Hormel Tries to Stop Use of Spam
Spam Arrest will be featured on ABC’s World News with Charles Gibson tonight (Monday, March 5th, 2007). World News will be discussing the ongoing trademark dispute between Hormel and Spam Arrest over the use of the word “spam”.
Spam Arrest has been defending itself against Hormel for the last 4 years while Hormel has been attempting to cancel the Spam Arrest trademark granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office. (more info)
Definitely overstepping their trademark, no confusion between spam “food” and junk mail (IMHO). They should have to shoulder the blame for spam if they want exclusive rights to the name…
Spam Arrest is my favorite way of blocking e-mail spam from home. It’s practially impossible for spammers to get automated junk mail past their filter!
I wonder what evidence Hormel will present to attempt to show that the use of the name Spam Arrest has caused confusion in the consumer market for canned meats; caused economic harm and damage to the future earnings for the canners of the salty delicacy; or caused dilution of brand equity for the famous mystery meat. My guess is that it’s going to be a slam dunk for the software comanay as, in fact, the very word has greater identity as “unwanted junkmail” than “potted meat” for the generation with the fattest wallets. Your honor, I introduce every electronic and bound dictionary published in the last three years as Exhibit A.