Supreme has filed an official response in the copyright lawsuit case pitched against it by ASAT Outdoors back in November 2019, The Fashion Law reports. The case concerns a tribal camouflage pattern found in Supreme’s FW19 collection.
Last Monday, representatives of Supreme’s corporate identity, Chapter 4 Corp., reportedly filed a response with a New York federal court that denied all copyright claims. Supreme also says that it is shielded from infringement allegations because a number of defenses, including fair use.
Chapter 4 Corp. reportedly admit that Supreme failed to license the camo print design directly from ASAT, but denies wrongdoing and rather seems to suggest that ASAT did not actually create the print but acquired it from another company.
The Fashion Law asserts, however, that this doesn’t mean ASAT lacks exclusive rights to the print and is entitled to sue for unauthorized use. It also states that claiming “fair use” normally pertains to “limited, transformative” purposes that “comment upon, criticize, or parody.” It is not clear how Supreme’s use of the fabric does any of these things.
Chapter 4 reportedly ask for the complaint to be dismissed as ASAT apparently suffered no damages from Supreme’s use of the print, and ask ASAT to cover all legal fees connected to the case.
