Stella McCartney wins nude fight with Mrs Bono

A last-minute High Court bid to block the launch of Stella McCartney's latest perfume has failed. The legal move was made by a cosmetics company linked to the wife of U2 frontman Bono, Ali Hewson. The case centres on a trademark dispute over the use of the word "nude".

Fashion designer McCartney's launch of her new eau de toilette, STELLANUDE, is scheduled in the UK for this Saturday.

But a judge in London refused to grant an interim injunction to Nude Brands Limited pending a full trial of their claim for alleged trademark infringement.



Ruling on the application Mr Justice Floyd said: "I have come to the conclusion that the balance of injustice in this case requires me to refuse the injunction. It seems to me that, in this particular case, the likely damage to Stella McCartney Limited and L'Oreal if an injunction is wrongly granted outweighs the damage to Nude Brands Limited if it is refused."

Nude Brands, run by eco-entrepreneur Bryan Meehan and Hewson, is the owner of a registered trademark for the word NUDE - in capital letters.

The company sells a large range of goods and services including cosmetics and perfumery. Hewson is described as as an "investor and muse" of the company.