What We’re Talking About
Trader Joe’s Woes: Grocer Wages War on its Workers' Union
Trader Joe's, a renowned grocery store chain, has recently threatened legal action against its workers' newly formed union, Trader Joe's United. The company alleges trademark infringement tied to merchandise being sold through the union's online store. Hailing from California, the supermarket giant delivered a letter to the union president and store worker, Jamie Edwards. Dated June 27, this correspondence targeted the sale of merchandise. The company asserts that the union's merchandise infringes upon its trademarks, design, and 'trade dress'— a legal term denoting a product's overall aesthetic. The threat of an injunction and monetary damages, including any profits from the sale of said items, looms over the union if it continues to sell the merchandise.
Supreme Court Drops Bombshell Opinion in Jack Daniel’s Dispute
In a shocking twist on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Jack Daniel’s, vacating the Ninth Circuit’s holding that a squeaky dog toy resembling the iconic whiskey bottle is an expressive work protected by the First Amendment.