Those of you in the UK who own any panties, hoodies, or other comfortwear emblazoned with that unmistakable collegiate-fonted “PINK” from Victoria’s Secret may want to cherish the fleeting moments you have with those garments. Last week, a British judge ruled that the Victoria’s Secret Pink line is infringing on the upscale menswear brand Thomas Pink.
Judge Colin Birss (who previously ruled that Samsung tablet designs did not copy Apple’s iPad because they weren’t as “cool,” so you know he’s legit) claimed that featherbrained consumers might be overwhelmed with confusion between VS’s lacy undergarments and tanks, and Thomas Pink’s $200 men’s dress shirts. In his 217-page ruling, he wrote (via the Inquisitr):
“Consumers are likely to enter one of the claimant’s shops looking for lingerie…and be surprised and disappointed when they find they have made a mistake.”
Yes, one can only imagine the scores of women who, looking for women’s lingerie, have accidentally been led astray to a posh men’s clothing store and after suddenly realizing that they have made a terrible mistake, cautiously back out of the store, questioning everything but mostly their own psychological integrity. It seems clear enough that the UK judge was looking out for the UK brand, seeing as only a very committed idiot could mistake Thomas Pink for Victoria’s Secret. As Kyle Stock at Bloomberg Businessweek writes:
The outcome gives a boost to homegrown business at the expense of L Brands (LB), an Ohio-based retail giant. Conspiracy theorists might even label it a bit of intellectual-property protectionism and a nice jolt of publicity for Thomas Pink.
I’m not a VS fan, but this is just silly. Way to go Brits. YOU WIN THIS ROUND REDCOATS. MEANWHILE, WE IN AMERICA STILL HAVE OUR FREEDOM! YEAH, REMEMBER THAT?!
Image via Getty.