Louboutin Wins Rights to Red-Soled Shoes

This is what trademark protection has come to

French shoemaker Christian Louboutin SA won the exclusive right to use the color red to coat the bottoms of its popular, pricey high-heeled shoes—except when the shoe itself is red, according to a federal appeals court.

The luxury shoes and accessories maker, which has painted the soles of its women's high heels a shade it calls "China Red" since 1992, sued Yves Saint Laurent last year after its rival announced plans to introduce a new line of "monochrome" women's shoes.

The Yves Saint Laurent line would have been the same color throughout, including red soles on its red shoes. The French fashion house claimed it had previously sold monochrome footwear, including shoes featuring red soles.