A jewellery company has lost a legal battle with media mogul Simon Cowell after trying to launch a range of charms called Little Mix.
Cowell's company Syco called in lawyers after SGI Jewellery, based in Greengairs, near Airdrie, launched the product with the same name as the girl group.
Sharon Gallacher, 43, the owner of SGI, had claimed the charms were not related to group, which won The X Factor in 2011.
The dispute began when Mrs Gallacher, who runs the business from her home, applied to register the name for a new range of jewellery.
Cowell's label, which represents the band, launched a legal action to oppose the trademark application. It accused SGI of trying to cash in on the fame of the band and claimed SGI had decided to launch the range only after the band appeared on the ITV talent show.
The UK Intellectual Property Office, which rules on trademark disputes, has now found in Cowell's favour and told SGI it cannot use the name to market its products. SGI also been ordered to pay Cowell's company £2200 in legal fees.
Mrs Gallacher, 43, said: "I gave evidence for an hour and a half and thought I had done enough. The name was chosen for a new charm collection because they are both 'little' and a mixture of different things, nothing more."
However, trademark hearing officer Mark Bryant said:"The evidence points to the applicant filing the application with the sole purpose of benefitting from the success of the band."
No one from Syco was available for comment.
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