Gillette vs. Schick - Why Must They Fight?

A while back we reported on the lawsuit between Gillette and Schick over the number of blades in a razor. Seems Gillette filed a patent for a ''progressive blade geometry" razor system which they claim covers three or more blades, so that when Schick came out with the four-bladed Quattro, Gillette sued them for patent infringement. Hmm.... Then Schick countersued Gillette on false advertising claims based on Gillette's ads, which say that the shave from a Gillette razor is, questionably, "'The Best a Man Can Get." Oh please...

Well, a couple weeks ago the companies quietly decided to forgo a lengthy trial before the case went to a jury.

''Both companies have resolved the vast majority of litigation between them," said Eric Kraus, a Gillette spokesman. ''While Gillette and Schick will remain competitors, we'll compete in the marketplace, not in the courtroom."

It's kind of like that time when Hulk Hogan and the Iron Sheik decided to stop their verbal sparring and step into the ring. (I think I might be dating myself here.) The upshot is that both companies are placing their bets on the fairness of the pure capitalist marketplace. Letting a jury of your piers decide whether three or four or now even five blades is the right number of blades is ridiculous. Especially because some of the jurists probably had beards and don't shave much. Or some of the jurists are women and don't shave their face with a Quattro. Let's let America decide who has the better razor. Game on!

Read more in this Boston Globe article or this one from Reuters

Read More in: Brands | General News | Gillette | Schick

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