Natalie Smith is the founder of Natalie's Natural Beauty Products Inc. Her company imports, sells, and distributes olive oil-based skin care and body care products manufactured in Turkey exclusively for Smith. Smith filed a trademark application, hoping to operate her business under the trademark Natalie's Naturals. Larkin Industries already sells juices under the trademark Naturals and other marks that include Naturals, such as Naturals Classique. Larkin opposes the application and alleges that Smith is infringing its trademark rights by using a confusingly similar design. Smith's beauty products are generally sold in upscale grocery and specialty stores, whereas Larkin's juice is generally carried at mainstream grocery stores.

The Court of Appeal decides in favour of Smith's company, finding that confusion was unlikely. The court also finds that Larkin filed an unnecessary injunction application, sent threatening letters, and engaged in overly complicated litigious conduct, which the court believes is menacing and abusive behaviour. Larkin successfully appeals the order, but Larkin's conduct has also resulted in substantial public criticism. As a result of media attention by local newspapers and bloggers, #naturals becomes the most locally hashtagged term on Twitter. Because of this onslaught of negative publicity, Larkin has offered a large settlement to Smith's company.

Do you agree with the decision that Natalie's Naturals is not confusingly similar to Naturals juice products? Explain your answer. Consider the impact of social media in this case. How do you think social media is changing the face of business management? If you were part of Naturals's management, what steps would you take to avoid a similar situation in the future?