Kylie Minogue has launched a legal battle against bargain retailer B&M for using her name on one of their bedding ranges.
The Australian pop princess, 54, is reportedly demanding legal costs of £10,000 be paid to her and furnishing designer Ashley Wilde, who make the Kylie Minogue at Home range – available in retailers including House Of Fraser and Debenhams.
B&M are refusing to pay up, however, hitting back with a cheeky statement claiming that reality starlet Kylie Jenner, 20, is arguably the most famous Kylie these days.
Controversy: Kylie Minogue has launched a legal battle against bargain retailer B&M for using her name on one of their bedding ranges
The cost-conscious retailer has branded the former Neighbours actress ‘greedy’.
A spokesperson told Retail Gazette: ‘There are millions of people called Kylie on the planet, and today the most famous is probably Kylie Jenner, who has 100 million Instagram followers (against one million for Ms Minogue).
‘We wish to stress that everyone at B&M thinks Kylie Minogue is amazing and super talented.
‘We love her music but we think it’s greedy of her business partners to think you can own a popular first name.’
B&M has since renamed the bed linen products ‘Camilla’.
Claims: The Australian pop princess, 54, is reportedly demanding legal costs of £10,000 be paid to her and furnishing designer Ashley Wilde, but B&M are refusing to pay up
As the news broke, Minogue was seen looking in high spirits as she stepped out in New Yor City on Tuesday as she promoted her album, Golden.
The songstress looked a vision of beauty on the outing, sheathing her sensational figure in a billowing floral gown that flashed a hint of leg with its thigh high split.
No doubt in a nod to her latest album, the blonde bombshell used gold as the colour for her accessories donning a pair of metallic knee high boots and a slender waist belt.
Cheeky dig: The budget retailer has hit back with a cheeky statement claiming that reality starlet Kylie Jenner, 20, is arguably the most famous Kylie these days
History: Kylie Jenner has previously attempted to trademark her own name in the United States, but the move was legally opposed by the Australian singer’s team
Strangers: ‘I’ve never met Kylie Jenner,’ Minogue later told Rolling Stone . ‘I’ve never met any member of the family – actually, I’ve met Kendall just in passing at a fashion event – but I honestly don’t know them’
Kylie Jenner has previously attempted to trademark her own name in the United States, but the move was legally opposed by the Australian singer’s team.
The opposition was eventually withdrawn, prompting speculation of a settlement.
‘I’ve never met Kylie Jenner,’ Minogue later told Rolling Stone. ‘I’ve never met any member of the family – actually, I’ve met Kendall just in passing at a fashion event – but I honestly don’t know them.
Turning heads: As the news broke, Minogue was seen looking in high spirits as she stepped out in New Yor City on Tuesday as she promoted her album, Golden
‘It’s awkward, because fans get so loyal and vocal, and we love that! But it was nothing personal at all, I’m at pains to say.’
She continued: ‘Trademark is long, it’s boring, it’s expensive, and it’s really important. I’ve been doing that for years and years. It was just causing confusion with customers. As long as it’s clear, then we can all win.’
Jenner filed to trademark: ‘KYLIE’ in 2015, according to U.S. Patent And Trademark Office records cited by the BBC.
Blooming lovely! The songstress looked a vision of beauty on the outing, sheathing her sensational figure in a billowing floral gown that flashed a hint of leg with its thigh high split
Minogue’s KDB Pty Ltd. put in an opposition in 2016, calling the singer an ‘internationally renowned performing artist, humanitarian, and breast cancer activist’ and pointing out she is ‘known worldwide simply as: “Kylie.”‘
The opposition expressed worry that Minogue – who has owned www.kylie.com since 1996, and whose 1988 debut album was entitled KYLIE – would be ‘damaged’ if Jenner’s copyright application succeeded.
This filing also dismissed Jenner as ‘a secondary reality television personality who appeared on the television series Keeping Up With the Kardashians as a supporting character, to Ms. Jenner’s halfsisters, Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian (i.e., the Kardashians).’
Golden girl! No doubt in a nod to her latest album, the blonde bombshell used gold as the colour for her accessories donning a pair of metallic knee high boots and a slender waist belt