Mar 11, 2011
Cautionary Tale About a Couch
Celebrities license their names to all sorts of things. You name it, a celeb is probably backing it
. Ideally, permission is given well in advance of the product hitting the shelves. This, however, was not the case concerning the “Ian Leather Sofa” from Crate & Barrel.
A tribute to the Studio 54 owner turned hotelier Ian Schrager, the businessman is putting the furniture company over a barrel with a cease-and-desist letter concerning the namesake couch.
Why? Schrager reserves the use of his name for his own brand.
Crate & Barrel take note: Discussing a licensing agreement with Schrager right off the bat probably would have avoided some embarrassment.
You live and you learn, right?
