Love Room: The legal saga of a term returned to the public domain – And the inside story of a controversial franchise

1. A Sweet Word, a Fierce Conflict

Today, "Love Room" conjures up for thousands of couples a romantic room with a private jacuzzi, perfect for a romantic weekend getaway. However, behind this trendy expression lies a true legal saga: a trademark filing, intimidations, franchises sold for a fortune… and an unexpected return to the public domain.

2. 2020: A Controversial Appropriation of the Term “Love Room”

It was in 2020 that the company LSR acquired the word mark "Love Room", initially registered with the INPI. The idea: to seize a popular word to lock down its use… and establish itself as the sole owner of the term.

Behind this strategy, one man: Anthony, manager of LSR. He then initiated a series of actions against dozens of professionals in the romantic sector: formal notices, closure of Instagram and Facebook accounts, legal threats… All in the name of “his” brand.

But Anthony's project went further: to launch a national network of franchises called Secrets Rooms. To convince investors, he hammered home a message:

"I am the Love Room!"

3. Secrets Rooms: An Appealing Franchise… On the Surface

On paper, the offer is attractive: create a turnkey love room, under the "Secrets Rooms" label, with marketing support and a centralized website.

But the reality turned out to be much more nuanced:

• Entry fees: up to €36,000

• Monthly royalties: 6%

• Mandatory call center: €300/month

• Prohibition from managing one's own bookings: everything goes through the central website… controlled by Anthony.

In short: you invest, you take the risks, but LSR retains control of your business.

But the calculations are wrong:

If each franchisee pays 6%, let's say a turnover of €5000/month, that gives us €1800/month including VAT.
Subtracting VAT and charges... It's impossible to develop to the extent of the ambitions.
However, LSR hired a secretary, a call center salesperson, an architect, and rented offices in HAGONDANGE...

4. Portraits, Tensions, and Deceptive Appearances

Anthony, both charismatic and controversial, knows how to charm: a trimmed beard, open shirt, expensive car, convincing speech… He reassures some investors. His associate, Céline, handles communication and the management of existing properties.

Despite everything, the Secrets Rooms network reached up to 11 establishment openings and 6 franchisees. And one must acknowledge a true talent: that of the architect, Brice, who designs the spaces, a true artist working in the shadows whose creations are praised for their elegance and originality.

But very quickly, the first tensions erupted:

• Three franchises walked out (Tours, Bordeaux…)

• Payment problems, legal disputes, opaque management

• Former franchisees reported unreturned sums ranging from €2,000 to €6,000

Trust eroded. The structure swayed. Private groups formed on the Internet, and several complaints were filed against LSR or directly against Anthony.

We are told that Anthony sold several franchises in France (at prices varying from €30,000 to €36,000 depending on the client)... But once the check was cashed, nothing moved...

Anthony's haughty behavior began to annoy people, and management problems accumulated. Despite friendships, tensions were high.

* As legal proceedings are ongoing, it is important to remember that, for now, Anthony is presumed innocent.

5. Resistance Organizes: The Return to Freedom

Faced with this attempt to monopolize a generic term, a collective of professionals – including Lovenspa.fr – decided to act. The objective? To invalidate the "Love Room" trademark so that everyone could continue to use it freely.
Meetings, searching for a lawyer, prospecting and grouping together Love Rooms impacted by Anthony's actions... it was during a phone call that we met Patrick, who explained that he was already well advanced on the matter.

It was finally Patrick, director of the company LVRM, who took charge of the case. Already in conflict with Anthony in the Grand Est region, he filed a request for nullification of the trademark, based on a simple argument:

"Love Room" is a term too generic to be appropriated.

French LoveRooms owe him a lot... Thank you, Patrick.

6. The Timeline of the Legal Battle

Note: Anthony did not even appear at the final hearing…

7. Secrets Rooms: The Collapse of a Model?

Despite a promising launch, Secrets Rooms gradually collapsed:

• Uncontrollable centralized bookings

• Franchisees losing autonomy

• Strained relationships with founders

• Trademark not registered with INPI

• .fr domain name forgotten (and bought by a third party)

Today, Anthony and Céline have disappeared from the radar. Their social media presence has dwindled, and initial promises have given way to widespread disillusionment.

8. Why this is a victory for couples… and professionals

Thanks to this court decision, everyone can now use the term "Love Room" freely, without fear of prosecution. A victory for:

• Couples looking for a unique romantic weekend getaway

• Owners of rooms with private jacuzzis or spas

• Independent platforms like Lovenspa.fr, which list authentic accommodations, without franchise or monopoly

Easily find love rooms near you on:
https://lovenspa.fr
https://lovenspa.fr/collections/tous-les-departements

9. Questions

Why was the Love Room trademark cancelled?
Because it was too generic. It describes a type of accommodation, not an exclusive commercial identity.

Is it legal to use “Love Room” today?
Yes, absolutely. The term fell into the public domain in January 2024.

How to avoid a bad franchise?
Stay away from vague offers that are not listed on serious platforms (like toute-la-franchise.com) and that centralize all bookings.

Can I book a love room without worry?
Yes! Feel free to use all the key terms (love room near me, unusual couple's room, etc.) to find the perfect place.

Can I still book a SecretsRooms?
The establishments directly owned by LSR are the subject of several Facebook groups meeting to protest having paid for bookings that would not have been honored... So for the moment, it's better to avoid them.
On the other hand, the "former" franchisees still exist. Even if most have changed their names to no longer suffer from the bad image, you can book safely and easily find them here, on Lovenspa.

Conclusion

The term Love Room now belongs to everyone. More than ever, this is an opportunity to freely choose your romantic weekend getaway, without falling into the trap of opaque franchises.

Find your love room with private jacuzzi, a tantra chair or a unique couple's room on:
Lovenspa.fr

 

To go further:

LES SECRETS ROOMS HAGONDANGE ARNAQUE | Facebook

Le Journal économique

Décision de justice

Also read:

• New trends for Love Rooms in 2025
• The Complete Guide to the Tantra Sofa
• Romantic Weekend: Our 100% Sensuality Ideas