Pboto courtesy of MTV.com
According to news sources at Bloomberg, Nude Brands Ltd., founded by the wife of singer Bono (U2), lost the court judgment to stop Stella McCartney Ltd. (L’Oreal SA) from releasing new perfume “STELLANUDE” in the UK on August 22, 2009.
Bono’s wife, Ali Hewson’s company Nude Brands Ltd., has the European Union Trademark on the term “NUDE” in capital letters. Hewson asked London court for a delay order of the perfume’s release due to trademark infringement issues.
In 2009 Paris-based cosmetics company Loreal purchased the Stella McCartney brand from YSL Beaute. The purchase includes the exclusive rights to manufacture fragrance under the Stella McCartney name.
Millions of dollars would have been lost if the judgment had been granted. Over 26,000 bottles of the perfume had already been released to vendors and canceling advertisements was an option that had passed.
Nude’s website proposes there will be a trial next year in the English High Court. The action taken today by the courts does not advise on whether or not there was trademark infringement. Nude can take further legal action if trademark infringement can be proved. Bono’s wife is intent on seeing the lawsuit through for final court judgment against Stella McCartney Ltd.
In an emailed statement L’Oreal cosmetics posted “pleased with the decision of the High Court” and “will be proceeding with the launch of STELLANUDE as planned.”
The case is in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division “ Nude Brands Ltd. v. Stella McCartney Ltd.” 09-C02715
Stella McCartney is daughter of Sir Paul McCartney, of the Beatles singing group. Stella McCartney has been a fashion designer since 1995.
Nude Cosmetics was co-founded by Bryan Meehan, aka the founder of U.K. Organic chain “Fresh & Wild”
Irish rock star Bono is well known for his group U2. His given name is Paul Hewson.
Comments
THIS IS NEWS! Thanks for the news release, can't wait to smell the perfume Bono's wife is having a fit over the name about. Bad publicity for her company that's for sure. Nude Brand Ltd is a new company but the press releases like it. I'll have to send for some samples, see if it's hype or ?
No publicity is bad publicity. I didn't even know about Stella's line or Nude Brands before the article! ;)
I don't blame her for trying to get the nude off of Stella (har har), it seems like a copycat effort to me. But I can see why the courts did not grant it to Nude Cosmetics. There's no way they can own the rights to the word Nude associated with anything cosmetic or mineral cosmetic related. That would be akin to giving them the rights to the word "good." Or making us all pay a $100 copyright fee every time we sing Happy Birthday. That's just silly.
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