- RealSelf.com Denies Lifestyle Lift's Trademark Claims and Files Countersuit
Press Releases
RealSelf.com Denies Lifestyle Lift's Trademark Claims and Files Countersuit
RealSelf.com calls suit misuse of trademark protection law, pledges to
fight for consumers' rights to access real experiences of others with
plastic surgery and cosmetic treatments
SEATTLE, March 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- RealSelf.com today filed an answer to
Michigan-based Lifestyle Lift Holding, Inc.'s Jan. 7, 2008 Trademark
Infringement Complaint, denying Lifestyle Lift's claims and also responding
with its own counter-complaint. The counter-complaint filed by
Seattle-based RealSelf.com, a health and beauty community, alleges that
Lifestyle Lift has breached the terms of use for RealSelf.com. The
counter-complaint (http://www.realself.com/blog/community-rights) also
alleges that Lifestyle Lift's actions on RealSelf.com are in violation of
federal and state truth in advertising laws and the Computer Fraud and
Abuse Act.
"Lifestyle Lift's complaint is without merit. None of their allegations
are true," said RealSelf.com President and Founder Thomas Seery. "We think
what they're trying to do is silence their critics within our community,
and they don't have that right. They've also breached our usage terms and
posed as patients posting on our site, which is completely misleading to
our community. That threatens our community's trust in us. We can't stand
for that. We have no choice but to fight this."
RealSelf.com (http://www.realself.com) is an online resource that makes
it easy to discover which anti-aging products and treatments are worth it
and which are not. Lifestyle Lift's complaint claimed that RealSelf.com
infringes Lifestyle Lift's trademarks by using the words "lifestyle lift"
to identify online reviews of its cosmetic surgery procedure. Patients of
the Lifestyle Lift facial cosmetic surgery procedure have shared their
experiences, both positive and negative, on RealSelf.com
(http://www.realself.com/plastic_surgery/face-lift/lifestyle_lift.html).
"Lifestyle Lift has established a pattern of using the courts to
silence critics," said J. Michael Huget, shareholder with the Michigan law
firm of Butzel Long and RealSelf.com's counsel.
About RealSelf
RealSelf.com (http://www.realself.com) is a health and beauty community
that makes it easy to discover which anti-aging products, treatments and
procedures are worth it and which are not. RealSelf.com is the first
website where consumers can post reviews of their personal experiences,
opinions and outcomes with everything from an anti-wrinkle lotion to the
latest laser treatment. In addition to offering consumers one convenient
place to find reviews, beauty tips and opinions, RealSelf.com provides
medical and beauty experts with a free online profile and a simple way to
share insights in their own voice. For more information, visit
http://www.realself.com.
SOURCE Realself.com