For Taylor Swift, the phrase “Lucky 13” could be taking on an ironic meaning soon.
The “I Knew You Were Trouble” songbird has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit, over clothing that the singer is marketing that bears the phrase Lucky 13.
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The suit was filed in federal court in California on Tuesday by Blue Sphere, Inc., which does business as Lucky 13. The company formed in 1991 and sells a myriad of products including clothing, the complaint says.
The suit alleges that Swift began to do harm to Lucky 13’s brand in March 2012, when she began to market and sell clothing bearing the phrase “Lucky 13” without requesting permission or securing a license, the suit says.
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The complaint goes on to note that Swift has a partnership with American Greetings Corp. to market Lucky 13 greeting card contests.
TheWrap‘s request for comment from Swift’s camp has not been returned.
“Swift’s conduct has been and will continue to be malicious, fraudulent, deliberate, willfull, intentional, and in disregard of Plaintiffs’ intellectual property rights,” the suit reads, adding that Swift “undeniably and squarely fits within the exact same consumer demographic” that the Lucky 13 brand markets and sells to.
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The suit does pay Swift a backhanded compliment by admitting that she’s an entrepreneurial wiz — but only to suggest that, as such, she presumably should know better than to allegedly trample the Lucky 13 brand.
“There can be no doubt that Swift — who has an extensive trademark portfolio and numerous business and licensing partners, and whose record label is even named the ‘Big Machine’ — knows, understands and substantially profits from her carefully cultivated and meticulously managed trademarks and brand, image, and other intellectual property.”
Alleging trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition and other counts, the suit seeks injunctive relief, Swift’s profits, Lucky 13’s lost profits and damages.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
