Mary Kay Sues Yahoo

2009-07-13 | 08:05

Suit alleges unauthorized sellers of its beauty products.

Don't mess with Mary Kay. The Dallas-based direct seller of cosmetics last week filed a lawsuit against Yahoo Inc. that alleges the website provider’s e-mail service points users towards unauthorized sellers of its beauty products.

The trademark suit centers on a new feature of the mail service that automatically scans messages and, based on key words, generates ads linking to online sellers.

In the suit, Mary Kay says it only sells through its network of direct-to-consumer salespeople, and that such sites often offer expired or improperly handled product. Thus, the beauty firm alleges, “Yahoo’s conduct is likely to dilute the distinctiveness of, and to tarnish, the distinctive and famous Mark Kay mark.