Gillette injunction against Norelco Reflex Action comparative ads partially granted.
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
NORELCO REFLEX ACTION "LESS IRRITATION" SUPERIORITY CLAIMS CAN CONTINUE WITH DISCLAIMER, Boston federal court Judge Reginald Lindsay ruled Nov. 27 in response to Gillette's request for a preliminary injunction against the Philips Electronics division. The application for injunction was filed in conjunction with an Oct. 9 lawsuit, in which the wet shave manufacturer claimed that Norelco's "disparaging" Reflex Action electric shaver ads directly target Gillette's wet shave products ("The Rose Sheet" Oct. 21, p. 1). Pending a decision on the litigation, Gillette requested a preliminary injunction barring Norelco from running all TV, print and radio ads that feature disparaging comparison statements and negative images of wet shavers.