Obscure clothing brand Lucky 13 filed a copyright lawsuit against Taylor Swift last year, accusing her of selling merchandise that rips off their design. The company is now asking for risqué promotional photos of Swift to prove their point.
Lucky 13—which is based in California and owned by Robert Kloetzly—claims that Swift created “Lucky 13” T-shirts similar to their brand’s. Swift has already testified under oath that she had nothing to do with the design or sale of those shirts and other products.
Earlier this year, Lucky 13 sent Swift discovery requests, including photos of her body in revealing clothes, to show that her grown-up image overlaps with its own customer base. The company also requested that Swift make a formal deposition stating whether or not she knew about the existing Lucky 13 trademark. Swift’s attorneys on Monday filed a motion asking for a protection order from further requests.
In court documents, Swift’s lawyers wrote that Kloetzly asked for “irrelevant material such as […] all photographs and videos of you in which your breasts are at least partially visible as well as documents reflecting, evidencing or revealing who took each such photograph and video and where and when.”
Lucky 13’s lawyer Gary Rinkerman told The Daily Mail:
“One of their positions is that the demographics are very different and that the edgy-looking image and the models we use for the Lucky 13 brand are not congruent with Miss Swift’s image. Unfortunately we’re being forced to counter that by showing that in her public appearances she is transitioning towards a more adult, alternative demographic.”
Rinkerman also says that Swift is so controlling with her brand that it’s hard to believe she didn’t know the T-shirts and other material were being sold.
“She has many, many times used Lucky 13 and said that it’s her lucky number,” he says. “So it’s entirely appropriate to ask her how that commenced and how she allowed it to continue.”
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