LOUBOUTIN FIGHT OVER DISTINCTIVE RED SOLES

CHRISTIAN Louboutin is fighting for ownership of his signature red soles.

The French shoe designer has been fighting it out in the European courts to protect his trademark after discovering Dutch retailer Van Haren was selling high-heeled women’s shoes with red soles. The shade used by Louboutin is trademarked in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

But Louboutin has run into trouble after a Dutch court adviser said he may not be able to stop other designers from selling high- heeled shoes with red soles.

The case, which has been rumbling on since 2012, has seen Van Haren ordered to stop selling its black and blue shoes with red soles.

However, the retailer has since argued the trademark is invalid because EU law does not allow shapes in trademarks – like shoe soles.

Louboutin came up with the idea for the red-soled heels after reaching for an assistant’s ‘Chinese Red’ nail polish to add the finishing touches to a pair of high heels.