court) put an end to a legal battle that began in 2015 and that, since then, the Italian company has continued to have the upper-hand on. All of Birkenstock’s attempts to register the sole design as a trademark have been rejected, giving Rafting Goldstar reason in every venue (Germany, France, Benelux, Italy, and the European Court of Justice). In the most recent dispute, Birkenstock had appealed an adverse decision, complaining of procedural flaws that the German Federal Court of Justice, however, found to be nonexistent.
Meanwhile, Louboutin
Christian Louboutin and Vinci Leather have reached a settlement that will end the legal dispute that began in May 2023. The luxury brand accused the U.S. company of producing and putting on the market “copied” footwear that confused consumers. Specifically pumps that “uses a red sole identical to” Louboutin’s and sneakers very similar to its models. Now the two companies, writes The Fashion Law, have reached a settlement agreement that, if there are no second thoughts, will close the case.
Pictured from their respective sites are a Goldstar sandal and a Vinci Leather model
Read also:
- Valleverde-Goldstar beats Birkenstock: the tread isn’t the same
- Copies and plagiarism: Louboutin v. Vinci Leather, GCDS v. Shein
