And finally… gone to the dogs
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A trademark dispute between Jack Daniel’s and a dog toy branded “Bad Spaniels” has gone to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The whiskey distillery claims that its brand is being harmed by the plastic chew toy, which is shaped like one of its distinctive whiskey bottles.
But where a Jack Daniel’s bottle reads “Old No. 7 Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey”, the toy reads “Old No. 2 on your Tennessee Carpet” — and instead of “40% alcohol per volume”, the dog toy reads “43% poo by volume” and “100% smelly”.
Lawyers for Jack Daniel’s told the Supreme Court: “Jack Daniel’s loves dogs and appreciates a good joke as much as anyone, but Jack Daniel’s likes its customers even more, and doesn’t want them confused or associating its fine whiskey with dog poop.”
The legal battle centres on the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free expression, as weighed against trademark law.
The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in the summer, CBS News reports.
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