Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Henderson company sues over vodka trademark

A Southern Nevada company that markets flavored vodka is suing industry giant Fortune Brands Inc. and its Jim Beam Brands Co. unit, alleging trademark infringement.

JL Beverage Company LLC of Henderson filed suit March 18 in U.S. District Court saying the defendants are infringing on its federally-registered trademark for the “Johnny Love Vodka” design mark, which features puckered lips in place of the “o” in “Love.”

“Defendants have recently begun promoting and selling a line of multiple flavored vodka products under the mark PUCKER using a bottle design that includes a prominent lip design on the center of the vodka bottles, which varies by color depending on the vodka flavor,” the lawsuit alleges.

JL Beverage is represented by attorneys Chad Miller and Ryan Gile of the Las Vegas law firm Weide & Miller Ltd.

At Fortune Brands, based in Deerfield, Ill., a spokesman was asked about the lawsuit and said last week in a statement: “While we have not yet been served with this complaint, we are extremely confident in our position. Should litigation be necessary to resolve this matter, we will defend our position vigorously and we would expect to fully prevail. Beyond that, as a matter of company policy, we do not comment on the details of matters under litigation.”

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