Stylefitter Designer Claims Patent Infringement

Fashion industry designer and manufacturer Andrea Rose, formerly an apprentice with Halston, has filed a patent infringement suit against several retailers and other firms for allegedly using her Stylefitter virtual apparel modeling technology. The suit names Public Technologies Multimedia Inc., J.C. Penney Co., Lands End Inc., Mattel Inc., Broderbund Software Inc., The Hearst Corp.'s Cosmopolitan magazine and Federated Department Stores Inc.'s Macy's stores. The suit was filed by the law firm of Fish & Neave, New York, and seeks a preliminary injunction, a permanent injunction and damages.
     Rose, currently founder, chairman and CEO of Fashion Integration Technology Ltd., says she is the inventor and holder of the patent for the StyleFitter computer system for personalized apparel fashion shopping, which helps consumers select appropriate clothing for their body type by allowing them to try on apparel via virtual modeling. She says her firm is now developing various applications of the StyleFitter system, including websites, kiosks and CD-ROMs. Patents have been applied for throughout Europe, in Canada, Australia and Japan, she claims.