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Kellish
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LOVE THE LIFE
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Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret over bra design
(From Newsday)
A Selden woman who said her quest to build a better bra came from a desire to hide bra straps as she attended her triplets' christening is now taking on the nation's best-known intimates retailer, saying Victoria's Secret stole her idea.
"This was born out of necessity," Katerina Plew said of the bra she said Victoria's Secret now bills as the 100-way bra, which allows the straps to be attached at different places to accommodate many dress styles.
She filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the lingerie giant.
Frank Joseph Colucci, a lawyer for Victoria's Secret, did not immediately return a telephone message for comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Plew seeks unspecified damages and an order to force the company from infringing on her patent.
Plew said she was getting dressed for her triplets' christening in August 1999 when she became dismayed that her bra straps would show on two dresses she was considering wearing.
She worked on a removable strap design and patented the invention in 2004 with hopes of making some money to help her raise her children on her own. Her design calls for a strip of fabric loops along the top of the cups and torso band so the straps can be detached and reattached in different ways to hide them under the outer garment.
"I have never invented anything else," she said. "I invented this out of necessity."
She said she shopped the idea around to several bra makers and had arranged a meeting with people at Victoria's Secret two years ago after telling them she had secured a patent and e-mailing them a mock-up of the bra she had made.
But she said the company canceled the meeting as she was driving into Manhattan from her home on Long Island.
Then, a year later, she said, she saw a similar bra in one of the company's stores.
"I just feel horrible that a multibillion-dollar business like Victoria's Secret can take something from somebody who is a normal plain Jane," Plew said. "They didn't even call me. They dismissed me like I didn't exist."
This story was supplemented with an Associated Press report.
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Posted 4/22/08 7:33 AM  |
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anonttcer
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
When I first started reading this I thought she was sueing them because her bra strapped showed during her triplet's christening. I was like JEEZ another frivolous law suit! 
I'm glad I read on!
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| Posted 4/22/08 8:52 AM |
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GoldenRod
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Shawn
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Should be a pretty simple case. If she has a patent, she has every right to sue, and I would agree with her 100%.
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:12 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by anonttcer
When I first started reading this I thought she was sueing them because her bra strapped showed during her triplet's christening. I was like JEEZ another frivolous law suit!
I'm glad I read on!
That was my first thought too!
My second was that there is not 100 different ways to wear the bra.
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:14 PM |
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nrthshgrl
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Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by GoldenRod
Should be a pretty simple case. If she has a patent, she has every right to sue, and I would agree with her 100%.
Completely agree.
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:32 PM |
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HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.
Member since 10/06 15979 total posts
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BahBahBlackJeep
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
What I don't understand is that "convertable" bras have been around for YEARS. How was this woman even able to get a patent on the idea, it's not really new.
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:37 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by GoldenRod
Should be a pretty simple case. If she has a patent, she has every right to sue, and I would agree with her 100%.
I think it's slightly different than her prototype was so I guess VS is going to say that their version is not covered by her patent since they improved on an existing design.
Still crappy of them to do.
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:37 PM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
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Krista
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by Christine
[My second was that there is not 100 different ways to wear the bra.
this was my 1st thought!
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:40 PM |
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dawnie
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Member since 11/05 3932 total posts
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by anonttcer
When I first started reading this I thought she was sueing them because her bra strapped showed during her triplet's christening. I was like JEEZ another frivolous law suit!
I'm glad I read on!
Me too!!
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| Posted 4/22/08 1:45 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
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Susan
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
they stole her idea.
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| Posted 4/22/08 2:22 PM |
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KGools
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Kim
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by CathyB
Posted by GoldenRod
Should be a pretty simple case. If she has a patent, she has every right to sue, and I would agree with her 100%.
I think it's slightly different than her prototype was so I guess VS is going to say that their version is not covered by her patent since they improved on an existing design.
Still crappy of them to do.
Well, IMO, the bra they sell is pretty crappy anyway... maybe her's is better.
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| Posted 4/22/08 2:30 PM |
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snowprincess
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
there are a lot of patent attorneys who are paid to assist in designing around known patents - but if they screw up she can get trible the damages
the patent no. 6,733,362 - you can check it out on google patents
Message edited 4/22/2008 2:54:41 PM.
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| Posted 4/22/08 2:30 PM |
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MST9106
My life:)
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by GoldenRod
Should be a pretty simple case. If she has a patent, she has every right to sue, and I would agree with her 100%.
My thoughts exactly.
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| Posted 4/22/08 2:41 PM |
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Kara
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
Posted by GoldenRod
Should be a pretty simple case. If she has a patent, she has every right to sue, and I would agree with her 100%.
She has every right to sue. Whether or not a patent is actually infringed, however, is not usually simple.
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| Posted 4/22/08 2:41 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
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Re: Selden woman sues Victoria's Secret
I know this thread is old! I just saw her on Dr. Phil, she emailed a bulk email for everyone to watch, but I had no idea what I was watching for! I thought maybe it was something to do with school/children since it was called "fighting back" and my son is friends and went to school with her kids. I say kudos to her for suing them!
I was also happy to see that another company contacted her and is now manufacturing her idea. I hope she is able to provide the life she wants for herself and her four kids. She's SUCH a nice person! 
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| Posted 9/26/08 4:17 PM |
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