Lawsuit Over Social Media Allegations of Hair Accessory Design Theft Can Go Forward
A federal judge in Oregon ruled that a lawsuit over social media allegations of hair accessory design theft, which includes a racial dimension, can proceed. Plaintiff Kursten Owen, owner of Elegance & Geekery, alleges that defendants Breana Askew and Kiandria Demone Boyce orchestrated a cyberbullying campaign after Askew accused Owen of copying her hair clip designs. Owen claims her designs were independently developed and materially different. Boyce, a civil rights activist with a large following, allegedly posted videos and instructed followers to report Owen's business to Shopify and post negative reviews. The complaint includes profanity-laced threats from Boyce, who stated she orchestrated the 'hate mob' and accused Owen of stealing from a Black creator. The court found the allegations sufficient to proceed on claims of defamation and intentional interference with business relations.
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