Celebrities’ Favorite Fake Lashes in Court

Your favorite celebrity’s fake eyelashes may be caught in court.

Lashify founder Sahara Lotti, whose products have adorned Salma Hayek, Reese Witherspoon, and Nicole Kidman, is increasingly using federal courts and other avenues to protect the company’s intellectual property — and its share of the $2.48 billion artificial eyelash market.

“Once you’ve been through litigation, you really understand how the world works,” Lotti said. “It’s very cutthroat.”

Beauty innovators generally face challenges protecting their IP against foreign competitors. Without strategic action, these small inventors risk losing their innovations to copycats who can outspend them. Lotti’s solution? Patents and lots ...