Tag: trademark

  • Battle for Stoli Trademark Can Continue

    A New York federal court has allowed Lanham Act claims for the Stolichnaya trademark to proceed in a long-running case between a Russian state-chartered company and several international beverage companies. Fed. Treasury Enter. Sojuzplodoimport v. SPI Spirits Ltd., No. 14-712 (U.S. Dist. Ct., S.D.N.Y., order entered August 25, 2014). Federal Treasury Enterprise Sojuzplodoimport (FTE), owned…

  • Sazerac Sued for “Double Barreled” Trademark Infringement

    Prichard’s Distillery Inc., maker of Benjamin Prichard’s Double Barreled Bourbon, has filed a lawsuit against Sazerac Co. alleging that the liquor manufacturer has violated its trademark in “double barreled” by selling A. Smith Bowman Limited Edition Double Barrel Bourbon Whiskey and Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Double Barreled, a bourbon. Prichard’s Distillery Inc. v. Sazerac Co., No.…

  • Estate of John Wayne Files Lawsuit Against Duke University Over “Duke” Trademark

    John Wayne Enterprises (JWE) has filed a complaint in California federal court seeking declaratory judgments determining that its usage of the “Duke” trademark is not likely to cause confusion with the trademarks owned by Duke University, which has challenged several JWE trademark applications over the last decade. John Wayne Enterprises, LLC v. Duke Univ., No.…

  • Is “Just” a Valid Trademark?

    The Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. has filed a complaint against an organic baby-food maker seeking a declaration that Beech-Nut has not infringed any of Plum PBC’s trademarks and that the trademarks Plum has asserted to the word “JUST” and certain phrases are invalid. Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. v. Plum PBC, No. 14-0791 (N.D.N.Y., filed June 30, 2014). According…

  • Mister Softee Files Motion for Injunction Against Master Softee

    Ice cream truck franchiser Mister Softee Inc. has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement and violation of a non-compete covenant against former franchisee Dimitrios Tsirkos, who converted his 16 Mister Softee trucks to Master Softee trucks and began selling his own ice cream out of them at the…

  • Texas Intervenes in Breweries’ Alamo Trademark Dispute

    Texas has filed a motion to intervene in Alamo Beer Co. LLC’s trademark infringement suit against Old 300 Brewing LLC, asserting that the state has the rights to the “Alamo” mark. Alamo Beer Co. LLC v. Old 300 Brewing LLC, No. 14-285 (W.D. Tex., motion filed April 28, 2014). Filed in March 2014, Alamo Beer’s…

  • UC Davis Seeks Dismissal of California Strawberry Commission’s Breach of Contract Suit

    The University of California Davis, has reportedly filed a motion in California state court to dismiss the breach of contract suit that the California Strawberry Commission filed in October after it learned that the university may stop breeding and selling strawberry germplasm to farmers. UC Davis has developed and sold its strawberry germplasm at low…

  • Court Imposes Spoliation Sanctions in Wine Infringement Dispute

    A federal court in California has granted a motion for sanctions filed by Jackson Family Wines, which brought an infringement action against Diageo North America; an adverse inference instruction will be given to the jury during trial, and the plaintiff will be able to recover the costs of its efforts to secure a Diageo marketing…