Developers Capital Group hired Erick van Egeraat to design the buildings, then allegedly passed his designs over to NBBJ Architects of Seattle without his permission, the Moscow Times reported.

At the time, Capital Group said the designs did not meet required standards.

Van Egeraat, who has designed several luxury projects for Capital Group, including three slated for Moscow, was not paid for his skyscraper designs, the report said.

"What matters is not the money. The main point is the infringement of copyright," van Egeraat told the paper.

NBBJ Architect's marketing director Bruce Faris said the company "did not copy van Egeraat's work per se."

The similarities in the designs were due "the concepts that City Hall approved."

"We proceeded with our design based on that," Faris said.