Miracle-Gro suing eco-friendly TerraCycle

[ellenr]

Friday, March 30, 2007
TerraCycle sued by Scotts Miracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a $2.2 billion assets giant which has at least a 59% share of the relevant market, has sued tiny TerraCycle, Inc., an inner-city company founded by college students to create an eco-friendly business. TerraCycle manufactures all-natural garden products by feeding organic waste to worms and bottling the resulting worm poop compost tea as ready-to use plant food in soda bottles collected by schools and other charities across North America. TerraCycle is located in the Urban Enterprise Zone of Trenton, New Jersey.
http://www.terracycle.net/index.htm

[Lavandula Girl]

If you read Scott's complaint, they're basically saying that home growers are too retarded to recognize that the Worm Poop isn't Miracle Gro, so sales may be impacted. Too funny. I hope they lose, but in the corporate culture of the US, they probably won't. And even if they do lose, think of the pressure they can bring to bear on the big stores - Walmart, HD, Lowe's, Ace, etc - none of these will ever carry the little guy's stuff.

[uprooted_kentuckian]

The suit has a couple of primary components. First, trademark infringement by Terracycle for having labeling that looks too similar to Miracle-Gro. Second, making statements of fact about product superiority without support. I have to side with Terracycle on this one. The real goal of Miracle-Gro is to bankrupt a potential competitor, as they have done before. I'll make sure I let Scotts know my feelings on it and no more Scotts products for me.

[LaRae]

I always try to buy the most environmentally friendly products if I have a choice. I think most all garden products that are 'organic' sell very well at the stores around here.


LaRae

[LoreD]

I just bought a bottle of Terracycle tomato food in support.

LoreD

[ellenr]

"I just bought a bottle of Terracycle tomato food in support."

Good deal.
I'm going to buy something too, whether I need it or not.


er

[redbrick]

Aw, nuts! How can I jump on the bandwagon, when I've already boycotted Scott's for being a subsidiary of Monsanto? Guess I'll have to grab a bottle of terracycle, too, assuming I can find some (Might mistake it for Miracle Gro if I'm not careful. And stricken blind, LOL!).

[LoreD]

I just got mine at Home Depot.

LoreD

[winter_unfazed]

Scott's and Miracle-Gro are owned by Monsanto. Y'all knew that, right?

[Ohiorganic]

I have long boycotted Scott's/M-G/Monsatan products.

Amazing they are so threatened by a small company that they will spend beau coup bucks to try and put them under.

[gridgardener]

the case has nothing to do with size of the companies. The case is matter of to matter copyright,trademark and product results.

[Eric]

But only a large company trying to force out a smaller one would bring such a lame suit. The mechanics of this are that big company can afford the legal costs with ease while the little guy takes a big hit which would be offset at the end if they win out, but many companys are bankrupt long before the end is in sight.

This is why the little guy wants to publicize the issue to garner support which they will definately need.

I'm sure Scott would love to own the use of green of nature and yellow of the sun in all garden products but if reason prevails they won't.

[Lavandula Girl]

Do you think the Packers pay Scotts to leave them alone, or does Miracle Gro do the half time show? It seems to me they'd want to sue Green Bay every time they lose, for making Scotts products look weak. I wonder if Monsanto only allows Green Bay to draft genetically modified college prospects... :D

[Jennie_in_Iowa]

Oh wow, their labels look nothing alike! I make my own otherwise I would buy some from them just to help fight M-G.