Emily Ratajkowski has been sent a cease and desist letter by designer Lisa Marie Fernandez who has claims the model has copied two of her swimwear designs for her new collection.
Emily launched her highly anticipated Inamorata Swim range earlier this month (Nov16), and quickly showed off the designs, which she revealed were heavily influenced by old Sports Illustrated issues, on her Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb1561Fl-io/?taken-by=emrata
However, a day after Inamorata’s launch, New York designer Lisa Marie Fernandez reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to actress and model Emily in respect of two designs.
Business of Fashion reports the dispute is over the triple bow Cardiff swimsuits and the off the shoulder Vulcan bikini top. Emily posted a Snapchat video of herself wearing a black version of the swimsuit on a yacht in Nicaragua on Sunday (26Nov17), where she is holidaying with friends.
Fernandez is citing EU design registrations in her case, as there are no copyright protection laws in America for physically functional items, including clothing. But as Inamorata ships globally, Fernandez has been able to invoke two European Union Community Design Registration certificates that she registered in May 2015, which allows her the exclusive rights to supply, import, export or deal in products incorporating the designs within the EU until 2020. She can then apply to extend her registration for a maximum of 25 years.
Emily’s company has until 22 November to respond.
A representative for the star and her new label and declined to comment.
“Because of technology, we are really entering an era of accountability in so many ways,” Fernandez said, according to Business of Fashion.
“(Copying) is constant and we are going full force with it.”
The designer has previously sent cease and desist letters to H&M, though says she has never had to escalate a complaint further through the legal system.
Do you think Emily stole these designs?
