WEST YORKSHIRE: A bitter battle has erupted over Johnstone’s Paints’ ‘Best by Test’ advertising campaign as PPG Architectural Coatings UK today filed its defence for the court action brought against it by ICI.

PPG stands behind the claims made in its ‘Best by Test’ campaign, which it said were based on independent testing of Johnstone's trade paints against the equivalent Dulux Trade paints.

PPG has also launched a counter-claim against ICI challenging that company’s claims about the spread rates of Dulux Trade paints. PPG believes that the specified spread rates of certain Dulux Trade paints has consistently been overstated on its tins and believes it is in the interests of its customers, employees and shareholders to prove this in the courts.

Greg Molyneux, managing director of PPG, said: "We are committed to fair and open competition and we believe that our customers are entitled to know the facts about the paints they buy. This is why we have chosen to fight the court action brought by ICI."

Back in March, ICI Paints AkzoNobel launched legal proceedings against PPG following Johnstone's Paints ongoing 'No. 1' advertising campaign.

The campaign draws direct comparisons between the Dulux Trade portfolio and PPG's Johnstone's Trade range.

Dr Steve Snaith, trade marketing director at Dulux Trade, confirmed at the time that : "ICI Paints AkzoNobel is instigating legal proceedings in the High Court against PPG in relation to claims made in its current advertising campaign.

“We feel that we can no longer ignore this activity, as it is in danger of causing confusion in the market place and damaging our brand, in which we have tirelessly invested. We therefore feel it is right to take a stand against what we believe to be unlawful claims.”