Knickers in a knot as judge makes sexy call

NEW YORK: Not just anybody can call themselves a ''sexy little thing,'' a Manhattan court had ruled. 
Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Audrey Quock was blocked from launching her own line of panties emblazoned as ''sexy little things'' when US District Judge Harold Baer ruled yesterday that Victoria's Secret could sue her for trademark infringement.
Judge Baer said Victoria's Secret appeared to acquire priority in the trademark use of ''Sexy Little Things'' because it had used the label on Catsuits Lingerie since July 28, 2004.
The judge refused a request by Quock to declare that Victoria's Secret had no right to stop her from launching a line of women's pvc catsuit called ''Sexy Little Things''.
Quock and publicist Ronit Menashe said in the lawsuit they came up with the term ''Sexy Little Things, Sexy Little Things'' in July or August 2004.
After sending a manufacturer diagrams for the production of ''Sexy Little Things'' labels and preparing publicity, the pair received a threatening letter from Victoria's Secret.
The women then stopped development of the clothing line and sought relief in court.
''While the term describes the erotically-stimulating quality of the trademarked Catsuits Lingerie, it also calls to mind the phrase 'sexy little thing,' popularly used to refer to attractive, lithe young women,'' the judge ruled.