HOW VICTORIA’S SECRET STOLE IDEA FOR PUSH-UP BRA DESIGN
A New Jersey designer says her business partnership with Victoria’s Secret
went bust — because the lingerie giant swiped her idea for a wildly popular,
state-of-the-art push-up bra. Debra MacKinnon, the owner of Zephyrs
intimate-apparel company in Spring Lake, says in a new Manhattan federal
lawsuit that the company stole her pending patent out from under her after she
pitched them her idea for breast-boosting inserts in 2008. MacKinnon says she
came up with the idea to make the kidney-shaped silicone push-up inserts while
at a Paris lingerie show in 2008.
went bust — because the lingerie giant swiped her idea for a wildly popular,
state-of-the-art push-up bra. Debra MacKinnon, the owner of Zephyrs
intimate-apparel company in Spring Lake, says in a new Manhattan federal
lawsuit that the company stole her pending patent out from under her after she
pitched them her idea for breast-boosting inserts in 2008. MacKinnon says she
came up with the idea to make the kidney-shaped silicone push-up inserts while
at a Paris lingerie show in 2008.
“Ms. MacKinnon’s inventive concept was to develop a true anatomically
correct push up insert to create lift and cleavage while maintaining a natural
appearance underneath clothing,” her suit says.
correct push up insert to create lift and cleavage while maintaining a natural
appearance underneath clothing,” her suit says.
“Ms. MacKinnon had discovered that there existed a commercial need for a
soft shaping insert that is anatomically designed to conform and push up the
breasts, thereby increasing volume and cleavage while providing a natural
shape.”
soft shaping insert that is anatomically designed to conform and push up the
breasts, thereby increasing volume and cleavage while providing a natural
shape.”
The designer said that at the time, the other inserts in use were “fairly
generic” and peddled by everyone from Wal-Mart to Victoria’s Secret for $20 to
$58. She says in the suit that she used her company’s money to create and
patent her new inserts in hopes of licensing them exclusively to Victoria’s
Secret. She then met with company execs, who liked her inserts so much that she
sold “hundreds of thousands” to them between 2011 and 2012, her lawsuit says.
generic” and peddled by everyone from Wal-Mart to Victoria’s Secret for $20 to
$58. She says in the suit that she used her company’s money to create and
patent her new inserts in hopes of licensing them exclusively to Victoria’s
Secret. She then met with company execs, who liked her inserts so much that she
sold “hundreds of thousands” to them between 2011 and 2012, her lawsuit says.
Then she discovered they had gotten a patent of their own for her chest
enhancers — and now sell the product in a pink-and-white striped box for $58
under the name “Style Secrets” Shaping Inserts, the suit says. MacKinnon had
sued the company before, but both parties eventually dismissed the suit,
agreeing that Victoria’s Secret was in breach of contract. The designer now
says Victoria’s Secret still isn’t keeping up its end of the bargain.
enhancers — and now sell the product in a pink-and-white striped box for $58
under the name “Style Secrets” Shaping Inserts, the suit says. MacKinnon had
sued the company before, but both parties eventually dismissed the suit,
agreeing that Victoria’s Secret was in breach of contract. The designer now
says Victoria’s Secret still isn’t keeping up its end of the bargain.
“The Victoria’s Secret Defendants have apparently chosen to slavishly copy
the Invention, without paying any royalty or receiving any express or implied
licenses to the Zephyrs Patents,” complaint says.
the Invention, without paying any royalty or receiving any express or implied
licenses to the Zephyrs Patents,” complaint says.
MacKinnon is suing to have the patent corrected to say she is the inventor
and to transfer ownership to her, as well as to collect damages.Victoria’s
Secret did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
and to transfer ownership to her, as well as to collect damages.Victoria’s
Secret did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Story Source: nypost
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