Last month Heinz, a brand “synonymous with ketchup throughout the world,” and a seller of “650 million bottles of Heinz ketchup each year,” brought a federal trademark infringement and dilution lawsuit in Texas to enforce exclusive rights in the “famous” Heinz bottle design against Melinda’s Habanero Ketchup brand. Here is the Complaint and Exhibits
Contour Bottle Design
Harley-Davidson Logo Rides Without Words
The well-known, if not famous, Harley-Davidson logo is on the left below, but what is on the right?
Might Harley-Davidson also be in the business of renting storage garage units for motorcycles among other outdoor toys? I doubt it.
It looks like Harley-Davidson is involved in the rental of motorcycles, but that’s all…
When Less is More: Bits and Pieces of Brands
There is no point to spending money on advertising if those experiencing it don’t understand who’s communicating about what brand, right?
So, as drivers quickly pass by this attractive roadside billboard sign, how do they know who put out the ad? There must be a brand signature, right?
Certainly there can be no signature or…
The Most Famous Bottle Design, Forever?
Coca-Cola settled on its famous contour bottle design almost 100 years ago, in 1916, after several years of trials with other far less distinctive shapes (at least under today’s standards):
Federal trademark registration data confirms the first use date to be July 8, 1916. The description of the contour bottle design mark in 1960 was:…