'Not funny!' says Jack Daniel's in lawsuit to stop imitation dog toy

Robert Besser
23 Nov 2022, 20:10 GMT+10

In court filings, Jack Daniel's claims that Bad Spaniels toy broke the law by mimicking the square shape of its whisky bottle.
The toy retails for $13 to $20 and the packaging notes in small type, stating, "This product is not affiliated with Jack Daniel Distillery."
In a case supported by other major manufacturers, such as Campbell Soup, Patagonia and Levi Strauss, the high court could decide as soon as this week whether to hear the case.

WASHINGTON D.C.: Jack Daniel's has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case against the manufacturer of the plastic Bad Spaniels toy, urging justices to take what they say is an important case for trademark law.

In a case supported by other major manufacturers, such as Campbell Soup, Patagonia and Levi Strauss, the high court could decide as soon as this week whether the justices will agree to hear the case.

In court filings, Jack Daniel's claims that Bad Spaniels toy broke the law by mimicking the square shape of its whisky bottle.

The toy retails for $13 to $20 and the packaging notes in small type, stating, "This product is not affiliated with Jack Daniel Distillery."

Lawyer for the toy maker, Arizona-based VIP Products, said Jack Daniel's cannot accept a joke. "It is ironic that America's leading distiller of whiskey both lacks a sense of humor and does not recognize when it, and everyone else, has had enough," the lawyer wrote to the court.

The toy manufacturer told the justices that Jack Daniel's has 'waged war" against the company for "having the temerity to produce a pun-filled parody" of its bottle.

In response, Jack Daniel's lead attorney, Lisa Blatt, said in her filing, "To be sure, everyone likes a good joke. But VIP's profit-motivated 'joke' confuses consumers by taking advantage of Jack Daniel's hard-earned goodwill."

Blatt noted that a lower court decision provides "near-blanket protection" to humorous trademark infringement.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Beijing Bulletin.

More Information

15 ℃

Fair in Beijing/Capital

Technology

Section

Apple's appeal on fines over App Store rejected by Dutch regulator

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands: This week, Dutch competition regulator, the ACM, rejected an appeal by Apple against fines worth €50 million. ...

Japanese startup develops robot resembling 'Mobile Suit Gundam'

TOKYO, Japan: Tokyo-based startup Tsubame Industries has developed a four-wheeled robot that resembles the "Mobile Suit Gundam" from the popular ...

Ireland sees new Intel chip plant celebrates opening

DUBLIN, Ireland: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Intel's new factory in Co Kildare will play a "strategic" role in ...

FTC takes Amazon to court for monopolizing online marketspace

SEATTLE, Washington: As part of Washington's efforts to stop Big Tech from monopolizing the most lucrative parts of the internet, ...

Musk set to expand internet services in Africa Bloomberg

Starlink will reportedly sell terminals and connectivity kits in several countries on the continentElon Musk's SpaceX will partner with e-commerce ...

Even before deepfakes, tech was a tool of abuse and control

Of the many "profound risks to society and humanity" that have tech experts worried about artificial intelligence (AI), the spread ...

Business

Section