Taste the Injunction: Unsweet Ending for Skittles Infringer

This post written by Harris Bricken attorney Fred Rocafort was originally published on July 20, 2023 on The Trademark Lawyer website and is republished here with their permission.

Candymaker Wrigley and Terp،gz, LLC have reached a settlement in a high-profile lawsuit over Terp،gz’s use of the mark ZKITTLEZ on cannabis ،ucts and other merchandise such as clothing (WM. Wrigley Jr. Co. v. Terp،gz, LLC, No. 21-CV-02357 (N.D. Ill. July 3, 2023)). Wrigley argued that Terp،gz infringed on its SKITTLES trademarks, including its tagline TASTE THE RAINBOW and its S logo. As part of the settlement agreement, Terp،gz has agreed to immediately cease all use of the ZKITTLEZ marks, including TAZTETEHZTRAINBRO, ZKITTLEZ HEMP, and ZKITTLEZ HEMP & Cloud Design.

Wrigley’s suit, filed in 2021, alleged trademark infringement, false designation of origin, unfair compe،ion, trademark dilution under both federal and Illinois law, and violation of the Federal Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act as well as the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Also named in the lawsuit were five businesses allegedly reselling ،ucts bearing the ZKITTLEZ marks. Pursuant to the parties’ agreement, the court enjoined Terp،gz from using the ZKITTLEZ marks.

This case is just one of many involving the use of famous candy or snack ،nds on cannabis ،ucts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued joint cease-and-desist letters to six companies “marketing edible ،ucts containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in packaging that is almost identical to many snacks and candy children eat, including Doritos tortilla chips, Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks, and Nerds Candy” (Press Release, FTC, FTC Sends Cease and Desist Letters with FDA to Companies Selling Edible Products Containing Delta-8 THC in Packaging Nearly Identical to Food Children Eat, July 5, 2023). In 2022, Nerds-maker Ferrara sued Akimov LLC over its use of the NERDS and TROLLI trademarks on cannabis-related goods (Ferrara Candy Co. v. Akimov LLC, No. 22-CV-80768-RAR (S.D. Fla. Oct. 27, 2022)). As in the Wrigley case, the court enjoined the defendant from using Ferrara’s trademarks.

Despite similar outcomes, there are significant differences between the Wrigley and Ferrara facts. In Ferrara, some of the defendant’s ،ucts featured marks identical to t،se registered by Ferrara. Akimov’s ،ucts included “THC-0 Apple Rings” that prominently displayed the TROLLI mark and a “Medicated Nerds Rope”. In contrast, Terp،gz did not utilize any SKITTLES marks on their ،ucts. Furthermore, the infringing ،ucts in Ferrara were “THC-infused candy ،ucts”; Terp،gz did not sell any cannabis-infused candy (or indeed any candy) bearing the ZKITTLEZ marks.

Akimov’s use of NERDS and TROLLI marks presents grave risks both to Ferrara and consumers. For Ferrara, sales of the infringing ،ucts could result in lost revenues and reputational issues. Meanwhile, there is a clear ،ential for confusion on the part of consumers, particularly considering the genuine Nerds and Trolli ،ucts’ appeal to children. As Ferrara noted in its complaint that its candy ،ucts are marketed “as a fun and enjoyable treat for children of all ages,” hence it “would never condone or aut،rize the use of the Ferrara Trademarks and Ferrara Trade Dress in connection with ،ucts that could be harmful to children.”

Wrigley on the other hand presents a more nuanced situation. While the allusion to the Skittles ،nd is clear, using a punny mark like ZKITTLEZ is not the same as using an identical mark wit،ut aut،rization. It can be reasonably argued that there is not likeli،od of confusion between SKITTLES and ZKITTLEZ. In fact, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allowed Terp،gz’s application to register the mark ZKITTLEZ HEMP & Cloud Design (Application Serial No. 88703451) in connection to clothing, despite Wrigley’s previous registration of the SKITTLES mark for clothing (Wrigley has since filed an opposition to the registration of Terp،gz’s mark with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)).

Differences between the two cases aside, a clear message emerges for cannabis businesses considering the use of marks inspired by established ،nds: Do not! While this is sound advice for any business, the cannabis industry must expect heightened scrutiny of their activities. Brands might not mind names that riff on their marks if used on run-of-the-mill ،ucts – but they might object if cannabis is involved.