UPDATE: Aquazzura takes Ivanka Trump to court over copyright infringement

London - A court date has been set for the lawsuit launched by Italian label Aquazzura against Ivanka Trump in 2016, which alleges she copied one if the labels iconic footwear designs.

New York District Judge Katherine Forrest is set to oversee the court case in March 2018, if a settlement between the parties has not been reached. The move would see the trial starting two years after Edgardo Osorio, creative director and co-founder of Aquazzura, first took to Instagram to vent his thoughts concerning others designers copying his designs.

Colombian-born Osorio accuses Ivanka Trump of copying his famous “Wild Thing” sandal design, which retails for 785 US dollars at Aquazzura. The alleged copy-cat shoe, a fringed sandal under the name “Hettie” which retails at Ivanka Trump’s eponymous fashion brand for 65 US dollars, has now been removed from Ivanka Trump’s website.

Aquazzura previously sent a cease-and-desist letter to Ivanka Trump concerning its copyrighted shoe design, requesting the company halt all sales of the sandal, remove all photos from the shoe design in question from social media channels and online and destroy all remaining pairs. When the company did not comply, Aquazurra sued them, along with Marc Fisher.

Ivanka Trump reportedly attempted to avoid a deposition concerning the case, arguing she shouldn’t be forced to testify as she was not involved in the design or sale of her company’s allegedly copy-cat shoe. Her lawyer also argued that her position as a “high-ranking government official” should excuse her from having to submit to a deposition. However, Forrest rejected this argument, stating she “cannot avoid a deposition in there matter.”

In addition to copying “Wild Thing”, Aquazzura accused Ivanka Trump of copying its pointy-toed black pump, the “Forever Marilyn,” as well as its stroppy-low heeled sandal, under the name “Belgravia.”