Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm obtained affirmance of the complete victory that it had obtained at trial in a trademark infringement action for leading cosmetics and personal care products manufacturer, L’Oreal. Paul Hastings represented L’Oreal, Ralph Lauren’s exclusive licensee in the fragrance category, in a dispute involving the use by the U. S. Polo Association of a logo similar to Ralph Lauren’s famous Polo Player Logo. After USPA appealed the broad injunction entered by the district court, the Second Circuit affirmed on all grounds, including the district court’s finding of bad faith infringement.
USPA and Ralph Lauren have been litigating over USPA’s use of a mounted polo player mark since 1984. The three-judge panel upheld the lower court’s ruling that USPA’s double-horseman logo was likely to cause confusion with the Ralph Lauren Polo Player Logo when used in connection with fragrances. USPA already had the right to use its double-horseman logo on apparel as a result of earlier litigation with Ralph Lauren and argued that apparel and fragrances were so related that its rights should extend to fragrances. The Second Circuit adopted L’Oreal’s position in rejecting that argument.
Robert Sherman, IP partner, argued the appeal.
