Then in 1998, together with Rodrigo de Zayas, Naulleau, launched a book-publishing company, also named L'Esprit Des Péninsules. While de Zayas had the majority of shares, Naulleau managed the company. In 2007, the company went bankrupt. A dispute started as it turned out that in 2003, Naulleau had filed a trademark application in classes 16, 35 and 41 for L'Esprit Des Péninsules. The mark was registered in his own name. The INPI database mentions that the mark was transferred to BARDOLLE GAWSEWITCH & NAULLEAU EDITEURS; the recordal date for such transfer of ownership is May 2008.

The liquidator of the company L'Esprit Des Péninsules sued Naulleau in April 2008, arguing that the trade mark had been filed fraudulently and should indeed be considered as an asset of the company. A first instance judgment issued in June 2009 ruled that Naulleau had not fraudulently filed the trade mark, since he "only protected his own creation, which he freely allowed the company to use".While the text of the appeal decision is not yet publicly available, it transpires from the article of Le Journal du Dimanche that the first instance decision was invalidated. The appeal court considered that the mark belonged to the company. Mr Nalleau declared he was considering bringing this case before the Supreme Court.