Industry News

Electrolux awarded $281,153 in false advertising, copyright infringement claims

On March 31, 2008, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York awarded Electrolux Home Care Products a total of $281,153 for its false advertising and copyright infringement claims against Imig, Inc. and Nationwide Sales and Services, Inc. The Court also found in favor of Electrolux on all claims asserted by Imig and Nationwide against Electrolux. While the Court declined to enter judgment in favor of Electrolux on its trade dress claims, the Court stated, “It is undisputed that Imig relied on the Sanitaires when developing the Perfects and intentionally copied certain elements.”

The Court also noted the Imig and Nationwide “engaged in false advertising by making baseless claims about the superiority of the Perfects to the Sanitaires.” Specifically, the Court found that Imig and Nationwide knowingly made false claims about the motor life and motor strength of the Perfect vacuums as compared to the Sanitaire vacuums.

Electrolux is pleased with the result and will continue to vigorously defend its intellectual property from the misappropriation by others.

About Sanitaire
Sanitaire products are made by Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.

About Electrolux
Electrolux is a global leader in home appliances and appliances for professional use, selling more than 40 million products to customers in 150 countries every year. The company focuses on innovations that are thoughtfully designed, based on extensive consumer insight, to meet the real needs of consumers and professionals. Electrolux products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and cookers sold under esteemed brands such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux, Eureka and Frigidaire. In 2007, Electrolux had sales of $16 billion USD and 57,000 employees. For more information, visit http://www.electrolux.com/press

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, May 2008