She has a £31million townhouse in London’s Holland Park at her disposal, not to mention trophy properties in Miami, Dubai and, of course, the Cotswolds.
But never assume that Victoria Beckham is content to loll around at home, luxuriating in the £425million fortune which she and her husband David have (so far) accumulated.
I can reveal that the famously disciplined fashion designer, who confesses to initiating her day by drinking three tablespoons of cider vinegar, is currently savouring the sweetest of victories – over a group of six associates who’ve been attempting to cash in on the Beckham brand by selling counterfeit goods.
The battle unfolded after ‘Posh’, as Victoria was known in her days with the Spice Girls, was assailed by the appearance of no fewer than 46 websites, all of them calling themselves ‘victoriabeckhambeauty’, each with a different ‘geographical indicator’ – implying that they were connected to a different country. All of them carried the ‘logo, mark, and copyright-protected images’ of her company.
Aware that none of them had anything to do her fashion and beauty products, which are on sale in 50 countries, Victoria filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and Mediation Centre at the end of January.
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Victoria Beckham is savouring a victory against a group of six associates cashing in on her brand by selling counterfeit goods
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Beckham was assailed by no he appearance of no fewer than 46 websites, all of them calling themselves ‘victoriabeckhambeauty’ with her company’s logo and copyright
Its verdict, delivered this week, has come down unequivocally in her favour. Noting that all the domain names were registered on the same day last November, it records that they ‘copy the look and feel’ of Victoria’s official website – and are, like hers, used as online shops.
The four women and two men who’d registered the websites were invited to respond to Victoria’s complaint. They declined to do so.
The WIPO witheringly concludes that their activities ‘constitute a pattern of abusive conduct of bad faith’ by making a deliberate and calculated attempt to attract custom ‘for commercial gain’, via a ‘likelihood of confusion’.
Acknowledging Victoria’s evidence that what the group of six were selling was ‘most likely counterfeit goods’, it points out that that is a type of fraud – and ordered all domain names be transferred to her.
It’s quite a triumph for Victoria, who celebrates her 50th birthday next week. Back in 2002, she tried – and failed – to prevent Peterborough United from using its nickname, ‘The Posh’, arguing that the word ‘Posh’ was ‘inexorably associated’ with her.
I hope she now indulges herself in what, for her, is the rarest of luxuries – a smile.
Cosmetics show outfit that made Auntie blusher
As an ‘angel’ for Victoria’s Secret lingerie, Leomie Anderson is used to wearing very little — but this led to a dressing-down from the BBC.
The London-born model, 31, is a host of BBC Three’s cosmetics reality contest Glow Up.
She tells me: ‘I had this tiny outfit on which showed my boobs and they told me I couldn’t wear it.’
Speaking at a preview screening of the sixth series, she adds: ‘I don’t have big boobs, but I didn’t have a lot of material covering them. So they tried to crop it so all you could see was my head and shoulders.’
Leonie, who was wearing a black bikini and leather jacket and trousers, reveals: ‘They made me zip up my jacket and it was fine in the end.’
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Leomie Anderson got a dressing-down from the BBC after wearing black bikini and leather jacket and trousers to a preview of the sixth series of Glow Up
Many Tory MPs have been kicking up a stink about the growing influence of oil-rich Gulf states in Britain.
So what better way for the Qatari government to clear the air than by giving the gift of pleasantly smelling perfumes to a minister?
I hear Andrew Mitchell, the overseas development minister, received a ‘fragrance hamper’ worth £369 from Qatar. Foreign Office documents state that the gift is ‘held by department’. It must be the most fragrant office in Whitehall.
Prince Harry said he and Meghan fled Britain in 2020 ‘fearing for our lives’, yet his brother Prince William seems able to enjoy a pretty normal life.
Indeed, I’m told he popped into a pub in North Norfolk at the weekend with his mother-in-law, who is said to have been staying with the Prince and Princess of Wales for Easter.
A patron tells me: ‘It was all very low-key, with no great fanfare. He just walked in and through the pub. He appeared to be with Carole Middleton.’ There was no sign of Catherine, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.
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While Harry said he left Britain with Meghan ‘fearing for our lives’, William (left) appears to be able to enjoy a pretty normal life
Ministers trying to ban mobile phones in the classroom have an ally in no-nonsense choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips.
The former Strictly judge tells me she ‘constantly’ has to tell dancers to ‘put your phone away’ during rehearsals.
‘When you go into [dance] class, your phones cannot be with you — you have to focus,’ explains Dame Arlene, 80, at the NHS Charity gala concert With All Our Hearts.
Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman appears to regret allowing a beautician to use new technology to analyse her face.
‘I did a Pro Derm Scan and the woman said: ‘Your skin is disgusting, you are ancient, you are grey. Have you ever had a glass of water?’ ‘ says Winkleman, 52, at the No7 Future Renew party at Searcys Club in London.
‘I haven’t. I don’t believe in it — I don’t do it and I don’t care.’
Rosamund is in the loop
Saltburn star Rosamund Pike — who is known for her signature bob —showed off a striking new hairdo at a red-carpet event in New York.
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Rosamund Pike showed off a striking new hairdo at a red-carpet event in New York
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Pictured: Pike at the Brooklyn Artists Ball held at Brooklyn Museum on Tuesday April 9
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The Oxford graduate wore her hair in a looped plait, complete with a butterfly clip
The Oxford graduate, 45, who once remarked, ‘actresses generally aren’t allowed to have haircuts, because short hair isn’t considered as versatile’, wore her locks in a looped plait, complete with a butterfly clip.
