In a victory for Mamaearth parent Honasa Consumer, the Delhi High Court on Thursday asked FMCG major Hindustan Unilever (HUL) to take down its Lakme sunscreen advertisement within 24 hours.
Honasa, which also owns The Derma Co, had moved the high court against HUL over a Lakme ad campaign, alleging that the company misled consumers and mimicked its product. The disputed ad suggested that an “online bestseller” sunscreen offered only ‘SPF 20’ protection despite claiming to offer ‘SPF 50’, accompanied by visuals that Honasa said resembled The Derma Co’s packaging.
HUL agreed to take down its online ad and also modify it. It will replace the phrase “online bestseller” with “some seller”, and the packaging of the sunscreen will be altered to avoid any similarities with The Derma Co’s product.
HUL also said it will not pursue its case against against the Gurugram-based firm in the Bombay High Court, which it had filed earlier this week.
In the court, HUL, however, defended its campaign, saying that it was aimed at educating consumers about the importance of scientifically validated SPF claims.
“The gold standard for testing sunscreen efficacy is in-vivo testing, which Lakme has followed since 2015,” the company said in a statement.
Earlier, Honasa said that its sunscreen was also in-vivo tested. In-vivo testing is a clinical testing method that involves conducting experiments or measuring biological responses within a living organism, such as a human, animal, or plant.
Honasa had called the ad misleading and disparaging, adding that it has remained a top seller on online marketplaces and commands over 30% market share in the category. It had sought immediate removal of the campaign.