On Dec. 31, computer cataloger TigerDirect, a subsidiary of $1.55 billion manufacturer/marketer Systemax, has sued online advertising company WhenU.com for trademark infringement, dilution, and unfair competition. TigerDirect filed the suit in federal court in the Southern District of Florida.
According to TigerDirect, WhenU.com has created software that, when downloaded by consumers who subsequently visit TigerDirect’s Website, causes pop-up screens for TigerDirect competitors to appear over the TigerDirect home page.
In a statement, TigerDirect director of commerce Lonny Paul said, “We’ve received dozens of phone calls from confused consumers who, after making a decision to purchase computer products from TigerDirect’s Website, were improperly diverted at the check-out screen to the Web page of WhenU under the guise of additional savings, which savings the consumer believes is with TigerDirect.”