Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet Issues Consumer Warning About Competitor's Deceptive And Unauthorized Use Of Its Name

Google ad for smartforlife.com falsely claims association with Dr. Siegal's diet

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Aug 01, 2013, 12:14 ET

MIAMI, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Licensing Corp., which operates the official Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet® website www.CookieDiet.com, today issued a warning to consumers that an advertisement currently running on Google makes unauthorized use of the DR. SIEGAL® registered trademark and falsely implies a connection with Dr. Sanford Siegal's famous weight-loss diet.

The Google ad contains the text, "Lose up to 15 lbs. with Dr. Siegal's diet" and links to SMARTFORLIFE.COM, a website that is not authorized to use Dr. Siegal's name or trademarks and does not sell any product manufactured or endorsed by Dr. Siegal.

"They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but, in this case, I am not flattered and I am not amused," said Dr. Sanford Siegal. "The fact that the advertiser behind this misleading ad has chosen to market its products by making unauthorized use of my name and falsely associating its products with the real Dr. Siegal's products speaks for itself. People want the real Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet products and this advertiser apparently knows it. We are exploring options in order to protect consumers from those who would mislead them through deceptive advertising."

Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet® is a major international weight-loss brand that has been profiled by dozens of major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Daily Mail (UK), London Times (UK), TodayTonight (Australia), Good Morning America, and Today Show.

SOURCE Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet