The Fashion Law Blog reports………Tom Ford is being sued over the name of some pricey sweaters. The estate of Steve McQueen is far from flattered that $1,600-plus cardigans from Tom Ford bear the “McQueen” name and has slapped the fashion brand with a trademark infringement, right of publicity violation, and unfair competition lawsuit, as a result, seeking to immediately and permanently prevent any further usage of the late actor’s name and an array of monetary damages, including all of the profits that Tom Ford made from its sale of the sweaters, plus statutory damages of at least $2 million.
According to the estate’s complaint, which was filed in a California state court on Friday, and first reported by the Hollywood Reporter, “Certain sartorial items [have], in fact, become synonymous with McQueen.” One such garment, according to the complaint: “a wool cardigan sweater with a shawl collar,” which the late McQueen – who was coined Hollywood’s “King of Cool” – had a strong hand in helping to “make cool.”
By selling the sweater with the McQueen name attached to it, Tom Ford is likely to cause confusion amongst consumers as to whether the McQueen estate is connected with or has authorized such usage (the core of a trademark infringement claim), according to the estate. More than that, it is allegedly trading on the well-established appeal of the actor’s name in order to sell clothing, thereby, running afoul of his right of publicity.
