In an intriguing turn of events, the Second Circuit Court reportedly referenced a Supreme Court decision that dismissed the special First Amendment protections to a product parodying Jack Daniel’s. This citation played a vital role in a ruling that will enable popular sneaker company, Vans, to enforce a restraining order against a Brooklyn-based art collective. The collective had created a parody version of Vans’ flagship shoe.
The referenced Supreme Court decision relates to a recent case where a chew toy mocking the brand Jack Daniel’s faced controversy. Replicating the brand’s iconic whiskey bottle shape, the toy was stripped of its claim to First Amendment protections that typically safeguard parodies.
The knock-on effect of this decision has been felt in the case of Vans and the art collective. The Second Circuit Court has ruled in favor of Vans, thereby reinforcing the rights of trademark holders against potential infringements veiled as parodies.
A detailed account of this matter can be found at
Law360.