The Sandal Scandal: Of Birks, Crocs, and Fakes | Part 1

There’s been a lot of action in the world of footwear fashion – especially legal action involving claims and counter-claims about cheap fakes of expensive originals, and also expensive rip-offs of cheaper originals.

First it was the crocs, the uniquely shaped perforated sandals. The American company which makes them, Crocs Inc., is pursuing legal action against several Indian companies, including the likes of Bata and Liberty, for copying their visual design and “passing off” their product as crocs.

Then we have the case of Italian luxury fashion brand Prada, which has been facing heat in India after it showcased men’s ‘Toe-ring Sandals’ that looked a lot like Kolhapuri chappals.

And now we have the German sandal brand Birkenstock getting court approval to inspect factories in India and seize counterfeit Birkenstock sandals.

Are these three cases comparable? How exactly does the copyright regime work in the fashion world? And why are Indians crazy for Birkenstocks?

In Part 1, we look at the legal battles. In Part 2, we explore how footwear became a cultural and fashion phenomenon.

Host: G Sampath

Guests: Shantanu Sood, a lawyer who specialises in intellectual property-related issues, and Rosella Stephen, editor of The Hindu’s Sunday Magazine.

Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston

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