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2 clusters · 9 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Ben & Jerry’s legal dispute with Unilever

Overview

A U.S. federal judge has partially dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ben & Jerry’s against its former parent company, Unilever. The legal dispute stems from tensions following the brand’s 2021 decision to halt sales in the West Bank, which led Unilever to sell the brand’s Israeli operations to a local licensee.

Ben & Jerry’s had alleged that Unilever breached its governance rights by attempting to silence the brand’s social activism and its stances on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the court dismissed the majority of these claims, including those regarding interference with the brand's social mission, finding that Unilever acted within its rights under the original 2000 acquisition agreement.

The litigation will proceed on limited grounds, specifically regarding two counts of alleged missed payments by Unilever related to a 2002 settlement over trademark rights in Israel. Furthermore, the court designated Magnum Ice Cream Company, the Amsterdam-based owner of Ben & Jerry’s following its separation from Unilever, as the primary defendant in the remaining commercial litigation.

Entities

Ben & Jerry's · Unilever · Magnum · Andrew Carter · Kevin Castel

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Ben & Jerry's lawsuit against Unilever partially dismissed by federal judge

    A federal judge dismissed most of Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit against Unilever regarding social activism censorship, though claims over missed payments and the role of Magnum Ice Cream Company remain.

  2. 7 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 7 sources
    Judge narrows Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit against Unilever

    A U.S. judge has dismissed claims in Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit against Unilever alleging the brand was silenced regarding social activism, though contract-related claims will proceed.

Sources

brasil247.com · cashcow.nl · diningandcooking.com · foodbev.com · fr.businessam.be · insurancejournal.com · offthepress.com · upcycledwords.substack.com · world-today-news.com