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Copyright3 min read

Superman & Chanel: Inspiration or Infringement?

Chanel's Superman reference at the 2026 Métiers d'art show reopens copyright law's hardest question: where inspiration ends and infringement begins.

By · Aysu K. Ergin

A look from the Chanel 2026 Métiers d’art show: a checked jacket, wide brown trousers and, under the jacket, a blue knit with a red-and-yellow shield motif
Image: https://vogue.sg/chanel-metiers-d-art-2026/

On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Chanel’s new creative director Matthieu Blazy held the 2026 Métiers d’Art show in New York. One of the standout looks at the show, which was dubbed “Chanel’s Clark Kent” in the media, was worn by model Awar Odhiang.

In the full look, the relaxed tie and the iconic blue-red-yellow color combination peeking through the suit jacket, featuring a Superman shield logo with Chanel’s “CC” emblem inside, created a cohesive look that the articles referred to as “Blazy’s Clark Kent reference.”

Warner Bros.’ Protective Approach

Warner Bros.’ long-standing reputation for a protective and meticulous approach to copyright and trademark rights inevitably made me wonder whether this use falls within a legal framework, is merely a parody/inspiration, or constitutes an infringement.

Comic illustration of Superman pulling his shirt open to reveal the S shield on his chest

Image: https://screenrant.com/superman-phone-booth-quick-change-lois-lane/

DC Comics v. Mad Engine: The Parody Defense

For example, looking back 10 years ago, in 2015, in the California case “DC Comics, Inc. v. Mad Engine, Inc.”, DC Comics filed a lawsuit against clothing wholesaler Mad Engine, Inc. on grounds of trademark infringement, counterfeiting, unfair competition, and trademark dilution. The dispute concerned T-shirts in which Mad Engine used the color combinations in a more muted tone and replaced the “S” in the iconic Superman shield logo with the word “DAD.”

Although Mad Engine, Inc. argued in its defense that their products were a parody, the Court rejected these claims due to the “uncertainty of the existence of a parody” in the products.

The parody defense in a trademark setting: Likelihood of Confusion in the Era of Quiet Luxury.

The two T-shirts at issue side by side: one with the classic Superman shield, the other with “DAD” inside the same shield

Image and Case details: https://kleinmoynihan.com/superman-v-superdad-trademark-lawsuit-to-continue/

Beyond fashion shows, we can see that even globally renowned, high-profile projects can encounter copyright infringement issues with famous fashion houses.

For example, designer Jeremy Scott, known for pushing the boundaries of copyright and trademark protection with his creative designs inspired by Barbie, McDonald’s, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and more for Moschino, emerges as an influential figure.

At the 2015 Met Gala, a dress Jeremy Scott designed for Katy Perry became the subject of a copyright lawsuit.

The graffiti-print black gown Jeremy Scott designed for Moschino, worn by Katy Perry at the 2015 Met Gala

Image: https://www.purepeople.com/media/katy-perry-au-met-gala-2015-agrave_m1890198

Street artist Joseph Tierney, known as “Rime,” filed a lawsuit against Jeremy Scott and Moschino for copyright infringement and unfair competition, claiming that his graffiti artwork “Vandal Eyes” had been used on the dress and in the Moschino collection. His claims were accepted by the California District Court. (Details: https://wwd.com/business-news/legal/feature/jeremy-scott-fires-back-against-copyright-suit-10271176/ )

On top of all these dynamics, I cannot say with certainty whether there is a legally justifiable basis for the sweater design featured in Chanel’s 2026 Métiers d’Art collection. However, this provides an opportunity to revisit past copyright cases and the fine line between inspiration and infringement.

On authorship and copyright where AI is involved: Open Panel 2025: Innovation, AI and IP.

Update: James Gunn’s Clarification

After I directed my question to the relevant channels, Superman film director James Gunn clarified the issue on Twitter/X and put an end to all ambiguities by sharing the said Chanel design himself.

An X notification showing James Gunn liked the reply asking whether Chanel had copyright authorisation from Warner Bros and DC Comics

Sources

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