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Karl Lagerfeld, the iconic head designer and creative director of Chanel, has been accused of stealing a design from an unlikely source, Boston-based sportswear company New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc.
New Balance filed a copyright infringement lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, against Mr. Lagerfeld for allegedly designing a shoe for his eponymous Karl Lagerfeld label that is nearly identical to a New Balance shoe.
The shoe in question allegedly features a block letter “K” logo instead of New Balance’s signature “N” logo, copying a design that New Balance has been using since the 1970s, according to TMZ.
“On June 3, 2014, New Balance filed a lawsuit against Karl Lagerfeld to protect our intellectual property rights related to our iconic lifestyle footwear designs,” a New Balance representative told The Telegraph. “Although we cannot comment on the specifics of the case, we believe it is vital to actively and vigorously defend our brand.”
There’s a big difference in price between the sneakers: The shoe from Lagerfeld’s eponymous label is $360, and the New Balance version is $112, according to E! News.