He has a £31 million townhouse in London’s Holland Park at his disposal, not to mention trophy properties in Miami, Dubai and, of course, the Cotswolds.
But never assume that Victoria Beckham is content to laze around the house, reveling in the £425m fortune she and her husband David have amassed (so far).
I can reveal that the famously disciplined fashion designer, who confesses to starting her day by drinking three tablespoons of cider vinegar, is currently savoring the sweetest of victories: over a group of six associates who have been trying to cash in on the Beckham brand. . selling counterfeit products.
The battle unfolded after ‘Posh’, as Victoria was known in her time with the Spice Girls, was assaulted by the appearance of no less than 46 websites, all of them calling themselves ‘victoriabeckhambeauty’, each with an ‘indicator’. geographical’ different – implying that they were connected to a different country. All of them bore his company’s “logo, branding and copyrighted images.”
Aware that none of them had anything to do with her fashion and beauty products, which are sold in 50 countries, Victoria filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Mediation Center at the end of January.
Victoria Beckham is savoring a victory against a group of six associates who profit from her brand by selling counterfeit products.
Beckham was attacked by the appearance of no fewer than 46 websites, all calling themselves ‘victoriabeckhambeauty’ bearing her company’s logo and copyright.
Their verdict, delivered this week, has been unequivocally in their favor. Noting that all the domain names were registered on the same day last November, he records that they “copy the look and feel” of Victoria’s official website and, like hers, are used as online stores.
The four women and two men who had registered the websites were invited to respond to Victoria’s complaint. They refused to do so.
WIPO concludes witheringly that its activities “constitute a pattern of abusive conduct in bad faith” by making a deliberate and calculated attempt to attract customers “for commercial gain”, through a “risk of confusion.”
Acknowledging Victoria’s evidence that what the group of six were selling was “probably counterfeit goods”, he notes that this is a type of fraud and ordered all domain names to be transferred to him.
It’s quite a triumph for Victoria, who will celebrate her 50th birthday next week. In 2002, she attempted (and failed) to stop Peterborough United from using her nickname, ‘The Posh’, arguing that the word ‘Posh’ was ‘inexorably associated’ with her.
I hope she now allows herself what, for her, is the rarest luxury: a smile.
Cosmetics show the outfit that made the aunt blush
As a Victoria’s Secret lingerie “angel”, Leomie Anderson is used to wearing very little, but this sparked a reprimand from the BBC.
The London-born model, 31, is the presenter of BBC Three’s cosmetics reality show Glow Up.
She tells me: ‘I had this tiny outfit that showed my breasts and they told me I couldn’t wear it.’
Speaking at a preview screening of series six, she adds: “I don’t have big breasts, but I didn’t have much material to cover them. So they tried to cut it out so that the only thing you could see was my head and shoulders.
Leonie, who was wearing a black bikini and a leather jacket and pants, reveals: “They made me zip up my jacket and it all worked out in the end.”
Leomie Anderson was reprimanded by the BBC after wearing a black bikini and leather jacket and pants in a preview of the sixth season of Glow Up.
Many Conservative MPs have been protesting the growing influence of the oil-rich Gulf states in Britain.
So what better way for the Qatari government to set the record straight than by gifting pleasant-smelling perfumes to a minister?
I heard that Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Overseas Development, received a “fragrance basket” worth £369 from Qatar. Foreign Office documents state the gift is “in the hands of the department.” It must be the most fragrant office in Whitehall.
Prince Harry said he and Meghan fled Britain in 2020 “fearing for our lives,” but his brother Prince William appears capable of enjoying a fairly normal life.
While Harry said he left Britain with Meghan “fearing for our lives,” William (left) appears to be able to enjoy a fairly normal life.
In fact, I’m told he visited a pub in North Norfolk at the weekend with his mother-in-law, who is said to have stayed with the Prince and Princess of Wales over Easter.
A client tells me: ‘Everything was very discreet, without much fanfare. He just walked in and walked through the pub. He seemed to be with Carole Middleton. There was no sign of Catherine, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Ministers trying to ban mobile phones in classrooms have an ally in no-nonsense choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips.
The former Strictly judge tells me she “constantly” has to tell dancers to “put their phones away” during rehearsals.
‘When you enter [dance] “In class, your phones can’t be with you – you have to concentrate,” explains Dame Arlene, 80, at the NHS With All Our Hearts charity gala concert.
Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman appears to regret allowing a beautician to use new technology to analyze her face.
‘I had a Pro Derm Scan and the woman said: “Your skin is disgusting, you’re old, you’re grey. Have you ever drunk a glass of water? ‘ says Winkleman, 52, at the No7 Future Renew party at London’s Searcys Club.
‘I have not done it. I don’t believe in it, I don’t do it and I don’t care.’
Rosamund is aware
Saltburn star Rosamund Pike, known for her signature bob, showed off a striking new hairstyle at a red carpet event in New York.
Rosamund Pike showed off a striking new hairstyle at a red carpet event in New York
Pictured: Pike at the Brooklyn Artists Ball held at the Brooklyn Museum on Tuesday, April 9.
The Oxford graduate wore her hair in a braid with a butterfly clip.
The Oxford graduate, 45, who once commented that “actresses are generally not allowed to cut their hair, because short hair is not considered versatile”, wore her locks in a looped braid, complete with a butterfly clip.
Here’s a house that will hit all the right notes: the former home of Britain’s most famous living pianist, Alfred Brendel, has been put up for sale by his ex-wife, Irene. Plush Manor, near Dorchester in Dorset, is for sale for £4.25 million.
“The house gave my ex-husband a refuge from his incessant travel schedule and created a quiet refuge for the children,” she says. They bought the eight-bedroom property for £1 million in 1993.