Estée Lauder has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Walmart, accusing the retailer of selling counterfeit versions of the luxury beauty giant's products online.
Founded in 1946, Estée Lauder oversees a vast portfolio of more than 20 brands, including Clinique, Tom Ford, La Mer, and Aveda, which are among the labels named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
According to the 110-page complaint, some of the alleged counterfeit products include Clinique's wrinkle-correcting eye cream, various Tom Ford fragrances, La Mer's moisturizing cream, and an Aveda wooden paddle hairbrush.
As of Wednesday morning local time, many of the items in question still appear to be available for purchase on Walmart.com, which also serves as a massive marketplace for third-party sellers.
The lawsuit states that the plaintiffs bought some of the accused products and "inspected and/or tested" them, confirming that they were not produced by any of Estée Lauder's brands.
"Plaintiffs have not granted a license or given Defendants any form of permission to use intellectual property belonging to Plaintiffs," the lawsuit states.
"Furthermore, Plaintiffs allege that the Accused Products are deliberate copies of Plaintiffs’ goods created to confuse consumers into believing that the Accused Products were authentic products, or otherwise manufactured, offered, sponsored, authorized, licensed by or otherwise connected with Plaintiffs or come from the same source as Plaintiffs’ goods when they in fact do not."
In the complaint, Estée Lauder described Walmart's alleged actions as being "extreme, outrageous, [and] fraudulent."
"Said conduct was despicable and harmful to Plaintiffs," the lawsuit reads. "And as such supports an award of exemplary and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish and make an example of Defendants and to deter them from similar such conduct in the future."
Estée Lauder is demanding a trial by jury and has requested a court order prohibiting Walmart from further alleged trademark infringement and engaging in any other activity that could constitute unfair competition with the plaintiffs. The company is also seeking monetary damages, including attorney's fees and other related costs.
NTD reached out to Walmart for comment, but a response was not received by publication time.