Kim Kardashian is locked in a legal battle with one of the world’s biggest sexual wellness brands – over condoms.
The 45-year-old reality mogul has once again hit a snag in her efforts to trademark her skincare line SKKN by Kim, now part of her SKIMS empire.
In June and July, her company Kimsaprincess Inc. filed three separate trademark applications covering fragrances, nutritional supplements and moisturizers.
But global condom giant LifeStyles Healthcare, the world’s second-largest seller of condoms, filed formal opposition notices, arguing Kim’s SKKN brand is too close to their own SKYN range.
LifeStyles, which also sells lubricants and sex toys, describes its SKYN condoms as made from a ‘revolutionary’ non-latex material designed for a softer, more natural feel.
The company has been granted extra time to file full opposition documents in all three cases.
Kim Kardashian, 45, has once again found herself entangled in a legal dispute over the trademark for her skincare line SKKN by Kim – but this time, she’s up against one of the world’s largest sexual wellness brands
LifeStyles Healthcare, the world’s second largest seller of condoms, filed formal opposition to three separate trademark applications made by Kim covering fragrances, nutritional supplements and moisturizers
Lifestyles argues that Kim’s new name is too close to its SKYN condoms range, which it describes as a ‘revolutionary’ non-latex material designed for a softer, natural feel
In turn, Kim has enlisted the service of the law firm Dickinson Wright which specializes in celebrity clientele, describing themselves as the go-to on their website for ‘actor, celebrities, authors and comedians’.
But LifeStyles Healthcare, which was bought by a Chicago-based private equity giants Linden Capital Partners in 2022, has also ramped up its legal efforts.
It has top Hollywood lawyers Greenberg Traurig in its arsenal. That law firm has represented A-listers such as Kanye West, Katy Perry and Britney Spears, whose attorney Mathew Rosengart successfully freed the singer from her 13-year conservatorship.
When it comes to legal rows over intellectual property, Kim and the rest of the Kardashian family are usually the aggressors to clamp down on unauthorized use of their names and brands.
In August, Kimsaprincess Inc had another legal spat – this time over wigs and toupees.
The business filed a ‘notice of opposition’ against the Chinese online seller Ge Zhao for its application to trademark ‘Kim K Bob Wigs’.
SKKN, now part of Kim’s expanding SKIMS empire, filed the trademark applications in June and July and has enlisted celebrity law firm Dickinson Wright to push them through
At LifeStyles Healthcare’s disposal is Hollywood lawyers Greenberg Traurig, who employees’ mega lawyers such as Matthew Rosengart who successfully freed Britney Spears from her 13-year conservatorship
Kim previously filed a ‘notice of opposition’ against the Chinese online seller Ge Zhao for its application to trademark ‘Kim K Bob Wigs’, claiming a ‘false suggestion’ of their connection to her through its name
Kim lost another legal battle to Lori Harvey’s skincare line SKN by LH after she tried to trademark the name SKKN by Kim. It was ruled the two names were too similar
This was under goods and services for all forms of fake hair, including hair extensions, braids, weaves, fake beards and mustaches.
Kim’s lawyer John Krieger claimed that there was a ‘false suggestion of a connection with’ Kim and would likely confuse fans of her ‘SKKN by Kim’ and ‘Kardashian Beauty’ ranges.
The case is ongoing with Zhao having 30 days to file a response or default the application.
The Kardashians are careful to control their own image and the brands they’re associated with, but it’s virtually impossible to stop many of the online stores in China and India selling copycat products, which are using online shopping marketplaces such as Temu and AliExpress.
Back in 2022, Kim was forced to scrap plans to trademark SKKN by Kim after facing opposition from model and influencer Lori Harvey, who already owned a similarly named skincare line, SKN by LH.
Harvey’s legal team successfully pushed to have Kim’s trademark applications abandoned.
Cydnie Lunsford, the owner of Beauty Concepts LLC, sent Kim Kardashian a cease-and-desist letter in 2022 and later sued her company, challenging its right to use the SKKN by Kim name
Kim’s sister Kylie has also been in trademark battles, successfully stopping an application for ‘Kylie Yang and ‘Kyiie’ claiming both were too similar to her beauty and baby ranges
She wasn’t the only one to take issue, though. Brooklyn-based spa Beauty Concepts, which sells products under the name SKKN+, also sued Kim’s company, Kimsaprincess Inc., that same year, challenging her right to use the name.
In the end, the application was abandoned by Kim and Beauty Concepts dropped the lawsuit.
Sister Kylie has also been involved in trademark battles, but mostly as the plaintiff.
Earlier this year, she successfully stopped a trademark application for ‘Kylie Yang’ and ‘Kyiie’, claiming both were too similar to her beauty and baby ranges.
Meanwhile, the Kardashian family sometimes collectively gets involved when it comes to fighting off trademark applications.
In July, Phoenix-based Malisa Barnes, tried to trademark ‘Momdashian’ under clothing and vlogs.
But lawyers for self-styled ‘momager’ Kris Jenner and daughters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe put a stop to this, with the application abandoned in September.
Representative for both Kardashian and Life Styles Healthcare have not responded to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.
