Celebrity Justice
Mannequin War!

Rootstein, a company that makes "artistic mannequins that are sculpted by artists," is taking an Illinois clothing company to court for misusing their mannies -- for the second time!Click here to see the documents!
Last year, Forever 21 purchased some of Rootstein's high-quality mannequins, then made unauthorized copies of them using lower grade material and used them in retail stores in Illinois.

On August 23, 2007, Rootstein and Forever 21 signed a Settlement Agreement to resolve the parties' dispute -- which stated Forever 21 could continue to use th disputed mannequin designs until Jan. 21, 2008, for a fee of $75,000. After that date, Forever 21 was required to destroy all mannequin copies and was not permitted to order any more from Rootstein.

Forever 21 has now allegedly continued to use the mannequins despite the settlement -- and Rootstein is fed up! Rootstein is now suing Forever 21 over a breach of contract and copyright infringement.

A call to Forever 21 seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Wacky & Weird


Tags: mannequins, rootstein

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 2) | 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Oh well, no one cares really, is this what you call "News" ? Pathetic.

Posted at 12:31PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Whatever

2. Cheap mannequins? SUE! What a disgrace!

Posted at 12:36PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Kelli

3. I agree with #1, who cares???? This isn't news. There must be something better for TMZ to come up with.

Posted at 12:48PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Dani

4. I mean this is just downright injustice. I am supporting Forever 21 all the way!

Why is this on TMZ?

Posted at 12:51PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Kelli

5. ...and this is the best TMZ could do after a Saturday night?

Posted at 12:54PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Pro-East-Coast

6. Someone needs to use spell check. This article is filled with typos. Blah.

Posted at 1:05PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Chicago Girl

7. cheap knockoff mannequins for a cheap store = a thousand new sweatshops in los angeles and asia...what a shock
(in a sarcastic sense)

Posted at 1:28PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by ihateshopping

8. first it was cheap designer knockoffs, now its cheap designer kncok off mannequins?? this monstrosity just keeps growing and growing! oh man in the time it just took me to write this sentence,i think forever 21 just opened up a thousand new sweatshops in asia and los angeles. with all the lawsuits they encountered, shouldnt they have already learned their lesson??? cheap ass owners.

Posted at 1:40PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by 21 forever sucks

9. Again, I have to ask: what does this have to do with "Entertainment News, Celebrity Gossip and Hollywood Rumors"? Wait, don't tell me, the mannequins are celebrities.

Posted at 2:00PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Melissa

10. At least the mannequins are more interesting (and probably more talented) than Heidi and Spencer

Posted at 2:16PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Eva LaRue

11. Just wait until the knock-off blow-up mannequins come out...and then 'Manniequins Gone Wild", "Manniequins Do Dallas",
"Dancing with the Manniquinns",,,but then Joe Francis would find himself in court, AGAIN...

Posted at 2:38PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Flames Fan.

12. Oh my virginal eyes! It would be such a travesty to see plastic boobies. TMZ, you make me laugh!

Posted at 4:41PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by WTF

13. Come on TMZ....this is pathetic "news". You guys can't be that desperate for stories that you have to actually post something like this.

Posted at 10:05PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by T

14. It is IMPORTANT if thats how you make a living.Mannequins have feelings too.Check out our Blog--Tales of a mannequin Pimp

Posted at 8:29AM on Mar 24th 2008 by The mannequin Pimp

15. It actually pisses me off that companies do this. Pottery Barn is a repeat offender of that kind of crime. They search small town Craft Fairs and Art Shows and buy a small order of pieces they love, reaserch the pieces and then recreate them -via 'made in china' and then sell them in their stores, with subtle changes, for big money. It's an arrogant slap in the face to real artists so when stories like this come out it's a nice public flog for indecent behavior...and another reason to boycott the companies who do it.

Posted at 9:40AM on Mar 24th 2008 by elizabeth

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