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…