Guineas Paltrow Sued Again... This Time for Competitor's Trademark Infringement

Paltrow, Founded 'Goop' in 2008
GCL "Latecomer Goop Accused of Trademark Infringement"

Famous Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow (51) founded the beauty and health product company 'Goop,' which has been sued for allegedly infringing on the trademark rights of a competitor in the same industry.

On the 30th (local time), Bloomberg News and Fortune reported that women's health and hygiene product manufacturer GCL filed a lawsuit against Goop, the company founded by Paltrow, in the Oregon federal court, seeking to stop trademark infringement and claim damages.

Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow
[Photo by Goop website capture]

Founded in 2003, GCL established 'Good Clean Love,' which is also its company name, as a trademark and has been recognized as a trusted brand by consumers for over 20 years. However, Goop, which entered the industry in 2008, five years after GCL, used the mark 'Good. Clean. Goop,' causing confusion among consumers, GCL claimed. Furthermore, GCL pointed out that while it has enhanced brand trust by using only clean ingredients in its products, Goop sells several products containing harmful chemicals but uses a similar mark, which could lead consumers to mistakenly believe that GCL's products also contain harmful substances.

GCL also asserted that Goop was fully aware of the trademark infringement. Previously, Goop had requested samples of GCL's products while considering selling GCL products on its online store. GCL sent a cease-and-desist letter regarding the 'confusingly similar' trademark to Goop, but instead, Goop began flooding the market with products bearing the disputed mark.

Goop did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit. Starting as a nutrition newsletter in 2008, Goop began selling its own brand of supplements, fashion, and household goods in 2014. In 2016, it launched a skincare line, entering the cosmetics business. The company attracted attention by selling orgasm candles, adult products, and ultra-expensive diapers. Currently, Goop has established itself as a lifestyle brand, with its business value estimated at $250 million (approximately 339.5 billion KRW) as of 2018.

Meanwhile, last year, Paltrow won a civil lawsuit filed by a man in his 70s over a collision accident that occurred at a ski resort seven years ago.