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>>> SPANX IS FACING ACCUSATIONS
THIS MORNING THAT SOME OF THE
SLIMMING PRODUCTS ARE KNOCKOFFS.
MARA IS HERE WITH THAT STORY.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
>> WELL, YUMMY TUMMY, ANOTHER
SHAPEWEAR COMPANY CLAIMS SOME OF
THE CONTROL TOP CAMIS INFRINGE
ON THE DESIGN PATENTS AND WANTS
SPANX TO STOP SELLING THEM.
NOW A LEGAL BATTLE IS TAKING
SHAPE AND HAS SOME WONDERING IF
THESE CLAIMS ARE A STRETCH.
>> CALL IT IS A BATTLE OVER THE
BULGE, FIGHTING OVER WHO REALLY
CONTROLS THE CONTROL TOP.
>> WE'VE GOT TO HAVE IT.
WE LOVE TO HATE IT.
BUT YUMMY TUMMY HAS INVENTED FOR
YOU.
>> Reporter: YUMMY TUMMY FOUNDED
BY HEATHER THOMPSON MAKES A
PATENTED BODY SHAPING CAMISOLE.
THOMPSON SAYS SHE REALIZED SPANX
WAS SELLING SEVERAL TOPS THAT
SHE SAYS LOOKED STRIKINGLY
SIMILAR.
IN JANUARY SHE SENT SPANX A
CEASE AND DESIST LETTER.
>> THEY HAVE COPIED MY ORIGINAL
IDEA WHICH REALLY WAS A
GAME-CHANGER FOR SHAPEWEAR.
>> Reporter: BUT SPANX,
APPARENTLY COULDN'T STOMACH THE
ACCUSATIONS.
LAST WEEK, THEY FILED A CLAIM
ASKING THE COURT TO RULE THAT
THERE WAS NO DESIGN PATENT
INFRINGEMENT.
IN A STATEMENT TO NBC NEWS, THE
COMPANY SAYS, QUOTE, SPANX
DESIGNED OUR ORIGINAL SHAPING
CAMISOLE IN 2005 LONG BEFORE
YUMMY TUMMIE, SPANX HAS NOT
INFRINGED ON ANY VALID PATENT.
>> IT COMES DOWN TO WHETHER
THERE'S A VALID PATENT AND
WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS BEEN
INFRINGED.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE TWO ISSUES
THAT THE COURT WILL BE LOOKING
AT.
>> Reporter: SPANX HAS BECOME
THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR
SHAPEWEAR BRAND ADORED BY
CELEBRITIES.
>> NOTHING BUT FLESH COLORED
SPANX.
>> WILLIE AND I ARE WEARING
SPANX RIGHT NOW.
>> MAN SPANX.
>> MANX.
>> NOW IT'LL BE UP TO A FEDERAL
JUDGE TO DECIDE WHICH ONE SHAPES
UP THE BEST.
>> I AM STILL SHOCKED AND
APPALLED THAT THIS WHOLE
SITUATION.
>> NOW, ACCORDING TO FORBES, THE
SPANX COMPANY IS VALUED AT $1
BILLION, CLEARLY THE SHAPEWEAR
MARKET IS HUGE AND DEFINITELY A
LOT AT STAKE HERE.
>> THANKS.
WE WON'T TAKE SIDES, WE'LL BE
UNIFIED AGAINST BACK FAT.