Reuters Legal Quotes Anne Glazer on Hershey Lawsuits Over Copycat Pot-Filled Candy Names

Stoel Rives attorney Anne Glazer was quoted in Reuters Legal in an article titled “Hershey takes on pot companies over copycat candy names.” The article discusses two lawsuits Hershey filed recently against entities in Washington and Colorado it accuses of using the names and designs of its chocolate bars to sell marijuana-filled candy. The pot vendors have mimicked such well-known Hershey brand names as Reese’s and Almond Joy with Reefers Peanut Butter Cups and Ganja Joy.

While Hershey has vigorously protected its iconic trademarks, Glazer said the problem of copycat naming of pot-laced food items is likely to become a bigger issue for food companies as more states liberalize marijuana use.

She said that some defendants may use parody as a defense, for which there is precedence in trademark disputes, while warning that courts may be less likely to accept that defense if the business is morally questionable. “Parody will be an interesting question,” she said.

Read “Hershey takes on pot companies over copycat candy names,” published June 6, 2014 by Reuters Legal. (Subscription required.)