UPDATE!! Remember when Trader Joe’s filed a lawsuit back in 2011 against Michael Hallatt for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising? Hallatt travels to the United States to buy products in large quantities from Trader Joe’s, brings them to his store, Pirate Joe’s, in Canada, and sells them at higher prices. There are no Trader Joe’s in Canada, and Hallatt said that his store never claimed an affiliation with the American company. Hmm.. I would say the names “Pirate” and “Joe’s” would have people think otherwise.
Now, a recent ruling by the federal appeals court overturned the decision by the district court to dismiss the trademark case against Pirate Joe’s. The district court stated that the violations occurred in Canada and that Trader Joe’s couldn’t prove that Pirate Joe’s affected their business in the U.S. The appeals court said the lawsuit could proceed, because Hallatt’s actions could be devaluing the American-held trademark with his knockoff branding and online merchandising.
Do you think Hallatt should be able to continue to do what he is doing, since there aren’t any Trader Joe’s in Canada?
Read full article here.
Written By: Teresa Nguyen