In Q1 of 2024, U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins made a significant ruling by rejecting a class action lawsuit against Estée Lauder. The case accused Estée Lauder’s virtual “try-on” tool of violating Illinois’s biometric privacy laws through unauthorized facial data collection. The dismissal also included brands like Bobbi Brown, Smashbox, and Too Faced. On another note, a lawsuit was initiated in New York’s federal court accusing Neutrogena of false marketing for labeling its T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo as “preservative free.” Meanwhile, L’Oréal reached a settlement with the University of Massachusetts and Carmel Laboratories over a patent disagreement concerning the use of adenosine in its Revitalift moisturizer.
In Q2, a motion to compel L’Occitane into arbitration with around 3,000 customers was denied by a U.S. District Judge. Over in India, the Delhi High Court concluded a three-year battle between NIVEA and Ponds. Beiersdorf AG, NIVEA’s manufacturer, claimed Hindustan Unilever Limited engaged in unfair market practices and trademark infringement. Procter & Gamble was embroiled in a lawsuit for allegedly misadvertising their Tampax tampons as “dye-free.” A historic £1 billion claim was launched against Amazon by UK retailers, led by the British Independent Retailers Association, accusing the platform of data misuse and preferential treatment in its Buy Box feature. Johnson & Johnson set a US$700 million settlement with US states. Additionally, manufacturing and chemical trade groups initiated legal action against the EPA regarding a proposed federal water standard.
In Q3, Walgreens Boots Alliance faced a securities fraud lawsuit aiming to recover shareholder losses. New Jersey courts ruled Johnson & Johnson lacked valid reasons to disqualify Beasley Allen in its talc litigations. X filed a case in the States against firms, including Unilever and CVS Health, for loss of ad revenue due to an alleged boycott after Elon Musk’s purchase of the site. Despite substantial support for settling talc claims, Johnson & Johnson’s bankruptcy proposal stirred debate. Avon Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, while Inolex brought a patent infringement suit against Actera Ingredients.
In Q4, Revlon took legal action in New York claiming former executives shared confidential information to poach its Britney Spears fragrance line. The Fearless Fund discontinued their Strivers Grant Contest following a lawsuit resolution, impacting aid for Black women entrepreneurs. Manhattan saw a class action against Trojan condoms over claims of unsafe PFAS levels. UK Amazon sellers warned of potential legal steps due to frozen funds amid VAT status disputes. Moreover, Elon Musk’s X removed Unilever from a lawsuit involving alleged ad revenue losses over a boycott. Lastly, Meta was fined €798 million by the EU for antitrust breaches related to their advertising practices, and a luxury fragrance brand director avoided charges despite breaching sanctions.