R&B megastar Beyonce Knowles is being sued by clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch over her new scent, Sasha Fierce. The 28-year-old singer made an announcement this week that she will be releasing a fragrance with perfume giant Coty, who launched Jennifer Lopez's hugely successful Glow in 2002.
Beyonce's perfume, named for her alter ego, is scheduled for a spring launch. The singer already has a line of clothing and jewelry called Dereon, which features the "Sasha Fierce" moniker on pendants and earrings.
Beyonce described her perfume as "an alluring and sophisticated fragrance; one that's reflective of my inner power."
Not content with cornering the market on attire for incoming college freshman, Abercrombie & Fitch stepped in and filed suit against Beyonce, claiming the name of her line infringed on their popular men's cologne Fierce. Sales of Abercrombie's Fierce cologne have totaled more than $190 million since 2002. The company contends that the name of Beyonce's line "poses a likelihood of confusion" for consumers. The suit charges the singer's company with trademark infringement, deceptive trade practices and unfair competition.
Though Abercrombie has sent Beyonce a letter requesting that she cease-and-desist from attempting to release her product in stores, she apparently intends to continue the launch as planned. Fierce.
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
roseat 9-22-2009
there's a great article on the dispute over at the naming & branding blog on the button: http://onthebutton.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/beyonce-fragrance-fierce-competition/