Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) today filed suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to stop Procter & Gamble and its Braun division from continuing its false and misleading advertising campaign promoting its “Pulsonic” line of electric shavers.
The lawsuit asks United States District Court Judge William H. Pauley to order Braun to halt its false advertisements and award damages to Philips. Among other false claims the lawsuit identifies, Philips’ Complaint focuses on Procter & Gamble’s contention that the Pulsonic uses sonic power to generate microvibrations to expose and shave more hair with every stroke. A Connecticut federal court rejected as scientifically baseless similar claims by The Gillette Company, now a division of Procter & Gamble.
The Complaint also attacks Braun’s claim that “9 out of 10” men voted Pulsonic the “best electric shaver they have ever tried” in a 2007 Men’s Health survey. The Complaint notes that the “survey,” in fact, was a scientifically uncontrolled sweepstakes in which Braun gave each participant a free Pulsonic, for which it usually charges the price of $250.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 128,100 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.