The North Face Sues The South Butt
Posted on : 07-01-2010 | By : Sarah | In : Just for Fun, Legal Stuff, Patents
Tags: lawsuit
1
A popular outdoor product company, The North Face, is suing a student-founded start-up company, The South Butt, for trademark infringement. The North Face complaint includes arguments for likelihood of confusion. In response to this argument, IP counsel for The South Butt indicated that the public knows “the difference between a face and a butt.”
The South Butt website now includes a disclaimer along the same lines:
We are not in any fashion related to nor do we want to be confused with The North Face Apparel Corp. or its products sold under “The North Face” brand. If you are unable to discern the difference between a face and a butt, we encourage you to buy North Face products.
The answer submitted by The South Butt in response to The North Face complaint is equally comedic, and worth a read. And if you feel inspired to get involved, you can participate in The South Butt Challenge App available on Facebook.
Hat tip: Patently-O (and Jake – for alerting me to this hilarious lawsuit)
Yes I think the logos have some of the same characteristics. But honestly The South Butt looks like the United States of America….. it is really a very funny parody on more than just The North Face company.
If I had ever happened to run into someone with this logo on a shirt I might have realized it was a parody on the North Face…..now I definitely will and I will now be chuckling a bit inside.