Spears sues Skechers
Skechers, a major producer of fashion athletic footwear, is being sued for $1.5 million by teen idol Britney Spears for breach of agreement, according to her manager.
In 2001 Spears and Skechers joined forces with Spears promoting 4-Wheelers, a skate produced by Skechers. Known as much for her athletic good looks as her singing, the pop starlet also agreed to market her own line of skating accessories.
The agreement went so well initially that Spears and Skechers renegotiated a three-year licensing agreement in January 2002. Spears was credited with helping boost Skechers 2001 sales by 50 percent.
Spears now complains that Skechers skirted the terms of the deal and did not honour the agreement to use outside businesses to create accessories for her line. Instead, according to Spears, the company used her images to promote and increase sales of other lines of roller skates. Spears also claims that she was pictured in advertisements before her skates were available to consumers. Thus, she claims, customers had no choice but to purchase other Skecher skate models.
Spears claims that as a result, she was not paid expected bonuses for her line or other payments she was due. Skechers has so far made no comment concerning the suit.
