Cosmetics giant, Mana Products Inc., is going out of its way to stop a small, Black-owned business from trademarking its name due to a few similarities.

In a lengthy blog post published on Medium on Tuesday, BLK + GRN Founder Dr. Kristian Henderson wrote that Mana is challenging her company's attempts to trademark her company's name.

Mana Products Inc. is opposing the trademark because they own a company called Black Opal, which recently rebranded itself as BLK/OPL. If you're confused as to why Mana would stop the trademark of a company with a different name, you would be in the same boat as Henderson.

"It feels as if Black Opal is claiming to own the stylized “BLK” version of Black, despite being very far from being a Black company," she wrote.

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As more and more people are making an effort to Buy Black, more and more brands are wearing Blackface. — What happens when large corporations that are not Black-owned appear to be Black owned and block Black-owned brands from thriving? — Mana Products Inc, founded by Nikos P. Mouyiaris, is currently opposing the trademark for @blkandgrn. — Mana owns Black Opal, which was recently rebranded as BLK/OPL, and they are asserting that the trademark BLK + GRN filed would cause confusion, so they are opposing BLK + GRN’s trademark application. Click the link in the bio for the full story. #blackopalwhiteface

A post shared by Dr. Kristian H (@drkristianh) on May 21, 2019 at 6:13pm PDT

According to her story, Mana has said in legal filings that "both brands use block letters, both spell Black with the shorthand BLK, and both brands use a symbol followed by three other letters."

However, the two businesses are involved in different industries. Black Opal is a cosmetics company tailored toward Black women. Meanwhile, BLK + GRN is an all-natural Black artisan marketplace for clean, green beauty and wellness products. Despite their differences, Mana has forced Henderson and BLK + GRN to go through a lengthy and costly legal process to defend their application.

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Spreading the word: My dear friend @drkristianh founder and owner of @blkandgrn (and @mompreneurandme sponsor) speaks on legally battling a black woman cosmetics company that isn’t black owned. Head over to her page to learn more.

A post shared by Christine Michel Carter (@cmichelcarter) on May 22, 2019 at 10:09am PDT

Despite being owned by non-Black people, Black Opal's Instagram page is filled exclusively with Black women. In response, Henderson titled her most recent article, "When a White Company Wears Blackface."

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The BLK/OPL beauties behind our True Color Shade lineup ???? ???? @cperlaphotography ????????@merrellhollis @tish_ferguson@_leewill and @mbm_artistry ????????‍♀️ @hairbyromorgan and @styledbyshanicef . . . . #melaningoddess #melaninbeautiesunite #melaninbeauty #melaninpopping #melaninrich #melaninpower #melanina #melaninmakeup #blackopalbeauty #blackopal #makeupforblackgirls #makeupforwoc #makeupforwomenofcolor #makeuptools #makeuptrends #makeuptrend #makeuptoday #foundations #blackmakeup #blackmakeupbrands #blackownedbusinesses #melaninking #melaninqueens #makeuptutorialsx0x

A post shared by BLACK OPAL (@blackopalbeauty) on May 19, 2019 at 10:02am PDT

Mana made $284.92 million last year and has a team of lawyers ready to fight their battles, but Henderson said the "legal fees could strangle a small start-up company and force us to close our doors."

"BLK + GRN was founded with the purpose of connecting Black women with all-natural products without compromising their values, their health, or their standards," Henderson wrote. She criticized Mana for using Black women to sell their products while stifling a small Black business for nonsensical reasons.

On Instagram, Black women who had been fans of Black Opal's products criticized the company for tricking them into thinking they were run by Black women. Instagram users were also upset that the company was trying to squash small businesses that were actually run by Black people. "As more and more people are making an effort to Buy Black, more and more brands are wearing Blackface," wrote @fiyawata.

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y’all. I feel some type of way. @blackopalbeauty *was* one of my FAVORITE brands for foundation that matches my Black perfectly. And you know what – it’s not that I’m just finding out they’re not Black owned that has me feeling a way, it’s that they are trying to block the business of ACTUAL, REAL LIFE BLACK FOLK. I mean, “business is business,” so they say. But nah. Just ringing the alarm like how I do. Do with this what you will. #ThisAintProfessional ???? cc: @shoppeblack #Repost @drkristianh · · · As more and more people are making an effort to Buy Black, more and more brands are wearing Blackface. — What happens when large corporations that are not Black-owned appear to be Black owned and block Black-owned brands from thriving? — Mana Products Inc, founded by Nikos P. Mouyiaris, is currently opposing the trademark for @blkandgrn. — Mana owns Black Opal, which was recently rebranded as BLK/OPL, and they are asserting that the trademark BLK + GRN filed would cause confusion, so they are opposing BLK + GRN’s trademark application. Click the link in the bio for the full story. #blackopalwhiteface

A post shared by YABA (@fiyawata) on May 22, 2019 at 8:34am PDT

"The existence of an actual Black-owned, Black-run, and Black-affirming company that supports over 65 Black women-owned brands is at stake," she said.

"We believe firmly in the power of supporting small Black-owned brands, and we exist as the antithesis of the actions of Black Opal, and others like them."

Nikos P. Mouyiaris

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