NEW YORK — Model Audrey Quock, a regular in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue, and her publicist filed suit against Victoria’s Secret over the right to use the words “Sexy Little Things.”
According to a complaint filed on Jan. 11 in Manhattan federal court, Quock and her publicist, Ronit Menashe, settled on the name “Sexy Little Thing, Sexy Little Things” in July 2004 for use on a line of women’s underwear and lingerie.
The following month, Quock and Menashe registered the domain name www.sexylittlethings.com. In September, the two filed an intent-to-use application for the “Sexy Little Thing, Sexy Little Things” mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
However, two months later, Victoria’s Secret claimed it had sole rights to the words “Sexy Little Things.”
On Nov. 15, Frank Colucci of Manhattan law firm Colucci & Umans sent a cease and desist letter stating that Victoria’s Secret had been using the “Sexy Little Things” mark on lingerie and boutique items prior to Menashe and Quock’s patent filings.
“In our opinion, and that of Victoria’s Secret, your mark Sexy Little Thing, Sexy Little Things is confusingly similar to Victoria’s Secret’s…and would constitute trademark infringement,” said the letter. The letter demanded Quock and Menashe stop using the mark and hand over the domain name to Victoria’s Secret.
According to the complaint, Victoria’s Secret’s actions have required Menashe and Quock to stop conducting business.
Menashe and Quock are seeking a declaratory judgment affirming their rights to use “Sexy Little Things” and the domain name sexylittlethings.com.
A spokesman for Victoria’s Secret said the company would not comment on pending legal matters.