11.29.16
Olaplex LLC, a Santa Barbara, CA hair care company, is suing L’Oréal alleging both false advertising and patent infringement.
Olaplex markets a three-step hair process to restore compromised hair, specifically bond builders. Two of the products are designed to be used in the salon; the third is for home use.
Documents were filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. In court filings, Olaplex contends L’Oréal attempted to hire key Olaplex’s employees, and it also approached the firm about an acquisition. According to Olaplex’s case, tt was during these discussions that L’Oréal gained access to non-public confidential proprietary information about Olaplex’s technology, and chemistry.
Olaplex contends “L’Oréal ceased pursuing an acquisition of Olaplex, and instead wilfully took and copied Olaplex’s technology without authorization to create [ …] slavish ‘me too’ knock-offs”.
A spokeswoman for L'Oréal told the Wall Street Journal: "We strongly oppose the merit of these claims and the validity of the [Olaplex] patent and L'Oréal U.S.A. will defend this position vigorously."
Olaplex markets a three-step hair process to restore compromised hair, specifically bond builders. Two of the products are designed to be used in the salon; the third is for home use.
Documents were filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. In court filings, Olaplex contends L’Oréal attempted to hire key Olaplex’s employees, and it also approached the firm about an acquisition. According to Olaplex’s case, tt was during these discussions that L’Oréal gained access to non-public confidential proprietary information about Olaplex’s technology, and chemistry.
Olaplex contends “L’Oréal ceased pursuing an acquisition of Olaplex, and instead wilfully took and copied Olaplex’s technology without authorization to create [ …] slavish ‘me too’ knock-offs”.
A spokeswoman for L'Oréal told the Wall Street Journal: "We strongly oppose the merit of these claims and the validity of the [Olaplex] patent and L'Oréal U.S.A. will defend this position vigorously."