With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Trader Joe's Is Suing Trader Joe For Trademark Infringement
The exterior of a Trader Joe's store photographed on April 19, 2022 in Calabasas.
(
Jeremy Moeller
/
Getty Images
)
The supermarket that has won the hearts and wallets of Angelenos with its Two Buck Chuck and peanut butter cups is suing a cryptocurrency exchange for using its name.
Trader Joe's earlier this month filed a lawsuit against crypto exchange Trader Joe for trademark violation, among other claims.
What the suit alleges
The similarity doesn't just apply to the name, the suit says, but extends to the company's brand story.
Support for LAist comes from
Consider this passage from the lawsuit:
"Defendants named the platform 'after the supermarket'— none other than Trader Joe’s—and developed a narrative around a fictionalized 'Trader Joe' who sells his crops in the local marketplace, further evoking Trader Joe’s business and brand. An image of 'Trader Joe' donning a red cap (the famed color of Trader Joe’s logo, store motifs, and memorabilia) serves as the platform’s avatar."
The lawsuit filed by Trader Joe's against Trader Joe included this tweet to support its claim that the cryptocurrency exchange modeled their brand story after the supermarket.
()
About 'Trader Joe'
The exchange lets users buy and sell cryptocurrency without the involvement of a bank or other third parties.
According to the suit, its co-founder Cheng Chieh Liu is based in Singapore.
Support for LAist comes from
Liu offered an explanation in his 2022 response to a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) complaint filed by the supermarket — an explanation the suit filed in California dismisses.
"He asserted that the platform’s 'Trader Joe”' name was not an 'intentional misspelling of the TRADER JOE’S' mark. He further represented to WIPO that, instead, the platform was “named for Respondent’s brother, Joe Liu, who is an active member of the Trader Joe community," the lawsuit reads.
What Trader Joe's wants
Trader Joe's is seeking punitive and other damages, and for the exchange to cease using the name "Trader Joe" to conduct business and across all social media platforms.
The supermarket is also asking for the ownership of related web domains, including traderjoexyz.com currently being used by Trader Joe.
This isn’t the first time that Trader Joe’s has sued businesses over trademark issues.
In mid-July, a lawsuit was filed against the employees union, Trader Joe’s United, for selling merchandise that included a logo that resembled the one used by the supermarket. A motion to dismiss the case has been submitted by the union.
Support for LAist comes from
In 2013, the supermarket sued Canadian store, Pirate Joe’s, alleging the store harmed Trader Joe’s brand by reselling the market's products without its permission.
The suit ultimately led to the closure of Pirate Joe’s.
Read the lawsuit
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight.
Best of LAist