Design Elements Creating Distinctive Packaging Can Be Protected
In a win for beverage producers and their creative design teams, the Sixth Circuit ruled yesterday that the Maker’s Mark red dripping-wax seal is an extremely strong trademark that deserves protection.
The case revolved around Maker’s Mark’s suit against Casa Cuervo’s use of a red seal on the Reserva De La Familia brand tequila.
The bottles looked like this:
Maker’s Mark sued for an injunction and damages arguing that the seal on Reserva was too close to Maker’s and could confuse customers. Cuervo countersued seeking to void the trademark that Maker’s had on the red dripping wax seal. The district court found in favor of Maker’s and the Sixth Circuit affirmed that ruling yesterday. The opinion can be found here.
According to a former colleague:
“This ruling highlights that design elements can be an important (and even iconic) part of a product’s brand image and diligent companies can, through advertising and exclusivity, create protectable trade dress rights in those elements that will be protected by the Courts. Here, Maker’s Mark succeeded by recognizing the important relationship between its dripping, red wax seal and the public image of its product, and then taking all necessary steps to promote and protect that image.”
He’s entirely right. A different colored or shaped bottle, a distinctive logo, any design element that you’re using to set yourself apart is part of your property and your brand and you should treat it with the same concern that you do your beverages and your other property.
