A legal spat between a fashion designer and his brother over high-end parody T-shirts has apparently been settled, according to court papers obtained Friday.
Brian Lichtenberg, whose BLTEE clothing line is worn by such entertainers as Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, sued his younger brother’s Alex & Chloe brand two years ago over streetwear designs that parody the logos of high-end fashion houses.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh presided over a settlement conference last week, papers show. No further details were immediately available.
In a Los Angeles federal lawsuit alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and defamation, Brian Lichtenberg sought to bar his brother Chris’ Alex & Chloe from producing and marketing clothing “confusingly similar” to his BLTEE line of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, caps and sweatpants.
Brian Lichtenberg alleged that Alex & Chloe appropriated his “trade dress,” or the size, shape, color, general appearance and texture of his designs. His brother refuted the allegations, claiming that Alex & Chloe’s designs are his own and labeled as such.
Brian Lichtenberg’s T-shirt line plays on the logos of iconic fashion houses, substituting “Trippy” for Tiffany, “Feline” for Celine, “Homies” for Hermes and “Ballin” for Balmain. The shirts, which sell for about $40 to $100, mimic the style, font, and other elements of the luxury brand designs.
According to the suit, Brian Lichtenberg created the contested Balmain parody, using “Ballin” and “Ballin Paris,” at the beginning of 2013, following a conversation with Kanye West.
The elder Lichtenberg said that his brother copied his designs while working for him as a part-time computer tech in 2012. Alex & Chloe’s shirts are advertised for about $40 to $69.
The lawsuit sought punitive damages and an injunction to stop Alex & Chloe from using what were alleged to be Brian Lichtenberg’s designs and trademarks.
— City News Service