What started as a glamorous beauty business partnership has ended in a costly courtroom battle.
A U.S. court has officially ordered South African couple Peet and Melany Viljoen to pay a hefty $3.9 million—around R71 million—in damages to Tammy Taylor, the American founder of the global nail brand Tammy Taylor Nails.
The ruling didn’t just come with a financial blow.
The court also banned the Viljoens from using the Tammy Taylor name or anything linked to the brand going forward.
U.S. Court Delivers a Final Blow
The Southern District of California handed down the decision, which includes a permanent injunction preventing the Viljoens from using any of Tammy Taylor’s branding, trademarks, or intellectual property.
Their U.S. trademark registration has been officially canceled, and the judgment makes it clear—they can no longer conduct any business that appears tied to the Tammy Taylor brand.
In short, it’s a complete legal cutoff.
How the Dispute Began
This legal drama started back in April 2024, when Tammy Taylor took the couple to court, accusing them of continuing to use her brand without permission.
Their licensing agreement had been terminated, but Taylor claimed the Viljoens kept operating as though they were still affiliated.
Interestingly, the couple did not contest the case in court.
That silence gave the judge room to issue a default judgment—meaning the court ruled in Taylor’s favor by default because the Viljoens didn’t show up to defend themselves.
Taylor Asked for More, But Got Less
While Tammy Taylor originally went after R390 million in what she claimed were lost profits—blaming brand confusion and reputational damage—the court wasn’t entirely convinced.
Due to a lack of strong evidence, that part of the claim was denied.
Still, $3.9 million in statutory damages is no small win.
Ordered to Cut All Ties to the Brand
The judgment doesn’t just stop at money. The court also told the Viljoens they must wipe out all public use of the Tammy Taylor name, which includes:
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Taking down salon signage
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Shutting down or renaming websites
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Deleting any brand-related social media accounts
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Giving up the domain tammytaylornails.co.za
All marketing, messaging, or visuals that even imply a connection to the original Tammy Taylor brand must be removed for good.
Silence from the Couple’s Side
As expected in high-profile cases like this, public reaction has been swift—especially in South Africa, where the Tammy Taylor name became a luxury staple under the Viljoens’ franchise.
However, their lawyer, Hein Wiese, declined to comment when asked about the ruling or the couple’s current whereabouts.
It remains unclear whether they’re still based in South Africa or planning to fight back in any way.
More Legal Moves Still Possible
While the court decision is final for now, the story may not be over.
Tammy Taylor has until 16 July to file another motion if she wants to go after additional damages or attempt to enforce her trademark rights in South Africa.
Whatever happens next, this ruling has already sent shockwaves through the beauty industry, serving as a major warning about the consequences of ignoring licensing deals and intellectual property laws—especially when the brand name is international.
