Hailey Bieber's Skincare Brand in legal trouble, sued for Trademark Infringement

Hailey Bieber's Skincare Brand in legal trouble, sued for Trademark Infringement.

Celebrity, Hailey Bieber, who recently launched her skincare brand "Rhode" has been sued over trademark infringement claims by a fashion brand under the same name. Co-founders, Purna Khatau and Phoebe Vickers claimed that Hailey's brand marketing for her skincare line has led to confusion in the market.

The lawsuit filed in the Manhattan federal court prays to block the selling and marketing of Hailey's products under the trademark "Rhode".

This has gained more highlight owing to the 45 million Instagram followers of Hailey Bieber, who promoted and launched the skincare on 15 June. Additionally, Justine Bieber, having 243 million Instagram followers, and generating 1.5 million likes with one posting has extensively promoted his wife's brand.

Fashion creators, Purna Khatau and Phoebe Vickers began their business in 2014 to create a high-end clothing and accessories line, targeting "feminine, confident and well-traveled women," according to the lawsuit. Their products have been featured in Vogue, carried in stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus worldwide, and worn by celebrities including Beyonce, Mindy Kaling, and Rihanna, and the sales are projected to hit $14.5 million this year, the lawsuit said.

Speaking on the day of her launch, Hailey said in a Forbes story that she's had a "really hard time" with "a world of media that likes to perpetuate women against women," the lawsuit said.

"But the reality is that the "world of media" Ms. Bieber describes is at her disposal. And she has chosen to use it to squash a woman and minority co-founded brand that simply cannot compete with her immense fame and following," the lawsuit said.

It is further stated that the launch has created confusion and harm to the 8-year-old clothing brand which has caused a few of the consumers to believe that they are trading off the name of new competitors [Rhode Skincare Line] instead of the reverse.

Although the product markets of the two brands differ, they are nonetheless in close co-relation with one another. "We're both parts of a larger beauty market in which fashion and cosmetics closely overlap and often collaborate." as stated by the co-founders.

The lawsuit has sought unspecified damages.