London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

Jack Daniel's and dog toy company go head to head in US Supreme Court

Jack Daniel's and dog toy company go head to head in US Supreme Court

The dog toy resembling a JD bottle had the court's justices chuckling as they explored how much protection should be given to those that rip off trademarks they do not own.

A dispute between Jack Daniel's and the makers of a squeaking dog toy that mimics the whiskey's signature bottle with a toilet-themed pun has gone to the US Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, the court discussed whether the toy firm breached Jack Daniel's trademarks.

The poop-themed dog toy resembling the bottle of the alcoholic beverage had the court's justices chuckling as they explored how much protection should be given to those that rip off other brands.

The case involved a "Bad Spaniels Silly Squeaker" toy created by VIP Products - which had many similarities to Jack Daniel's bottles.

Jack Daniel's has asked the US Supreme Court justices to hear its case against the manufacturer of the toy


During the court case, it was unclear from the arguments whether Jack Daniel's case was on the rocks or whether the makers of the Bad Spaniels were in trouble.

Justice Samuel Alito expressed scepticism with Jack Daniel's arguments.

"Could any reasonable person think that Jack Daniel's had approved this use of the mark?" he asked at one point, suggesting the toy was an unmistakable parody and legally acceptable.

As the firm's lawyer tried to push back on the justice's knowledge about dog toys, Justice Alito responded: "I had a dog. I know something about dogs." His late springer spaniel Zeus sometimes visited the court.

But during the arguments, at least one justice stated that she didn't understand the humour behind the toy and seemed more ready to rule against it.

Justice Elena Kagan said: "Maybe I just have no sense of humour. But what's the parody?"

Justice Kagan also said the toy is simply an "ordinary commercial product" trading on the look of the drinks company's bottle.

'The Old No. 2' on your carpet


Arizona-based VIP Products has been selling its Bad Spaniels toy since 2014 and has since added to its own Silly Squeakers line of chew toys which mimic liquor, beer, wine and soda bottles.

Its most noticeable parody yet is its "Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey" toy, which includes the wording: "The Old No. 2 on Your Tennessee Carpet."

While the Jack Daniel's bottles have the words: "Old No. 7 brand" and "Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey."

The original bottle notes it is 40% alcohol by volume and the parody features a dog's face and says it is "43% Poo by Vol." and "100% Smelly."

The toy, which sells for around 20 US dollars (£16.23), also notes in small font: "This product is not affiliated with Jack Daniel Distillery," on its packaging.

'Fine whiskey not associated with dog poop'


Funny or not, Jack Daniel's was not amused.

"Jack Daniel's loves dogs and appreciates a good joke as much as anyone," wrote the company's lawyer Lisa Blatt in a filing with the high court.

"But Jack Daniel's likes its customers even more and doesn't want them confused or associating its fine whiskey with dog poop."

Ms Blatt argued that the toys VIP Products sold to customers are misleading and that the firm profits from "Jack Daniel's hard-earned goodwill".

Legal bid to muzzle 'playful parody'


At the centre of all of this is the Lanham Act.

The Lanham Act is a trademark law that was enacted in Congress in 1949.

The act protects owners of a federally registered mark against similar marks that could lead to consumer confusion.

Jack Daniel's said a lower court was wrong to side with VIP before the case reached the Supreme Court.

VIP Products' lawyer, Bennett Cooper, told the justices in a court filing that Jack Daniel's "seeks to use the Lanham Act to muzzle even VIP Products LLC's playful dog-toy parody".

Jack Daniel's has since received the support of US President Joe Biden's administration and major firms, including Nike, Campbell Soup Company, Patagonia and Levi Strauss.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×