A federal judge in Manhattan has thrown out most of Johnson & Johnson's trademark claims against the American Red Cross, which started licensing various companies to sell medical products with its famous red cross logo in 2004. J&J said that violated their longtime exclusive agreement to use the red cross in commerce.
J&J made a risky choice in pursuing this litigation at all. What could they possibly get out of it? The WSJ law blog reports that the entire Red Cross fundraising campaign in question only raised $10 million. Now J&J will get to enjoy the (predictable) result: dealing with the public relations fallout of their failed campaign to squeeze millions out of one of the world's most respected charities.
One source at a litigation support company told me privately his people wouldn't touch this case with a stick. I can see why. It would take a heck of an expert to explain to a jury how this big mean charity ripped off this poor little international conglomerate.
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