Jack Daniel's Properties Inc. v. VIP Products LLC

U.S. Supreme Court

Question(s) Presented

I. Whether humorous use of another's trademark as one's own on a commercial product is subject to the Lanham Act's traditional likelihood-of-confusion analysis, or instead receives heightened First Amendment protection from trademark-infringement claims.

2. Whether humorous use of another's mark as one's own on a commercial product is "noncommercial" under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c)(3)(C), thus barring as a matter of law a claim of dilution by tarnishment under the Trademark Dilution Revision Act.

Tab Group

Merits Stage

U.S. Chamber files coalition brief urging Supreme Court to apply ordinary trademark-infringement and trademark-dilution standards to purportedly humorous unauthorized uses of existing trademarks

January 18, 2023

Click here to view the coalition amicus brief. Gregory G. Garre, Blake E. Stafford, and Jordan R. Goldberg of Latham & Watkins LLP and the U.S. Chamber’s Litigation Center served as co-counsel for the U.S. Chamber.

Case Documents

Lower Court Order -- VIP Products LLC v. Jack Daniel's Properties Inc. (Ninth Circuit).pdf

U.S. Chamber Coalition Amicus Brief -- Jack Daniel's Properties Inc. v. VIP Products LLC (U.S. Supreme Court).pdf