Victoria Beckham in trademark dispute with Sydney-based skincare company

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham is involved in a dispute with a Sydney-based skincare company over two trademarks featuring “VB” letters.

The Australian firm VB Skinlab has sought to register its products and services as “VB Salon” and “VB Skinlab”.

Last month, Beckham opposed trademark registration. However, IP Australia, said it was “not satisfied that any confusion” would come up between the Australian company’s logos and Beckham’s VB trademark.

Beckham also stated that VB Skinlab’s use of a female model with long dark hair was a reference to her; however, the Sydney company refuted this statement.

IP Australia stated: “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.”

The UK fashion designer was also ordered to pay the Sydney company’s legal costs, following which she filed an appeal in the Federal Circuit Court.

The dispute’s preliminary hearing is slated on 22 April.

In the lawsuit, Victoria has sought the court to reject IP Australia’s ruling as well as Sydney-based company’s trademark registration. She also asked VB Skinlab to pay her costs of the appeal and initial hearing.

Meanwhile, 60 jobs at Beckham’s fashion brand are being axed after Victoria Beckham Ltd lost £8.5m in the fiscal year 2019.