Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but spoofing a brand can result in a lawsuit.

The North Face has filed suit in St. Louis accusing a teenager of piracy because he was marketing a line of clothing under the brand name The South Butt. The defendant is arguing that his (not profitable) endeavor falls under the protections of satire.

Many of the world's most prominent brands are satirized in similar fashion on a regular basis, often by substituting irreverent language within the brand's trademark colors and logos. Ford, for example, becomes "Fart." Pizza Hut becomes "Pimp Hut." And McDonald's gets branded as "Marijuana."Continue reading...

Yet another brand built around an ethnic stereotype has entered modern times.

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux brand, used for the school's athletics programs, appears to be coming to an end. October 1 is the deadline for the school to reach a settlement with Native American Sioux tribes if it wishes to continue using the nickname and Indian head logo. Though the Board of Education may extend the deadline, prolonged negotiations seem unlikely.Continue reading...