Louboutin wins trademark battle against VanHaren

Dutch shoe retailer Van Haren has lost its lengthy legal dispute against luxury shoe group Louboutin over the trademark of its red-soled shoes.

Judges in the District Court of the Hague ruled on Wednesday that Van Haren had infringed Louboutin’s trade mark in its red soles.

The European Court has decided the Dutch shoe chain Van Haren is no longer allowed to manufacture or sell shoes with red soles as Louboutin holds exclusive rights.

The legal battle started in 2012, when Christian Louboutin began proceedings against Van Haren, after it included high-heeled shoes with red soles.

Christian Louboutin had registered trademarks in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, for the colour red being applied to the sole of a shoe, covering “footwear” in 2010 and “high-heeled shoes” in 2013.

The case was first settled by the court of The Hague in April 2013, where it agreed with Louboutin and ordered Van Haren to stop selling the shoes.

Van Haren appealed against that judgement and the matter was presented to the European Court, which also decided that the red sole is covered by Louboutin’s exclusive right.

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