Bridesmaid Dress Lawsuit Expands Patent Use in Fashion

Jenny Yoo Collection Inc.—embroiled in lawsuits against bridal wear competitors for selling modifiable dresses—is using design patent protection in a way that’s rare for the fashion industry, intellectual property and fashion law practitioners told Bloomberg Law.

Designer Jenny Yoo is suing three other bridal designers and retailers for selling dresses that can be quickly changed by bridesmaids to suit their personal preferences. The cases show that designers are seeking new ways to protect their designs, according to IP lawyers and scholars who spoke with Bloomberg Law.

Two of the suits were refiled Nov. 21 and 22 following the U.S. Supreme ...