In an unlikely match-up of design copyright, New Balance managed to shut down the Louis Vuitton "Minstrel" design that was too close to the classic running shoe's "574" aesthetic for comfort.
Perhaps the biggest discrepancy between the two pairs of shoes were the prices - while Louis Vuitton retailed the Minstrel for a cool $590, New Balance's 574 had enjoyed a long run just around $75. New Balance lawyers expressed concern that LV's superior recognizability and marketing power would change the association of the gray suede kick with their brand, rather than the original New Balance.
According to both sides, the settlement is an amicable one, with no public mention of any financials beyond the LV sneaker being pulled. We smell a collaboration!
