Is it legal to copy other designers' design? Look at this steve madden sandal!

[villagegirl]

I am very surprised to see Steve Madden made this copy of famous Matt Berson gladiator sandal which was sported by many celebrities last summer. If it was Forever 21, I might not have been such shocked by the copy. But it is Steve Madden! I always thought this is a decent brand, though I never bought any of his shoes. I don't think it is legal to copy a design to such a degree. I remembered there's an article telling that Giorgio Armani accused D&G of copying(http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/090120-armani-accuses-dg-of-copying.aspx)

Here's the shoes:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3016815...Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6017238&P=1

 

[laureenthemean]

Steve Madden copies lots of designer styles.

 

[lilwickitwitch]

they certainly do.

 

[peachi521]

Steve Madden copies a lot of designers The most recent style that sticks out in my mind is the YSL Tribute Sandal!!

 

[meggyg8r]

Yeah, almost all the Steve Madden shoes I see are in someway a copy of a designer shoe.

 

[BagsRmyLife]

He's really almost kind of known for that. It's like a really good copy of a designer shoe.

 

[lovinalotofbags]

Same look, different designer, lower price, why not?

 

[luciabugia]

They have always been doing that...Jimmy, Lou..

 

[Lyra]

One thing is copying - the other thing is that he used to use photos of the originals on his homepage and just photoshopping his own name inside the shoe

 

[paelaf]

I was so annoyed 3-4 years ago when they copied the Michael Kors Newton. It wasn't like the original was hundreds of dollars, but it was kind of a special shoe...Next thing you know everyone and their mom is running around with the same shoe. Actually, didn't payless copy that one too? It was a bummer.

 

[goodmornin]

All of Steve Madden's shoes are "inspired" in some way.

the cheapest brands to be somewhat "original" would be those such as tory burch, kooba etc..

 

[mammabyrdie]

I wonder how he is legally able to do that.

 

[mellibelly]

Jeffrey Campbell also copies designer shoes. I wonder why they haven't cracked down on it...some of the shoes are EXACT replicas.

 

[nwhite]

I was so annoyed 3-4 years ago when they copied the Michael Kors Newton. It wasn't like the original was hundreds of dollars, but it was kind of a special shoe...Next thing you know everyone and their mom is running around with the same shoe. Actually, didn't payless copy that one too? It was a bummer.

I have some Michael Kors clog shoes with the studs that I bought probably 2-3 years ago and payless had a copy of those (and a bunch of other stores)!

I do think a lot of Steve Maddens shoes are inspired by other designers. His shoes are pretty comfortable and price is good, but I just haven't seen anything that's really appealing to me lately. Designer shoes are always more appealing

 

[M_Butterfly]

I have noticed that and have wonder if they can do that from the legal perspective??