ABC news Australia reports….
A trademark battle between former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and a Sydney-based skincare company over the letters “VB” has been settled.
Key points:
- Beckham’s legal team argued she had been using her own mark for two years prior
- Her team took issue with the use of a “slim brunette” on VB Skinlab’s website
- But IP Australia described her reputation for cosmetics in Australia as “limited”
The 46-year-old fashion designer opposed the registration of two marks proposed by VB Skinlab, which were published in a journal in 2018.
Her lawyers argued her established reputation in Australia meant their use “would be likely to deceive or cause confusion” with her own fashion and cosmetics products.
Beckham was appealing a decision by IP Australia, which in March found she had not established any grounds of opposition and the two VB marks should proceed to registration.
But a listing for the appeal in the Federal Circuit Court on Wednesday was vacated as the parties worked towards an agreement.
By Friday, Judge Julia Baird made orders dismissing the appeal by consent, noting parties had agreed to terms of settlement.
The orders directed the registrar of trademarks to “take all necessary steps” for the two trademark applications to proceed to registration.
There were no orders made regarding costs.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-08/victoria-beckham-settles-sydney-vb-trademark-case/12331606
