Late last year, the company I co-founded, Ben & Jerry’s, became part of a new ice cream conglomerate, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, following the demerger of Unilever’s ice cream business. Almost immediately, Magnum started limiting the power of Ben & Jerry’s independent board, which was created to protect our company’s social mission. The impact goes to the heart of what Ben & Jerry’s is, and what it was built to be. Our brand cannot be separated from its values. 

On Jan. 11, Ben & Jerry’s independent board members filed a lawsuit accusing Magnum of blocking the appointment of former executive Chris Miller as a director. The filing alleges that Magnum initially supported the nomination, then reversed course after introducing new board requirements in December—requirements that forced out the board’s chair and two other members. The lawsuit escalates a long-running dispute over who ultimately controls Ben & Jerry’s voice and values.

That dispute centers on a fundamental question: Does Ben & Jerry’s have the right, enshrined in a unique acquisition agreement, to manage its social mission and take public stances independently that may conflict with commercial priorities?

The answer matters because this conflict is not just about........

© Time