In this file photo dated Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wears Christian Louboutin shoes while she speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., U.S.A.. The European Union’s top court has ruled Tuesday June 12, 2018, defending French fashion designer Christian Louboutin’s claim to trademark red soled high-heel shoes.
AP Photo/Cliff Owen, FILE
LUXEMBOURG (AP) — The European Union's top court has defended French fashion designer Christian Louboutin's claim to trademark red soled high-heel shoes.
The European Court of Justice ruled Tuesday that Van Haren, a Dutch company that sold similar shoes, had infringed the trade mark.
The court said that it did not matter that its shoes were different in shape. It said the registration of the trademark "sought solely to protect that application of a colour to a specific part of that product."
Louboutin said in a statement that it "warmly welcomes this judgment."