According to Aussie newspaper The Age, Target offered to settle with the US cosmetics maker over its sales last year of allegedly fake MAC cosmetics.
Target made an offer to the make-up brand saying it will not infringe any of MAC's trademarks by importing, distributing, advertising or offering to sell any products branded as MAC; whilst also maintaining its innocence.
Meeting
However, after lawyers met in Sydney’s Federal Court on Tuesday and Target made the offer, The Australian Financial Review reports MAC’s lawyers won’t settle until Target admits guilt by apologising and agrees that it obtained counterfeit products.
Target claims to have bought the goods from a wholesaler in Arizona in the United States which is perfectly legal, but has caused a stir with Estée Lauder as it irks the two retailers exclusively contracted to sellMACin Australia: David Jones and Myer.
The problem arose when it was alleged the MAC products stocked in Target were fake, with claims they had a different formula to Estee Lauder’s genuine MAC lines, which the manufacturer took seriously as it feels it damages the brand and needs to be addressed to send a message to other retailers regarding the sale of counterfeit products.
History
A statement from Estée Lauder when the case first came to the fore last year said: "Target Australia is not an authorised retailer of MAC Cosmetics and we did not supply any MAC products to Target Australia.”
"We urge our customers to shop at our authorized retailers to ensure the MAC Cosmetics products they buy are authentic and meet the quality and safety standards that we promise."
The US-based brand confirmed its commitment to the quality of its products stating it took this matter ‘very seriously’; and as such the products have since been completely removed from Target stores.