[Fashion Finds] Styles so good, it’ll get you in legal trouble

The Maasai tribe of Kenya Vs Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton and 998 other companies

Face2Face Africa capture

As far back as 2012, the Louis Vuitton Brand featured the Maasai tribe’s designs in its line.

Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania…FashionGhana

This fact, not sitting well with the Maasai’s prompted them to enlist the assistance of Light Years IP – a Washington based advocacy group in obtaining the funds owed to them for the replication of their patterns.

Subsequently, this led to the formulation of the Maasai Intellectual Property Initiative Trust. The trust will pay the legal fees of the Maasai people.

Despite looking for a resolution outside of the legal system, the Maasai’s are prepared to fight in courts – should the need arise.

Intellectual property is an extremely viable source. In some instances, it is a huge income generator. These cases just go to show how influential Africa is – regardless of the negatives associated with the continent.