L’Oreal SA, the world’s largest cosmetics maker, won a ruling from the European Union’s highest court that will allow it to block a group of perfume makers from marketing “smell-alike” versions of its fragrances.
— From L’Oreal May Prevent ‘Smell Alike’ Ads, EU Court Says at Bloomberg.
So I’m assuming this means another perfumer can make a version that might smell a bit like Hypnose (or whichever) but they just can’t advertise: “You Are Getting Verrrry Sleepy – our version of Hypnose”?
LOL — yes, exactly.
Sensible ruling. I’d always wondered in the back of my mind, whenever I came across a drugstore display of “If You Like Poison, You’ll Love Our Toxin” dupes, how they got away with it legally. Seemed patently (!) unfair. 🙂
Well, they can still get away with it in the US!
Hmm, right. And here in Canada, presumably. Perhaps that will change with this precedent-setting ruling. One would think. . .
You guys are cracking me up with the faux designer knockoff names.
I wonder if they can say inspired by?
No, I think the deal is that they can’t mention the original scent at all…