Maker of "Viagra" perfume laughs off Pfizer suit
NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The maker of an imitation fragrance named ''Viagra'' on Tuesday laughed off a lawsuit filed against him in Manhattan Federal Court by Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE - news) that charges his company with trademark dilution.
''I did it all as a gag,'' said Herbert Harris, who co-manages Park Plaza Fragrances Inc, a store in Manhattan that sells knock-offs of brand name perfumes and cosmetics. ''It cost more for the paper for that lawsuit than I'll ever make on the perfume.''
Harris said he made 600 to 1,000 units of ''Viagra'' to sell in his store at $1.50 a bottle. The idea came to him when he said he ''failed'' a trial of the impotency drug before it came to market. ''I thought if I can't have Viagra one way I'll get it another way,'' he said. Viagra has since made Pfizer one of the hottest pharmaceutical stocks on Wall Street.
Harris said an amused customer bought 24 bottles and advertised them for sale in the world's biggest gossip den, the Internet, bringing Pfizer's attention to his gag product.
Once Pfizer learned of the knock-off it was not amused, charging in its lawsuit, ''Defendant's selection of the name 'VIAGRA' for its new fragrances reeks of an attempt to exploit, for its own benefit, the tremendous good will symbolized by plaintiff's famous trademark.''
Pfizer asked the court to forbid Park Place from using the Viagra name and award trebled damages.
Harris was unperturbed. ''I'm a copier. I've been sued by the best -- Estee Lauder, Lauren, Polo. If I can continue to make it, I'll make it,'' he said.
Asked what ''Viagra'' smells like, Harris answered, ''Who the hell knows what it smells like? I just put in whatever's laying there.''
A spokesman for Pfizer said the company has filed numerous suits to stop use of the Viagra name by radio stations, herbal supplement manufacturers, web sites and a motorcycle company.
''In most cases the intention is not malicious,'' he said, ''but the fact is it is trademarked and it is a medical prescription product. Our message is: We will protect it legally.'' |
