The company behind the “Little Trees” brand air fresheners says Capital One’s marketing campaign really stinks.
Car-Freshner Corp. has sued the “what’s-in-your-wallet?” company for allegedly stealing the design of its tree-shaped deodorizers to tout low-cost car loans.
The Manhattan federal court filing says Capital One created copycat “paper hangers” that look just like Car-Freshner’s evergreens and are part of a promotion that “features advertising copy that directly references fresh scents and ‘refreshing your auto loan.’ ”
Car-Freshner charges the alleged rip-off “is part of an overall scheme to free-ride on the enormous goodwill established in plaintiff’s quality products,” which “are sold in most countries throughout the world and appear frequently on television, in movies and in popular culture.”
The suit seeks a restraining order against the bank, along with unspecified damages for trademark infringement, trademark dilution and unfair competition.
Capital One didn’t return a request for comment.