MonaVie seems to spend a lot of time either suing or being sued.
Back in August, 2009, they crossed paths with Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz:
http://www.oprah.com/health/The-Trut...-Colon-CleanseOn August 19, 2009, Harpo, Inc., producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Dr. Oz Show, along with Dr. Mehmet Oz, filed a trademark infringement complaint against 40 Internet marketers of dietary supplements, including acai berry products among others. Neither Ms. Winfrey nor Dr. Oz has ever sponsored or endorsed any acai berry, resveratrol, colon cleanse or dietary supplement product.
Harpo, Inc. has filed this lawsuit to let consumers know that these internet marketers are willfully using the names of well-known figures to deceive the public. Neither Ms. Winfrey nor Dr. Oz has ever sponsored or endorsed any acai, resveratrol or dietary supplement product and cannot vouch for their safety or effectiveness. It is our intention to put an end to these companies’ false claims and increasingly deceptive practices.
"The companies that are using my name to hawk these products are duping the public. I do not endorse any of these products. By falsely presenting products as ‘scientifically proven’ and endorsed by well-known figures, these companies do a gross disservice to the public health and could even pose a danger to those who believe their false and unproven claims. I am taking this step in the interest of public safety. I feel compelled to stand up against these companies and their deceitful practices." -Dr. Mehmet Oz
Fortunately for MonaVie, an “amicable” settlement was reached:
http://www.mlm-thewholetruth.com/net...-oprah-and-oz/MonaVie … maker of premier acai-based nutritional and energy drink products, today announces that the lawsuit brought against it and other defendants by Harpo Inc., owner of the Oprah Winfrey family of trademarks, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, a doctor who regularly appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and now host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” for the unauthorized use of their names and images, has been amicably resolved.
In an agreement among the companies, MonaVie will take every reasonable action to prevent independent distributors from using the names, images or trademarks of Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz without permission to advertise their businesses. Any distributor who is found in violation of this agreement will be subject to steep penalties including, but not limited to, the withholding of commissions. In connection with the resolution of the lawsuit, MonaVie has agreed to enter into a stipulated court approved injunction to be filed in the case which addresses the claims made in the lawsuit. Under the injunction, MonaVie is agreeing not to use without permission Oprah Winfrey’s or Dr. Oz’s names, images, or trademarks in any future advertising.
I guess that all depends on how one defines “amicable”. Oprah doesn’t need the money—they acquiesced to her demands, and an injunction is in place.
MonaVie can spin it any way they want to. My interpretation: she won, they lost.
Don’t mess with Oprah.
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