No more copycat scents, rules court

Paris: A scent is a work of art just like a painting or a symphony, a French court has ruled in a case seen as a major victory in the battle against copycat fragrances.

After decades of failed attempts to copyright a particular perfume, cosmetics giant L'Oreal finally persuaded the court that its perfumes were entitled to the French droits d'auteur (authorial rights) that protect their creators from imitation for 70 years.

"It's an important step, as until now perfume owners could only fight against counterfeiters who imitated a name, the packaging or a perfume bottle," said Denis Monegier du Sorbier, a lawyer for L'Oreal.

The company filed for charges against a Gulf-based perfume firm which distributes its perfumes from Belgium, after it discovered that the company was selling near-identical copies of 13 of its major perfumes.

In the past, the big perfume houses have brought copycat companies to court on charges of unfair competition or brand imitation when packaging or names are almost identical. Recent brand imitations include Chenal No 5, or Temperature instead of Fahrenheit.

The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2006