SC Johnson issues trademark warning over web offer

Racine, Wis. - SC Johnson has issued a cease-and-desist letter for the website FreeShowerCleaner.com, a site that allegedly uses imagery of SC Johnson products for spam purposes.

FreeShowerCleaner.com, which lists a postal address in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, offers a free Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower cleaner in exchange for a user's e-mail address. According to SC Johnson, a global provider of household cleaning and storage products, users are then subjected to pages of advertisements that ask permission to contact them.

SC Johnson has said the site is not affiliated with them in any way, and does not have permission to use the brand name or image of Scrubbing Bubbles, an SC Johnson brand.

Kelly Semrau, vice president of global public affairs and communication for SC Johnson, said the company takes seriously its obligation to protect consumers from fraudulent marketing, especially when it inappropriately leverages SC Johnson products.

A cease-and-desist letter, if not adequately responded to, can be a prelude to legal action. Consumers who believe they have received fraudulent e-mails, spam, or other consumer scams designed to harvest their personal information can get some tips on protecting themselves at http://onguardonline.gov/index.html. The site, developed by the federal government and the technology industry, offers practical tips to help consumers guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information.

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