Legal news for Ohio business litigation attorneys. Abercrombie and Fitch sues Beyonce Knowles for using the name “Fierce” for her upcoming perfume.
Ohio business litigation attorney alerts- Abercrombie and Fitch filed a federal lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles over fragrance name.
Columbus, OH—Clothing retail giant, Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), filed a federal lawsuit against Grammy award-winning singer, Beyonce Knowles, which claims A&F already owns the name of her upcoming scent, “Fierce.” The lawsuit was filed in the federal court in Columbus on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, as reported by the New York Daily News.
According to the lawsuit, A&F accuses Knowles of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and deceptive trade practices. Knowles announced this week, she has teamed up with fragrance maker Coty to develop a perfume named after her onstage alias, Sasha Fierce, which is scheduled to launch in Spring 2010. The singer states her scents is “an alluring and sophisticated fragrance; one that’s reflective of my inner power.” A&F has sold their men’s cologne, Fierce, since 2002, which features a ripped male torso. The Fierce cologne is a popular scent for A&F, which sold $190 million since 2002, and can be found sprayed onto the clothing racks inside the retail stores. The lawsuit claims, Knowles fragrance plan “poses a likelihood of confusion” for consumers, and could cost them in sales. The lawsuit requested the judge to stop Beyonce from using the name “Fierce.” A&F reportedly sent Knowles a cease-and-desist letter, which Knowles has not taken active steps to rectify the issue.
Knowles reportedly already launched a clothing line also called Sasha Fierce, which just hit store shelves. Her collection also includes earrings and pendants, which spell out the work “Fierce.”
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Ohio business litigation lawyers.
