A German court's criticism of a condom producer that promoted "up to 21 orgasms" on its seven-condom pack could spell the end of tongue-in-cheek ad claims.
Lead judge Johanna Brueckner-Hofmann at the Regional Court in Dusseldorf told the Berlin-based firm Einhorn on Tuesday the supposed joke claim was "deceptive" and could lead to the irresponsible multiple use of the condoms.
"That is why we banned it [in an earlier interim judgment]," Brueckner-Hofmann said.
The head of the Berlin internet startup, Philip Siefer, based the figure of 21 orgasms on both the man's and the woman's orgasms.
"Why can't a woman have two orgasms when one condom is used?" he asked.
If you add the man's orgasm, that makes three for one condom.
Brueckner-Hofmann said condoms were medical products that required "particularly strict standards" when it came to advice on their packaging.
They were intended to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, she said.
Brueckner-Hofmann referred to an interim order already issued by her court following a complaint lodged by the Berlin firm's rivals from Cologne, Fair Squared, against which the Berliners were appealing.
The lawyers for the Berlin condom producers argued that the statement was satirical and playful.
Elsewhere on the packaging there was a clear statement, in line with standard practice, that the condoms should not be reused.
