P&G Files Infringement Lawsuit
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) files a lawsuit against RNA Corporation of Blue Island, Ill., for the infringement of its Herbal Essences intellectual property, including trademark, trade dress and design patents. The suit, filed in the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati, involves the company's Herbal Essences logo and the unique design of the Herbal Essences bottles for shampoos and conditioners. P&G claims private label manufacturer, RNA Corporation, is distributing shampoo and conditioner products under the name Hydrating Herbal Shampoo and Hydrating Herbal Conditioner, which infringe the Herbal Essences intellectual property rights. P&G is asking that RNA Corporation be ordered to stop distributing the infringing products, request the recall of existing inventory from store shelves and destroy the bottle molds.
"We believe this is a clear case of infringement designed to take advantage of the Herbal Essences' business and its consumer loyalty," says Steven Jemison, P&G chief legal officer. "This is a serious case of intellectual property infringement, and we are asking the court to stop the distribution of these products to protect the equity of Herbal Essences."
RNA Corporation has yet to release a statement in response to the lawsuit.
"We believe this is a clear case of infringement designed to take advantage of the Herbal Essences' business and its consumer loyalty," says Steven Jemison, P&G chief legal officer. "This is a serious case of intellectual property infringement, and we are asking the court to stop the distribution of these products to protect the equity of Herbal Essences."
RNA Corporation has yet to release a statement in response to the lawsuit.