Supreme Court to Decide if Jack Daniel’s Can Protect its Iconic Whiskey Bottle from Parody Dog Toy

The Supreme Court is set to hear a case on Wednesday that will decide whether Jack Daniel’s has the right to protect its iconic whiskey bottle from being parodied by a dog toy company. The company, VIP Products LLC, is selling a “Bad Spaniels Silly Squeaker” toy that is shaped like a whiskey bottle and features poop-themed jokes.

The toy has a label on its neck saying “Old No. 2” in reference to the “Old No. 7” label on Jack Daniel’s bottles. The bottle also has a similar font style and uses a black label. Lawyers for Jack Daniel’s will argue that the toy violates federal trademark law and should not be protected as free speech under the First Amendment.

VIP Products LLC, however, argues that the toy is an obvious parody and should be protected as free speech. The Supreme Court will have to decide whether the toy is a parody or a trademark infringement. The case has the potential to set a precedent for how trademark holders can protect their products from being parodied.

The Supreme Court justices will have to weigh the rights of a famous trademark holder against the First Amendment rights of a company that wants to use those marks to sell a humorous product. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the rights of trademark holders and the ability of companies to parody products.