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Inter Parfums, Inc. announced that its 72% owned subsidiary, Inter Parfums SA, acquired the worldwide rights to the Lanvin brand names and international trademarks listed under Class 3 from Jeanne Lanvin, S.A. The purchase price, 22 million Euro (approximately U.S. $29.7 million) was paid in cash at closing and as a result, Inter Parfums and Lanvin have terminated their existing licensing contract signed in June 2004.

Under the terms of the agreement, Inter Parfums will also pay to Lanvin a sales-based fee for technical and creative assistance in new product development to be rendered by Lanvin in connection with the use of the Lanvin trademark through June 30, 2019. Additionally, Lanvin has the right to repurchase the brands and trademarks in 2025.

Class 3 of the international classification of trademarks goods and services include: soaps, perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics and hair lotions.

The company expects significant worldwide Advertising and marketing campaigns to accompany the launch.

In one of the company’s widest opportunities for product distribution, the True Religion brand fragrances for women and men will launch worldwide in fall 2008 in True Religion branded stores, national department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Barneys New York, and more than 1,000 specialty stores, including Sephora and Ulta. Additionally, the company is planning an international roll-out to Europe, Japan, Korea, Canada, Mexico, Australia and South America, as well as duty-free stores in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Columbia Sportswear Company today announced a licensing agreement to design, manufacture and market a new line of Columbia Sportswear-branded sports optics products aimed at avid outdoor consumers.

The new product line is a first for Columbia Sportswear and will expand its collection of industry-leading outdoor gear. The collection features premium binoculars and spotting scopes for hikers, bird watchers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts, as well as U.S.-engineered high-performance rifle scopes.

The agreement provides the licensee with access to a larger potential customer base, and continues Columbia Sportswear’s expansion into quality licensed products including sunglasses, wristwatches and bicycles that complement an active, recreational lifestyle.

All Columbia Sportswear sports optics products are waterproof, fog proof, accurate, durable and designed for excellent light transmission. The new products will be available first quarter 2008 and will debut with suggested retail prices ranging from US$ 159.95 to 324.95, providing several performance and value options for consumers.

Carefair reports here, that P&G will create fragrances for Replay.

P&G’s Heike Hindenlang states that the deal will allow P&G to “…create a distinctive fragrance line which will capture the spirit of today’s young consumers by combining Replay’s innovative strength with our expertise in the fragrance market.”

Johnson & Johnson is suing the American Red Cross for using – of all things, the red-cross logo.

J&J has used the red-cross symbol since 1887, before the Red Cross was chartered. So they are right.

Though the relief organization denies it refused to negotiate with J&J because it held the communications high ground, it certainly played its hand effectively, raising the question of whether J&J should have just let the matter slide.

Why did J&J go after the Red Cross?
The company had to enforce its trademark or lose it forever.
Trademark infringement left unchallenged, even when a humanitarian organization is involved, can mean losing the trademark.

After months of talks with the Red Cross went nowhere, J&J not only offered mediation, but also said it would use a mediator recommended by the group. A Red Cross spokeswoman said she didn’t know why the group declined that offer.

The Red Cross began licensing the cross in 2004 to other manufacturers who also put it on first-aid kits, including a Target private-label version, and on such things as cool-mist humidifiers of seemingly little value in a disaster.

J&J has used the symbol since 1887, before the Red Cross was chartered. Clara Barton signed an 1895 agreement recognizing J&J’s exclusive rights to it for “chemical, surgical and pharmaceutical goods of every description.”

A 1905 law prohibits anyone other than the American Red Cross from using the symbol, exempting J&J, which already used it.