Louis Vuitton agreed to stop selling its Minstrel shoe line as part of a settlement reached with New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., which had accused the French luxury goods company of copying New Balance's best-selling 574 shoe. New Balance, which filed the lawsuit in September, would not disclose any additional details of the settlement but said the lawsuit had been dismissed.
Michael Pantalony, director of civil enforcement, North America, for Louis Vuitton, said, “We are pleased to have reached an amicable resolution of this matter with New Balance. In the interest of reaching a resolution with New Balance, Louis Vuitton has discontinued selling the Minstrel shoe.”
Ed Haddad, vice president of intellectual property for New Balance, said, “We appreciate Louis Vuitton’s cooperation in promptly resolving this matter. Both companies are united in the fight to protect intellectual property. Based on our experience in resolving this issue and understanding what we both share in protecting intellectual property.”
