Loading...
×

En el 2018 McCormick, la empresa matriz detrás del condimento Old Bay, presentaba una demanda contra la compañía de especias orgánicas Primal Palate por infracción de marca registrada.

Es que Primal Palate había lanzado al mercado un condimento llamado New Bae, el cual según McCormick buscaba capitalizarse de la creación de una asociación ilícita con Old Bay y, como consecuencia, dañar su reputación.

En la demanda, la compañía exigía que todas las ganancias de las ventas de New Bae se pagaran a McCormick y que se destruyeran todos los productos, mercancías o registros que llevaran ese nombre.

Si embargo, antes de que las partes aparecieran en la corte, un juez federal de los Estados Unidos desestimó la demanda después de que se le informara al tribunal que se llegó a un acuerdo de forma privada entre las partes.

De momento, ninguna de las partes comentó sobre la resolución, pero previo a la noticia Primal Palate había declarado en Instagram que pensaba pelear la demanda y que su mezcla era “un guiño a Old Bay, ya que siempre nos esforzamos por ofrecer opciones orgánicas y saludables para nuestro público, y proporcionar una transparencia total con los ingredientes.

“No vemos ningún mérito en sus afirmaciones, ya que creemos que está lejos de confundir a los clientes, y nuestras mezclas también son muy diferentes. De hecho, la forma en que lo nombramos tenía la intención de diferenciarlo, sin mencionar que ni siquiera sabemos cuáles son los ingredientes en Old Bay.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

This week marks one year since McCormick filed a lawsuit against us for our New Bae Seasoning. We have spent a year defending our position and will continue that fight for as long as necessary. Here is a brief update on the lawsuit. McCormick & Company has voluntarily dismissed one of its trademark allegations against Primal Palate. Specifically, McCormick had alleged that its “Old Bay” trademark was famous, and that Primal Palate was essentially riding on the Old Bay “coattails” by using “New Bae.” McCormick hired a survey expert who reported that only 29.2 percent of people surveyed nationally recognized “Old Bay” as the name of a spice or seasoning. McCormick decided to voluntarily dismiss its fame-based claim against Primal Palate. McCormick’s remaining claims allege that seasoning consumers will likely be confused between “Old Bay” and “New Bae,” a claim that Primal Palate strongly rejects. Primal Palate is confident in its position and looks forward to airing its position in the trial, which is scheduled for March 2020. Discovery: The discovery phase has closed. McCormick’s lawyers requested, and we provided, an enormous number of documents concerning the development, sales, and marketing of New Bae Seasoning. As is our style, we have been as transparent as possible in providing as much information as we reasonably can to their numerous requests. Depositions: McCormick took depositions of me, Hayley, and our business partner, Tony. Going through the deposition was quite stressful and we were very concerned about McCormick’s lawyer’s treatment of Hayley as she was seven months pregnant when they pressed us to take her deposition. We are pleased to report their attorney was better behaved than in earlier depositions and although the situation was stressful by nature, she was respectful of Hayley and her pregnancy. Trial: We are scheduled for trial in late March 2020. We feel confident in our position. Although this is not something we would have wished, we are prepared to see it through to the end. We LOVE you guys, thank you for all your support! #saveNewBae

A post shared by Primal Palate (@primalpalate) on

Las opiniones expresadas en Brands+ Intelectual Property News son de exclusiva responsabilidad de sus autores y pueden no coincidir con las del medio.

Sofia Vanoli

Editora