Former Spice Girl and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, has taken a Sydney-based skincare brand to court over to trademarks featuring the letters “VB”.
Beckham is arguing consumers will be confused and assume she has endorsed the products.
VB Skinlab is seeking to trademark “VB Salon” and “VB Skinlab” in Australia, which is the same letters Beckham uses to market a luxury line of cosmetics developed in collaboration with Estée Lauder.
Beckham unsuccessfully opposed the registration of the trademarks back in March this year.
The government agency that gives out intellectual property rights – IP Australia – said it was “not satisfied that any confusion” would come between the skincare brand’s logo and Beckham’s VB trademark.
Beckham almost attempted to oppose the registration of the trademarks by citing that the Sydney beauty company was attempting to take advantage of her name, which IP Australia also rejected.
The fashion designer also argued the company’s use of a female model with long dark hair was a reference to her, which was also refuted.
“The mere fact that a cosmetics company has used an attractive female model with long dark hair in connection with their products is hardly a basis to assert bad faith,” said IP Australia.
Beckham was also ordered to pay the skincare brand’s legal costs and has since lodged an appeal in the Federal Circuit Court.
She has asked the court to set aside IP Australia’s ruling, reject the skincare company’s trademark registration and order the company to pay her costs of the appeal and original hearing.
Meanwhile, 60 workers at Beckham’s fashion brand will be made redundant in an attempt to turn around the fortunes of Victoria Beckham Ltd, which lost £8.5million last year ($AU16.7m).
The dispute will go to court on April 22.
