Christian Louboutin SA lost a court bid to stop Yves Saint Laurent

Christian Louboutin SA lost a court bid to stop Yves Saint Laurent America from selling women's shoes that Louboutin claims are identical to its trademarked red-sole footwear. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan rejected Louboutin's request for a preliminary injunction halting sales of the shoes during the case. "Because in the fashion industry color serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition, the court finds that Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection," Marrero said in an opinion filed today.Louboutin, a Paris-based fashion company, sued Yves Saint Laurent in April, accusing it of selling shoes "with red outsoles that are virtually identical" to Louboutin's. Saint Laurent's shoes "threaten to mislead the public," according to the complaint.