Poo-Pourri Lawsuit Stinks up Federal Court

The smell of potpourri really stinks. And now there’s a lawsuit with Poo-Pourri that’s stinking up federal court.

Scentsible LLC, the Dallas-based company that owns Poo-Pourri, is suing the makers of V.I.Poo for its marketing tactics. Once the Dallas-based toilet deodorizing line Poo-Pourri got wind of what their rival V.I.Poo was doing, it aired its grievance in court.

There’s a rotten smell floating through the corridors of a United States District Court in Texas, and it’s not the scent of dirty politicians. Pou-Pourri – a company that sells air-freshening toilet sprays – is suing a British competitor for copyright and trademark infringement.

International manufacturing goliath Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is the defendant, and it would appear that Poo-Pourri’s claims of crappy conspiracy hold some messy merit. According to Poo-Pourri, RB intentionally copied Poo-Pourri’s popular “Girls Don’t Poop” YouTube video, as well as several images from advertising materials. Based on the wording in the suit, Poo-Pourri is the leader in the market, with V.I.Poo “a distant number two.”

While RB removed their English-language video for V.I. Poo – the British company’s take on Poo-Pourri – it’s still available in other languages. There’s certainly some stinky idea-theft going on here, as the two spots are remarkably similar, even with the language barrier.

Still, it’s hard to see Poo-Pourri dropping a victory in this case’s bowl. V.I. Poo’s marketing absolutely lacks in originality, but I don’t think it crosses the line into copyright infringement – especially since V.I. Poo is not sold in America, calling into question whether U.S. laws apply to a product that isn’t available here.

No matter how the case ends up, I got to say the phrase “Pou-Pourri is suing V.I. Poo” with a straight face. That’s a win for everyone.

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Nadkins: A Refresher Towelette for Masculine Hygiene

Finally, a refresher towelette for men and their most treasured region: Nadkins.

Nadkins is a new cleansing wipe for men dubbed “Male Jewels Refresher Towelettes.” After all, a guy can’t make it through a day with sweaty balls, right?

Wet nap for the crotch

The towelettes are “100% natural, non-toxic towelette specifically formatted for a man’s most sensitive area.” But of course. What guy wants a lavender scented and toxic wet nap schmeared on his crotch? After wiping down the area, users will get a “cooling and refreshing feeling without any irritation,” according to the press release. It also removes dead skin and helps protect against added aggravation.

Hardly something new

Nadkins, which is a new brand from Manager Inc., is one of the few brands aimed at this small but growing niche. Other products released in recent years such as 2009 Fresh Balls brand liquid soap for masculine cleansing and the 2013 Depend pads aimed for light bladder leakage for men show an increasing interest in this sensitive market. Now manliness can be added to the age old proverb “cleanliness is next to godliness.”

In the past, the men’s hygiene market has been widely overlooked. Umm, let’s not discuss Woody Wipes. And I having none of Mangroomer Biz Wipes, a drugstore gem that provides “a masculine executive scent.” Then there’s Niche from Birchbox. These things can also be used on a guy’s face. If it’s safe for your penis, it’s probably great for your cheeks, I presume.

Mad dogs and Englishmen love it

If mad dogs, Englishmen and dancing whistling men love it, well you should too. Displayed proudly in a 46 second video, those sensitive areas are apparently quite thankful for the release of Nadkin’s new Male Jewels Refresher Towelettes.

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