Taylor Swift Settles Lucky 13 Clothing Trademark Lawsuit
Taylor Swift has settled the trademark lawsuit brought against her by clothing company Blue Sphere.
The California-based company claimed that the 25-year-old "Shake It Off" singer had infringed on its existing trademark, according to Billboard.
In May 2014, Blue Sphere filed the lawsuit against the singer, after she allegedly started marketing clothing with the phrase "Lucky 13." She also partnered up with a greeting-card company, which ran a "Lucky 13" sweepstakes.
Swift said in an affidavit that she had "no knowledge related to the design, marketing, advertising, distribution and sale of the accused T-shirt."
Over the past few months, the lawsuit has transformed from a pesky trademark case into a deeper investigation into Swift's business model. Blue Sphere has attempted to have her submit to a deposition.
Swift claimed she was being "harassed" by Blue Sphere while she was preoccupied with her busy tour, as the clothing company continued to look into her endorsement deals with companies, such as Elizabeth Arden, Coca-Cola Company, Proctor & Gamble, Toyota Motor Sales and Papa John's.
Blue Sphere also asked for photos and videos of Swift, in which her breasts and buttocks were "partially visible," in an attempt to argue she was using sex appeal to sell her products, while also harming their brand and target audience.
In August, U.S. district court judge Douglas McCormick denied that Swift was being "harassed" and said the "extraordinary circumstances that would warrant a protective order prohibiting the deposition of a named party are not present here."
On Friday, the lawsuit was settled and an agreement was reached involving both parties, which allowed Swift to avoid facing a deposition. J. Douglas Baldridge at Venable represented Swift, while Gary Rinkerman at Drinker Biddle & Reath represented Blue Sphere.
Swift released her fifth studio album, "1989," on Oct. 27, 2014. The album, which topped the U.S. Billboard 200 and U.K. Albums Chart, produced the singles "Shake It Off," "Blank Space," "Style," "Bad Blood" and "Wildest Dreams."
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