The Biker Bites the Dog
The Lance Armstrong Foundation has sued an Oklahoma pet collar manufacturer for trademark infringement over the use of its Barkstrong and Purrstrong animal collars. The pet collars are sold by Animal Charity Collar Group, a Tulsa for-profit operation that sells its tic and flea collar for $6.99, while a "support collar" costs $4.99. The Oklahoma company allegedly began distributing the collars after a July 2005 marketing pitch to Armstrong foundation officials was rejected outright.
It will be interesting to see how this turns out but I can't help but notice that just about every "dog" and his brother are wearing wristbands that mimick the Livestrong wrist bands. Why get so hot over the collar?
Maybe Iowa intellectual property attorney Brett Trout could weigh in on this issue for us.
The only information I have is from the pleading, which alleges this for-profit "charity" donated only $875 to animal charities despite making over $10,000 in sales. Apparently, the alleged infringers met with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to seek approval and were denied based, at least in part, because of their lack of marketing savvy. The defendants continued to market their bracelets even after receiving a cease and desist letter.
My guess is that if there are any assets left in the Animal Charity Collar Group when this is all said and done, they will be owned by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Perhaps they should make up some SUESTRONG bracelets to help pay what promise to be some very large legal fees.