Trademark Protection: Parody With A Bite.

Posted By Cliff Tuttle | September 18, 2014

No. 1,101

Image: Corporate Counsel Daily Update

If you were a member of top management at Subway, would you set loose the legal beagles on the perpetrators of this one?  Or would you have a hearty laugh and tell the board that the Subway brand is getting a lot of free publicity?

There’s not much doubt that this T shirt design was intended to satirize the Subway logo exactly.  But does it cause confusion, like some faux brand labels?  Or does it make us a little more aware of Subway, so that when we next see a Subway sign it will catch our attention and even make us smile?

Maybe top management thinks that the comparison with zombie food will turn stomachs.  I don’t.  Actually, come to thing of it, I haven’t had a good sub in a while.

CLT

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CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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