Uma Thurman files suit against Lancome

Uma Thurman has filed a $15m lawsuit against French cosmetics giant Lancome after the company announced they were suing her.

The suit, filed in Manhattan Federal Court, accuses Lancome of wrongly allowing the Kill Bill actress' photograph to appear on websites and billboards that promote its products.

Thurman's contract with Lancome expired Dec. 31, 2005.

"The worldwide and unauthorized use of Thurman's name and likeness for years after the expiration dates significantly diluted the value of Thurman's name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes," the suit charges.

On Thursday, Lancome filed a preemptive suit against Thurman at Manhattan's state Supreme Court.

Lancome's court papers say the contract frees the company of responsibility if third parties use her name and face after the contract lapses.

Lancome's lawyer, Peter Raymond, said that his client "can't control everybody out in the world."

A spokeswoman for L’Oréal said: "The use of Ms. Thurman’s image after her contract expired, however minor, was neither deliberate nor intentional. As this matter is currently in litigation, it is Lancôme’s policy not to comment on legal matters while they are in progress."

Thurman's lawyer, Bertram Fields, said he was "delighted that the case will go before a jury", adding, "They [Lancome] got an enormous benefit throughout the world after the contract was over, and one million dollars doesn't begin to do it."