Court Issues Preliminary Injunction In Favor Of Weight Watchers Against Curves
NEW YORK, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW), today announced that the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued a preliminary injunction which bars Curves International, Inc. ("Curves") from running its commercial, "Something New." Previously, Weight Watchers filed a lawsuit against Curves for false advertising, trademark infringement and other causes of action, principally claiming that Curves used the Weight Watchers trademarks to garner consumer attention and divert those consumers to purchase Curves' services as part of a "bait and switch" advertising tactic.
"We are extremely pleased that our concerns have been validated," said David Kirchhoff, Weight Watchers President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we are disappointed that Curves chose to promote its offerings and garner consumer attention by deceptively using the strength and goodwill of the Weight Watchers brand in this advertising campaign, the Court's issuance of the preliminary injunction prohibiting Curves from being able to continue this misleading advertising practice speaks for itself."
About Weight Watchers International, Inc.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. is the world's leading provider of weight management services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations. Weight Watchers holds almost 50,000 meetings each week where members receive group support and learn about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical activity. WeightWatchers.com provides innovative, subscription weight management products over the Internet and is the leading Internet-based weight management provider in the world. In addition, Weight Watchers offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss and weight control.
This news release and any attachments include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including, in particular, earnings guidance and any statements about the Company's plans, strategies and prospects. The Company generally uses the words "may," "will," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "intend" and similar expressions in this news release and any attachments to identify forward-looking statements. The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things: competition from other weight management industry participants or the development of more effective or more favorably perceived weight management methods; the Company's ability to continue to develop innovative new services and products and enhance its existing services and products, or the failure of its services and products to continue to appeal to the market; the effectiveness of the Company's marketing and advertising programs; the impact on the Weight Watchers brand of actions taken by the Company's franchisees and licensees; risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's international operations, including economic, political and social risks and foreign currency risks; the Company's ability to successfully make acquisitions or enter into joint ventures, including its ability to successfully integrate, operate or realize the projected benefits of such businesses; uncertainties related to a downturn in general economic conditions or consumer confidence; the seasonal nature of the Company's business; the impact of events that discourage people from gathering with others; the Company's ability to enforce its intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally, as well as the impact of its involvement in any claims related to intellectual property rights; uncertainties regarding the satisfactory operation of the Company's information technology or systems; risks associated with unauthorized penetration of the Company's information security; the impact of disputes with the Company's franchise operators; the impact of existing and future laws and regulations; the impact of the Company's debt service obligations and restrictive debt covenants; the possibility that the interests of the Company's majority owner will conflict with the other holders of the Company's common stock; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should understand that many important factors, including those discussed herein, could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or suggested in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Readers are advised to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which are available from the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov, at various SEC reference facilities in the United States and via the Company's website at www.weightwatchersinternational.com) .
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Weight Watchers International, Inc. |
Powell Tate |
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Donna Fontana |
Hallie Bozzi |
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Public Relations |
(212) 445-8276 |
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(212) 589-2739 |
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SOURCE Weight Watchers International, Inc.
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