Olaplex wins patent infringement lawsuit against L’Oréal

US-based haircare firm Olaplex has won a lawsuit against French cosmetics major L’Oréal regarding a patent infringement in the UK.

Olaplex’s hair lightening product Bond Multiplier was introduced in 2014 by Olaplex. In 2015, L’Oréal approached the company with an acquisition bid but the talks fell through.

In the same year, L’Oréal launched its Smartbond product, which Olaplex alleged infringed its UK patent and affected the sales of Bond Multiplier. The company also claimed that L’Oréal had access to confidential information about Olaplex’s product during the acquisition talks, which was later exploited.

Olaplex filed the lawsuit in November 2016. Of the 11 claims made by Olaplex regarding the patent infringement, one has been found valid by the court.

At the same time, a separate hearing will be conducted to decide whether to grant an injunction against further sales of L’Oréal’s Smartbond.

L’Oréal denies Olaplex’s claims of access to confidential information during the acquisition talks and plans to appeal court’s decision.

L’Oréal said: “We strongly disagree with this decision, which is applicable only in the UK, and we will be applying for permission to appeal. Therefore, as legal proceedings remain ongoing, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

The two companies are also locked in a patent infringement battle over the product in the US.