Joan B. Davis, Fashion and Entertainment Lawyer

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Joan B. Davis, Fashion and Entertainment Lawyer

Joan Bellefield Davis is an entertainment and intellectual property lawyer licensed in VA and NY

01/26/2026

A recent trip to Rome gave me the opportunity to speak with the incoming Fashion and Art Law LLM students at LUISS University School of Law. I was the first American to receive an LLM in Fashion Law at Luiss Guido Carli School of Law. I was honored by the invitation and enjoyed reconnecting with friends and professors while making new connections along the way.

01/22/2026

Hermes heir Nicolas Puech has launched a civil lawsuit. He claims he was deprived of 6 million Hermes shares now worth roughly €14 billion, targeting Bernard Arnault, LVMH, and others.

The filing marks the first known legal action by Puech against Arnault, tied to long-running scrutiny of LVMH’s historic stake-building in its luxury rival. Prosecutors confirmed a parallel criminal investigation is ongoing, though Arnault and LVMH have not been placed under formal investigation.

The case adds a new legal dimension to one of France’s most contentious corporate disputes.

https://www.reuters.com/world/hermes-heir-takes-aim-lvmhs-arnault-missing-shares-civil-lawsuit-court-document-2025-12-02/

01/21/2026

As Pacific fashion gains global attention. However, creators face challenges such as mass-produced knock-offs, cultural theft, and complex legal roadblocks.

Fiji Fashion Week's Ellen Whippy Knight argues that the solution starts with "awareness, education, and upskilling" creators in the region. The issue highlights how traditional items are threatened by overseas replicas, underscoring the need for strong intellectual property law.

https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/culture-compass/culture-compass/106055752

01/20/2026

The fitness brand Hot Girl Walk (HGW) is suing Fashion Nova for trademark infringement, alleging that the clothing retailer stole its intellectual property.

Court documents indicate that Fashion Nova reached out to HGW in 2024 for a potential collaboration. However, HGW later discovered that the retailer had been selling a "Hot Girl Walk" collection since November 2023.

HGW claims this was a deliberate scheme to trade off the HGW brand and goodwill to sell infringing athletic wear and social media content. It is seeking damages and demanding that Fashion Nova stop competing unfairly and infringing on the marks.

https://www.complex.com/style/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/fashion-nova-sued-for-allegedly-stealing-hot-girl-walk-concept

01/19/2026

Alpha Modus Corp., a U.S. retail technology firm, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Inditex and Zara USA in the Eastern District of Texas.

The suit asserts infringement of four U.S. patents that protect Alpha Modus’s real-time retail analytics, personalized shopper engagement, inventory intelligence, and automated in-store purchase systems.

Alpha Modus claims that Zara’s retail environment, including RFID tracking and mobile app features, uses its patented methods without authorization. Enforcement actions are necessary to protect the integrity and value of its actively commercialized intellectual property.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/alpha-modus-files-patent-infringement-165600570.html

01/18/2026

Swedish fashion tech firm Gryning launched an AI-driven circular platform to reduce fashion waste by linking customer orders directly to manufacturing across five European countries.

Its Gryning PRODUCE system enables real-time, demand-driven production, reducing surplus inventory and large upfront investments. CEO Siri Vikman claims they are "proving that speed, circularity, and quality can finally exist in the same sentence."

https://www.just-style.com/news/gryning-platform-fashion-waste/

01/16/2026

The European Commission has fined Gucci, Chloé, and Loewe over €157 million for fixing resale prices across the EU, a violation of antitrust rules that limits competition and inflates costs for consumers.

The investigation revealed that the brands restricted retailers' ability to set their own prices and discount periods, curbing both online and in-store competition.

The fines, reduced for cooperation, underscore the EU's firm stance on protecting consumer choice and market fairness in luxury fashion.

https://europeansting.com/2025/10/14/commission-fines-fashion-brands-gucci-chloe-and-loewe-over-e157-million-for-anticompetitive-pricing-practices/

01/13/2026

Gucci secures a $1.3M victory in its fight against counterfeits!

A federal court ruled against Lord & Taylor Ecomm for selling fake Gucci items, reinforcing the importance of protecting trademarks in the digital age.

A win for luxury brands in the battle against infringement!

https://www.thefashionlaw.com/gucci-lands-1-3m-judgment-in-counterfeit-case-against-lord-taylor/

01/12/2026

Bob Mackie is taking legal action to protect his name, signature, and creative legacy after alleging JCPenney used his identity for a collection he did not authorize.

The dispute also involves a longtime business partner, whom Mackie claims acted without consent to license his name and exploit his brand.

This case highlights the importance of creative control and the careful management of a designer’s reputation built over decades.

Mackie seeks to stop unauthorized use, reclaim ownership of his archives, and safeguard the value of his iconic name.

https://www.thefashionlaw.com/being-bob-mackie-the-designers-legal-battle-over-his-name-brand-legacy/

01/11/2026

Each year, thousands of tonnes of used clothing from Europe and the United States arrive in Kenya.

In 2023, Kenya became Africa’s largest importer of second-hand clothes, importing about 197,000 tonnes.

While this trade provides affordable clothing for many, it also generates significant waste.

Now, a new generation of Kenyan designers is turning this problem into an opportunity, transforming discarded materials into high fashion.

https://guardian.ng/life/from-waste-to-runway-kenyan-designers-transform-used-clothes-into-art/

01/09/2026

The American Apparel & Footwear Association is pushing to include Meta's Facebook and Instagram in the 2025 Notorious Markets List—a first for US-based platforms.

Their 1,100+ members report counterfeiters are winning the tariff war by undercutting authentic goods.

Red Points found over 4.3 million counterfeit infringements in 2024, with AI-driven fraud expected to surge 70% in 2025.

Dive into the full story:

https://www.securingindustry.com/clothing-and-accessories/clothing-body-calls-out-facebook-instagram-over-fakes/s107/a17221/

01/08/2026

Louis Vuitton secures a landmark $584M judgment in a counterfeiting case!

The ruling against Westgate Discount Mall highlights the court's zero-tolerance for enabling counterfeit sales, with 18 truckloads of fake goods seized in a single raid.

While collecting the full amount may be unlikely, the decision sends a strong message to marketplaces profiting from fakes.

A major win for intellectual property rights!

https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/luxury/louis-vuitton-584-million-counterfeit-award/

Address

Richmond, VA

Telephone

+18045100709

Website

http://schroderdavis.com/

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