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Will "Runway" Judge "Resort" to Anything?

Posted Jan 27th 2009 3:16AM by TMZ Staff

Michael KorsMichael Kors will resort to stealing from the dead -- according to a new lawsuit.

TMZ has obtained a Federal lawsuit filed Monday by a famous designer's company, claiming the "Project Runway" judge brazenly ripped off designs for a clothing line.

Here's what's interesting -- the company was owned by acclaimed designer Tony Duquette, who died in 1999. According to the suit, last year Kors unveiled his Resort Collection, which allegedly is a direct rip on Duquette's work. Even worse, the suit claims Kors had the audacity to refer to the Collection publicly as the "Duquette Collection."

The suit seeks all sorts of damages from Kors.

Tags: lawsuit, Michael Kors, MichaelKors

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1. Calling it the "Duquette Collection" isn't "audacious" you Obama wannabes. It's being upfront about the inspiration for the designs.

If everyone were that honest, 90% of designer collections would be called the "Chanel" or "Dior" collection.

Duquette would be flattered because Kors is paying him a tribute and keeping his name and memory out there.

It's bad enough that you people work for a gossip website, don't also show your stupidity by projecting your own lack of talent or morals onto other people.

Posted at 10:35AM on Jan 27th 2009 by paul

2. I seem to remember there was a problem with him doing this to one of the contestants. I haven't seen any clothes of his that I could say "Oh, That's Michael Kors". What is he going to do next design a Stainless Steel Stiletto? How about Lucite Heels? He can walk the beach with Shauna Sand.

Posted at 11:49AM on Jan 27th 2009 by Dollar Store Diva

3. NO WONDER THEY AXED PROJECT RUNWAY BUT IT'S FUNNY ON THIS PAST SEASON OF THE SHOW HE ALWAYS TOLD KINLEY THAT SHE WAS A COPY CAT.... HHMMM GO FIGURE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND FASHION IS LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR THE STYLES ALWAYS COME BACK IN SOME WAY SO HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE SOMETHING LOOK DIFFERENT FROM SOMEONE ELSES IM SURE HE CHANGED THE COLOR OR THE STICTCHING hehehehe

Posted at 12:22PM on Jan 27th 2009 by BW

4. Kors also uses fur in his line. Boycott!

Posted at 1:06PM on Jan 27th 2009 by jenna

5. All the Kors designs I've seen in stores are butt-ugly, both mens and womens, except for some gloves that have shown up at TJ Maxx, which are both grossly overpriced and look more like Lauren. Hmm. Wonder who else is getting the "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" treatment?

Posted at 2:31PM on Jan 27th 2009 by Won't buy Kors

6. My Boyfriend used to work at the MK warehouse in beautiful Compton, CA. He also told me that Gucci had won a lawsuit against MK when he used the classic Gucci Blue and Red Stripe in several of his designed. Inspired or not, he had to destroy truckloads of these fashions. It was kept on the DL. BTW, the working conditions at the compton warehouse were appauling. They used to make the warehouse workers huddle under a broken down tent in the rain outside the warehouse until management showed up in the morning to unlock the warehouse. Apparently, he's paranoid about his employees ripping him off. Takes one to know one...

Posted at 3:43PM on Jan 27th 2009 by Alan