Lawsuit Filed Against Jeremy Scott

Jeremy Scott and Moschino  had a lawsuit filed against them yesterday by the graffiti artist Joseph Tierney - known as Rime - for allegedly copying a piece of artwork that he completed for The Seventh Letter art organisation in Detroit in 2012 onto items in Moschino´s autumn/winter 2015 collection. The lawsuit states: "Rime is a well-known artist. Defendants Moschino and Jeremy Scott - two household names in high fashion - inexplicably placed Rime's art on their highest-profile apparel without his knowledge or consent," continuing, "If this literal misappropriation were not bad enough, Moschino and Jeremy Scott did their own painting over that of the artist - superimposing the Moschino and Jeremy Scott brand names in spray-paint style as if part of the original work."

The lawsuit takes particular exception to the appearance of the designs on the red carpet at this year's Met Ball, to which Katy Perry and Scott himself wore pieces that seemed to bear a striking resemblance to the piece of graffiti in question.

"The idea of putting graffiti - or "street" art - on ultra-expensive clothing was meant to provoke and generate publicity for the brand/designer. Towards that end, Defendants paid Ms. Perry to advertise and display the clothing at the Gala, a high-profile party thrown annually by one of the nation's most venerable institutions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Not only did Ms. Perry and Defendant Scott advertise, wear, and display the clothing at the event, they arrived at the event in a spray painted Rolls Royce, and even carried around Moschino branded cans of fake spray paint during the event, as if Defendants were responsible for the artwork."

"And generate publicity it did. Ms. Perry was widely photographed in the clothing, as she always is. She even made a number of 'worst-dressed' lists as a result. The Defendants were obviously thrilled with how the episode played out, heavily promoting images of Ms. Perry wearing the clothing in their marketing, advertising, media and sales materials. The only person harmed was Rime. Not only was his art exploited by Defendants, but his credibility as a graffiti artist was compromised by inclusion in such a crass and commercial publicity stunt."

Tierney is demanding that Moschino cease selling the items that he claims infringe his artwork, as well as pay significant damages.  Moschino have not responded to a request for comment made this morning.